Badrinath
Temple on the right bank of Alaknanda lies the sacred
spot perched at an altitude of 3,133 meters above
the sea level. Encircled by a beautiful valley, the
15 mts. high temple is dedicated to lord vishnu. It
is built in the form of a cone with a small cupola
of a ilt bull and spire. Built by adi guru shankaracharya
the philosopher-saint of the 8th centurty. The temple
has been renovated several times due to damage by
avalanches. Its colourful 'singh dwara' or the mainentrance
gate give it a new, modern look. The temple is divided
into three parts the 'garbha griha' or sanctum sanctorum,
the 'darshan mandap' where the rituals are conducted
and the 'sabha mandap' where devotees assemble. The
complex has 15 idols. Specially attractive is the
one metre high image of Badrinath, finely sculpted
in black stone. It represents lord Vishnu seated in
a meditative pose.
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Kedarnath Temple, amidst the mountainscapes
of the majestic Kedarnath range stands one of the twelve
'Jyotirlingas' of Kedar or Lord shiva. Lying at an altitude
of 3.581 mts above sea level on the head of river Mandakini,
the shrine of Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimage
for the Hindus. The origin of the revered temple can be
found in the great epic - Mahabharata. According to legend
the Pandavas sought the blessings of Lord Shiva to atone
their sins after the battle of Mahabharata. Lord Shiva eluded
them repetedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath
in the form of a bull. On being followed HE dived into the
ground, leaving behind HIS hump on the surface. This conical
protrusion is worshipped as the idol on the shrine. The
remaining portions of Lord Shiva are worshipped at four
places the arms (bahu) at Tungnath, mouth (mukha) at Rudranath,
naval (nabhi) at Madmaheshwar and hair (jata) at Kalpeshwar.
Together with Kedarnath, these places are known as the panch
Kedar.
Gangotri Temple the picturesque pilgrimage
in the hinter lands of the Himalayas is the most sacred
spot where Ganga, the stream of life, touched earth for
the first time. According to mythology, Goddess Ganga -
the daughter of heaven, manifested herself in the form of
a river to absolve the sins of king Bhagirath's predecessors,
following his severe penance of several centuries. Lord
Shiva received into his matted locks to minimize the immense
impact of her fall. She came to be called Bhagirathi at
her legendary source. Along the right bank of Bhagirathi
stands the shrine of Gangotri dedicated to the Goddess.
Perched at a height of 3.042 mts, it was constructed in
the early 18th century by a Gorkha Commander, Amar Singh
Thapa
The first stopover for the Char Dham Yatra
is the westernmost shrine of Yamunotri in the Garhwal Himalayas.
Dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, it is perched atop a flank
of the Bandar Poonchh peak (3.165 mts above sea level) and
is situated opposite to Gangotri. The shrine attracts devotees
in large numbers from May to October. Yamunotri is the source
of the revered river yamuna which originates from the Champasar
Glacier lying 1 km ahead of the shrine, at an altitude of
4,321 mts, Pilgrims do not frequently visit the source of
the river as it is not easily accessible.
Duration : 13 NIGHTS / 14 DAYS
Destination Covered : Delhi - Rishikesh - Syanachatti -
Yamunotri - Uttarkashi - Gangotri - Rampur/Sitapur - Kedarnath
- Badrinath - Srinagar - Haridwar- Delhi
Day 1 : Delhi
Arrive at airport/ Railway station in Delhi. Meet and Transfer
to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 2 : Delhi - Rishikesh (230kms/6hr)
After breakfast, drive to Rishikesh. On arrival, transfer
to Hotel. Later we shall take you for a visit to the Har-Ki-Pauri,
enjoy the Aarti in the evening. Later back to hotel for
overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 3 : Rishikesh - Syana Chatti (240kms/7hr)
Drive to Syana Chatti via Mussoorie. Check in Hotel at Syana
Chatti.
Day 4 : Syana Chatti - Yamunotri - Syana
Chatti {5kms drive & 13kms Trek (one side)
Drive to Hanuman Chatti, trek start to Yamunotri & Back.
Overnight stay at Syana Chatti.
Hanuman Chatti: The confluence of Hanuman
Ganga & Yamuna River.
Yamunotri Temple: Maharani Gularia of Jaipur
built the temple in the 19th Century. It was destroyed twice
in the present century and rebuilt again.
Surya Kund: There are a Number of thermal
springs in the vicinity of the temple, which flows into
numerous pools. The most important of these is Surya Kund.
Divya Shila: A rock pillar, worshipped
before entering the Yamunotri Temple.
Day 5 : Syana Chatti - Uttarkashi (137kms/4hr)
Drive to Uttarkashi via Barkot. Check in Hotel, night halt.
Uttarkashi: Situated at the bank of river Bhagirathi. The
temple of Lord Vishwanath is located here where a massive
iron trident is erected. The other important temples situated
here are Ekadash Rudra, Bhairav, Gyaneshwar and Goddess
Kuteti Devi.
Day 6 : Uttarkashi-Gangotri-Uttarkashi (200kms/7hr)
Drive to Gangotri and back, overnight stay at Uttarkashi.
Gangotri Temple: The temple, constructed by the Gorkha General
Amar Singh Thapa in the 18th Century, is situated on the
right bank of Bhagirathi.
Submerged Shivling: Submerged in the river, this natural
rock Shivling is the place where, according to mythology
Lord Shiva sat when he received the Ganga in his matted
lock. It is visible in winter months when water level decreases.
Kedar Ganga Sangam: Around 100 Yards from the Ganga Temple
flows the river Kedar Ganga. Starting from the Kedar Valle,
this river meets the Bhagirathi on its left bank.
