The temple located nearby is a recent addition. It is also believed that the Pandavas conducted Deva Yagna here to atone for the killings in the Mahabharata war. The widely believed mythological anecdote about Gangotri is that Lord Shiva sat on this rockShivalinga in the river while taking the brunt of the fall of the Ganga in his lock of hair so that the impact is not much on the earth. In summer the linga is submerged and visible when winter comes. The airport is 26 km from Rishikesh.
Bus goes right up to the shrine.
There is bus service to several places like Uttarkashi, Tehri, Rishikesh, Hardwar. Summer is cool during daytime and cold at night. Winter is snow-bound. Non-vegetarian food and alcohol are prohibited in Gangotri. Bhaironghatti is 10 km from Gangotri.