Ganges, Gangotri, India (photo)

River Bhagirathi and Gangotri Temple and houses; Uttaranchal ; India. Gangotri, Uttaranchal, India. Gangotri, the source of the Ganga (Ganges) River and seat of the goddess Ganga, is one of the four sites in India's Char Dham pilgrimage. Gangotri can be reached in one day's travel from Rishikesh, Haridwar or Dehra Duhn, or in two days from Yamunotri. More popular and important than its sister site to the east, Gangotri is also accessible directly by car and bus, meaning that it sees many more pilgrims. A small village of guesthouses and restaurants serves the pilgrim community. Ritual duties are supervised by the Semwal family of pujaris. The aarti ceremony at the Gangotri is especially impressive, as is the temple, a stately affair that sits on the banks of the rushing Ganga (Ganges River). Adventurous pilgrims can make an overnight 17 km trek to Gaumukh, the actual source of the Ganga.