Day 7 : Uttarkashi - Rampur/Sitapur (175kms/6hr)
After early breakfast, drive to Rampur/Sitapur . Check in
Hotel, night halt Rampur/Sitapur : It is the confluence
of river Mandakini and river Alaknanda. Temples: Rudranath
and Chamunda Devi, Koteshwar Temple (3 Kms).
Day 8 : Rampur/Sitapur - Kedarnath (kms by road & 14kms
Trek)
Drive to Gaurikund, trek start from Gaurikund to Kedarnath.
Check in Hotel.
Gaurikund: At a distance of 5kms from Sonprayag and at an
altitude of 1982 meters, one can take bath in the hot water
pond here and visit the Gauri Temple. This is the place
where Goddess Parvathi meditated to attain Lord Shiva. It
is the base for a trek to Kedarnath.
Kedarnath: The Kedarnath shrine, one of
the 12 jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, is a scenic spot situated,
against the backdrop of the majestic Kedarnath range. Kedar
is another name of Lord Shiva, the protector and the destroyer.
According to legend, the Pandavas after having won over
the Kaurava in the Kurukshetra war, felt guilty of having
killed their own brothers and sought the blessings of Lord
Shiva for redemption. He eluded them repeatedly and while
fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull.
On being followed he dived into the ground, leaving his
hump on the surface. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva
appeared at four other places and are worshipped there as
his manifestations. The arms appeared at Tungnath, the face
at Rudranath, the belly at Madhmaheshwar and his locks (hair)
with head at Kalpeshwar. Kedarnath and the four above-mentioned
shrines are treated as Panch Kedar.
Day 9 : Kedarnath - Rampur/ Sitapur ( 75kms/3hr
by Road)
Trek down to Gaurikund from Kedarnath. Drive to Rampur/Sitapur
from Gaurikund. Check in Hotel at Rampur/Sitapur . Night
Halt.
Day 10 : Rampur/ Sitapur - Badrinath (200kms/6hr)
Drive to Badrinath via Joshimath. Check in Hotel, night
halt.
Joshimath: Adi Guru Shankaracharya, who came all the way
from Kerala in the 8th Century A.D, perform penance under
a tree here and after getting enlightenment, established
a Math (religious centre), known as "Joshimath".
The name Joshimath is derived from it. Temple of Narsingh
and Nav Durga are located here.
Badrinath : overnight at Hotel.
Day 11 : Badrinath
Badrinath: Badrinath one of the 'Four Dhams' is one of the
most celebrated pilgrimage spots of the country and is situated
at an elevation of 3,133 meters, guarded on either side
by the two mountain ranges known as Nar & Narayan with
the towering Neelkanth Peak providing a splendid backdrop.
This revered spot was once carpeted with wild berries. Thus
the place got the name "Badrivan", meaning "forest
of berries". Overnight at hotel.
Day 12 : Badrinath - Srinagar ( 200 kms / 7 hrs
Drive )
Morning drive to Srinagar . Overnight halt at Srinagar .
Day 13 : Srinagar - Haridwar (150kms/4hr)
Drive to Haridwar enroute visit Srinagar, Deoprayag &
Rishikesh. On arrival, transfer to Hotel. Night halt.
Day 14 : Haridwar - Delhi (230kms/6hr)
Morning drive to Delhi and transfer in time for early check-in
at International Airport/ Railway station.
Duration : 07 NIGHTS / 08 DAYS
Destination Covered : Delhi - Rishikesh –
Rudraprayag - Guptakashi - Kedarnath - Badrinath –Devprayag/
Srinagar - Haridwar- Delhi .
DAY 01 : DELHI – RISHIKESH
Morning drive to Rishikesh. On aArrival, transfer to Hotel.
Later we shall take you for a visit to the Har-Ki-Pauri,
enjoy the Aarti in the evening. Later back to hotel for
overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 02 : RISHIKESH – RUDRAPRAYAG – GUPTAKASHI
Departure to Tehari, Shrinagar Rudraprayag 175 kms lunch
on the way Darshan at Sangam of Mandakini and Alaknanda
and Shankar Temple. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 03 : KEDARNATH
Rudraprayag to Gaurikund by trek doli and horse are available.
Kedarnath temple is open up to noon and evening. Aarti darshan
are available. Overnight at Guest House.
DAY 04 : RUDRAPRAYAG
After breakfast departure to Gaurikund by trek onward by
vehicle to Rudraprayag. Guptakashi or Pipalkoti overnight
stay.
DAY 05 : BADRINATH
Pipalkoti to Badrinath 75 kms by road. Badrinath is an important
Dham in the Chardham Yatra. This ancient sacred place is
on the bank of Alaknanda river surrounded by snow claded
mountains of Himalaya. It is said that Adi guru Shankaracharya
found idol of god Badrinath from the naradkund and set up
in the temple of Badrivishal. Bath in Tapt kund and darshan
of shri Badrivishal and at evening Swwarn Arti and Kappor
Arti are famous to participate. Mana Village is near to
Badrinath, there is Bheempul, Vyas Gufa to visit.
DAY 06 : DEVPRAYAG/SHRINAGAR
Departure via Joshimath Aull if possible by cable car onward
proceed to Devprayag. Confluence of two jyant river of Himalaya
Alaknanda and Bhagirathi from this points Ganga the sacred
name was announced by deities of cosmic etarnal power. There
is 5000 years old Raghunathji temple darshan and Aarti.
Overnight stay at Hotel .
DAY 07 : HARIDWAR
After breakfast drive to Haidwar . Upon arrival check in
at your prebooked Hotel . Evening Aarti and Pooja . Overnight
at Hotel.
DAY 08 : DELHI .
Morning drive back to Delhi .
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