Gomukh

Gaumukh (Hindi: गौमुख ) denotes the location currently has around 4360 meters altitude in the Himalayas source of Bhagirathi, one of the headwaters of the Ganges in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

Geography

The glacier snout of the Gangotri Glacier, from which the Bhagirathi originates, is due to the strong retreat of the glacier is now 18 km from the pilgrimage town of Gangotri ( 3048 m). The glacier is surrounded by three major mountains of over 6,700 meters. Every year, pilgrims the steep mountain road up to the glacier, which because of its former, a wide open mouth very similar appearance Gaumukh ( " mouth of the cow " ) is called. The good 20 meter wide mountain stream that flows from this glacier cave, is the headwaters of the Bhagirathi which flows along 214 kilometers of running with the slightly larger Alaknanda in Devprayag place (618 m) and the Ganges forms. After a further 87 kilometers of the Ganges leaves the Himalayas in Rishikesh (348 m) and is in the opening level to a broad, branched flow.

Mythology

According to Hindu mythology, the legendary fashion Bhagiratha meditated for 1000 years. God Shiva saw this and granted the ways a wish. Which asked for the descent of the celestial river Ganga, so that the earth may be fruitful and profitable. Since then, the river goddess Ganga stands for prosperity, health, salvation and abundance. It is considered a model of all rivers of India, since, according to the mythology descended all the other rivers of Ganga. In the near vicinity to the source ascetic sadhus who meditate and take a dip in the icy waters to whitewash the sins of daily life.