Shivling is a mountain at tapovan in the
Gangotri Group of peaks in the western
Garhwal Himalaya, near the snout of the
Gangotri Glacier. It lies in the northern
Indian state of
Uttarakhand, south of the
Hindu holy site of
Gaumukh (the source of the
Bhagirathi River). Its name refers to its status as a sacred symbol -
Shiva Linga. It was called "
Matterhorn Peak" by early European visitors because of its similarity in appearance to that
Alpine peak. While not of locally great elevation, it is a dramatic rock peak, and most visually striking peak seen from Gaumukh; that and the difficulty of the climb make it a famed prize for
mountaineers.