The Ganga Trail: 7 Destinations To Witness The Holy River At Its Best

by Tania Tarafdar
The Ganga Trail: 7 Destinations To Witness The Holy River At Its Best

Exploring the Ganges is like discovering the quintessential aspect of Indian life. However, you have more choice than just Varanasi when it comes to getting up close and personal with this mighty river. Experience Ganga in her various avatars as she traverses through the Indian peninsula, from the river’s origin at Gangotri to its mouth in Bengal. Let us take you along the trail of Ganga.

Also read: Enjoy Dolphin Safaris For The First Time In India At 6 Places Along The Ganga

1. Gangotri

Gangotri is a small town centred around the Gangotri Temple Uttarakhand. Ganga is believed to have originated here and is one of the most critical sites for Hindus. Despite being crowded by tourists, Gangotri offers some spectacular views. Gangotri is also the basecamp for several treks like Gaumukh, Tapovan and Gangotri Glacier among others. You can drive to Gangotri from Dehradun. BrijRama Palace Is A Heritage Hotel On The Banks Of Ganga.

Picture Credits: Char Dham Yatra

2. Devprayag

River Bhagirathi and Alaknanda come together to form the holy Ganges in Devprayag. It is not only an important pilgrimage site for the Hindus, but also popular among people looking for solitude amidst nature. The place is known to have a divine aura. Go for a dip in the river and visit the temples before you move ahead to Rishikesh.

3. Rishikesh

To visit the true beauty of river Ganga and its surroundings, visit Rishikesh. Rishikesh is the place where the holy river makes its way down the hills and hits the plains. Rishikesh has a lush green landscape with stunning views. The Ganges boasts of turquoise blue water in Rishikesh. Here, you can also participate in water sports like river rafting and kayaking.

Laxman Jhula bridge Rishikesh
Picture Credits: chardhamtour.in

4. Haridwar

Just 30km away from Rishikesh, Haridwar has a significance for religious pilgrims. People come here to take a dip in the holy river to wash away their sins. Thousands flock here daily and although the scene is a bit chaotic, it is has a charm. The Ganga aarti on the ghats of Haridwar will leave you in awe. Polluting Ganga Can Get You In Legal Troubles & A Huge Penalty.

Picture Credits: IndiaYug

5. Allahabad

Head to Allahabad to experience Ganga in one of the most exciting ways. Witness a religious and socio-cultural amalgamation in Kumbh Mela. Thousands of devotees, priests, and tourists flock to this place just to take a dip in the holy river. It is considered to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience by many.

6. Varanasi

Varanasi or Kashi continues to be one of the most important pilgrim sites for the Hindus. On the one hand, Varanasi has beautiful ghats with stunning views; on the other, the temples and priests will remind you of India’s age-old religious sentiments. Take a boat ride in Varanasi to explore the true beauty of the river. Also, Experience The Divine Ganga Aarti At Varanasi.

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7. Kolkata

Explore the Ganga at Kolkata, the City of Joy, Be it the Hooghly Bridge, e the famous Princep Ghat or the Howrah Bridge, the city has many beautiful river banks. Remember the song Piyu Bole from Parineeta, that showed a boat making its way Ganga below the picturesque Howrah Bridge? Every traveller must experience this boat ride in Kolkata.

Also, visit Kanpur and Patna to complete your Ganga trail.