Uttarkashi

Two of the Four Holy Shrines of Hindu mythology, i.e the ‘Char Dham’, is situated here, as is the chief source of the holiest river of Hinduism, the Ganges. There is a sense of purity in the air here, with all the spirituality and natural surroundings that are bestowed upon this land.
Uttarkashi is one of the younger parts of Uttarakhand, formed in 1960. There is an uncanny purity about the place, making it one of the most visited cities of religious relevance in the area. Totally untouched by industrialism, except to simplify the existence, without over altering, the town is like no place you have ever spent your time in. While lakes and temples are in great numbers, the whole aura of religion is not over powering. Uttarkashi will give you a sense of heightened divinity and an out of body experience, and it is one of the fewest places doing so, even on the trekking routes it has to offer. Visit Uttarkashi, only if you're truly ready to revamp yourself, inside out.

How to Reach Uttarkashi
By Flight
Uttarkashi does not have its own airport, the nearest airport to the hill station is Dehradun airport. From Dehradun, you can take a bus or taxi to Uttarkashi.
Nearest Airport: Dehradun - 61 kms from Uttarkashi.

By Road
There are a number of the buses plying to Uttarkashi from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and cities nearby. However, if you're not comfortable travelling on a steep terrain, you should not consider travelling by road.

By Train
The nearest railway station to Uttarkashi is Dehradun railway station, at 143 km away from Uttarkashi. You can take a cab or bus from Dehradun to Uttarkashi.

Commuting Within Uttarkashi
The travelling in the mountains is a bit of a stressful trip, with the steep terrain causing slow speeds and a bit of road sickness if you're not comfortable with it. If you aren't acquainted with the hills, make sure you go for a more comfortable vehicle, to make your ride easier. Ample of travel agents in the city provide transportation. Bargain if you must, but the deals in packages are usually good enough for your trips.

Best Time to Visit Uttarkashi
Summer (March - June): The temperature in summers in Uttarkashi ranges between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius. The weather is extremely pleasant during this period and is best considered for local sightseeing and trekking.

Monsoon (July - September) Although, Uttarkashi receives a moderate amount of rainfall in monsoon which may affect your local sightseeing. However, you can also enjoy various festivals during monsoon season.

Winter (October - March) If you want to enjoy the scenic hill town covered in the sheet of snow, then you must visit Uttarkashi in the months of January and February. The temperature in Winters ranges from 0 to 24 degrees Celsius.

Local Food and Cuisine of Uttarkashi
Uttarkashi has small and big eating joints with a huge variety of cuisines, chiefly because the diversity of tourists is huge, and it is increasingly commercializing on the food front, to suit the tastes of the tourists. Both the options of budget food and luxury dining are available. From the Shangri La to the smaller eateries, like the popular Hotel Shiv Dev, you have enough to choose from.

Places to Visit in Uttarkashi
Uttarkashi is famous for being the source of two of the main rivers of India. Apart from its geographical relevance it is of tremendous significance for the thousands of people who visit these places out of faith. There are also trek groups who undertake trips to these places for adventure.

Gangotri
Gangotri is the source for the River Ganga. It is 99 kms from Uttarkashi. Blessed with an exceptional scenic beauty Gangotri has a breathtaking holy environment with thousands of people visiting it every year as one of the most important places of Hindu pilgrimage.

Things to see at Gangotri
Shivling: it is believed that Lord Shiva stood here and locked the flow of Ganga in his hair in order to stop the overflow of water submerge the local lands. The Shivling present here is a rare sight but it is more visible in winter months when the water level is low.

Temple of Goddess Ganga: The temple of Ganga is situated on the banks of the River Bhagirathi. It was built in the 18th century by the Gorkha community. The temple is open from the months of May to October after which it is covered with snow in winter.
The structure of the temple is twenty feet high made of white granite. It captures beautiful moments of beauty with its natural surroundings.

Gaumukh: At an altitude of 4200 feet above sea level Gaumukh is the place that holds the glacier of the River Ganga. It is a popular trek spot for adventure lovers. Usually there are such treks that commence from Gangotri itself and end at Gaumukh.

Yamunotri: One of the most important places of pilgrimage in India Yamunotri is the first that comes for a visit. Source of the River Yamuna it is believed to be the residing place of Goddess Yamunotri. The Kalinda Parvat amidst the Banderpunch mountain range holds the temple and the shrine of the Goddess.

Things to see at Yamunotri
The Temple: The temple of Goddess Yamuna was built in 1839 by Tehri Naresh Sudarshan Shah. Owing to its presence in an earthquake prone area the temple has faced several such tremors over the years and met with aftereffects. However the temple was renovated and repaired in the 19th century by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur.

Surya Kund: This is a hot water spring that is situated close to the temple. The aura of the location is enhanced with the presence of a hot water spring that is bubbles with heat in the midst of snow capped mountains. People flock here to offer prayers. Pilgrims also believe that the water of such thermal springs is a natural cure. At times the hot water in such cold climate also offers an opportunity to boil their rice and potatoes for a hot meal.

Saptarshi Kund: Like Gaumukh this is the source of the Yamuna River. But there are very few who actually venture out to this place that is 12 Km away from Yamunotri and a difficult trek for many travelers. Even after the difficult trek there are wonderful things in store for one in the dark blue water of the Saptarshi Kund along with the slate stone banks. There is a rare type of lotus flower also which is found on the waters of Saptarshi Kund.

Other Places to See: There are several places in Uttarkashi that are perfect tourist spots for visiting and enjoying the locale as well as the significance of the place itself.

Vishwanath Temple: It is one of the most important places of pilgrimage in India. Dedicated to Lord Shiva the temple has a shivling (the idol of Lord Shiva) that is 60 cms in height and 90 cms in its circumference.

Shakti Temple: Situated opposite to the Vishwanath temple this temple of Shakti has as its main attraction a trishul that is 6 metres in height and 90 cms at the base. The upper part of the trishul is believed to be made of iron while the lower part is made of copper. Popular faith has it that it was thrown at the devils by Goddess Durga.

Maneri: This is a beautiful place 13 kms away from Uttarkashi. It has a Dam built on the banks of the Bhagirathi River. As a result a lake has formed itself from the water of this dam and has made it into a popular picnic spot for travelers.

Gangnani: This place is well known for its serene atmosphere which is considered ideal meditation. Gangnani also has several thermal springs the water of which is supposed to work wonders for many ailments. There is a temple dedicated to Sage Parasara who was the father of Ved Vyas.

Harsil: This is a beautiful valley that is complete with beautiful landscapes and scenic beauty. A popular place to see here is the "sat dal" or the cluster of seven lakes. Another place to visit can be the Wilson Cottage that was built in 1954.