Shivling

Shivling is a striking rock mountain in the Gangotri group of the western Garhwal Himalaya, about 6 km south of Gaumukh, the snout of the Gangotri Glacier and source of the Bhagirathi. Its name marks it as a sacred Shiva linga, and it is also called Mahadev ka Linga; early European visitors dubbed it the Matterhorn for its resemblance to the Alpine peak. Seen from Gaumukh it looks like a single pyramid, though it actually has twin summits around 6,500 metres, guarded by steep rock on almost every side.

For climbers it is a famous and difficult prize. For pilgrims and walkers, the draw is the view. Between Gaumukh and the mountain lies the meadow of Tapovan, a popular pilgrimage spot precisely because of its inspiring outlook onto Shivling, which stands as the western gateway to the lower glacier, facing the triple-peaked Bhagirathi massif.