Sacred Waters

The watershed of the Ganga, or Ganges, lies in the central Himalayas of Garhwal. Hindu tradition identifies the sources of this river as sacred sites. Every year, millions of pilgrims travel to shrines at Yamnotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Stephen Alter retraces the original Char Dham Yatra on foot, following ancient routes that crossed the mountains before motor roads were built. At the same time, he navigates the mythology and lore of this natural and spiritual realm, where every tributary and confluence is invested with seminal stories.