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Uttaranchal Char Dham
Chardham
The four most holy pilgrimages of India Uttaranchal
chardham is : Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and
Badrinath, collectively referred to as the Char Dham.
For centuries, saints and pilgrims, in their search for
the divine, have walked these mystical vales known in
the ancient Hindu scriptures as "
Kedarkhand".Traditionally, the yatra is done from the
west to the east - starting from Yamunotri, then
proceeding to Gangotri and finally to Kedarnath and
Badrinath.
Place to Visit about chardham :
Yumnotri :
The shrine of Yamunotri, source of river Yamuna is
situated in the direction opposite to Gangotri and the
road bifurcates and goes to Yamunotri from Dharasu, a
place between Rishikesh - Uttarkashi.
Another 55 km away is Barkot, affording a fabulous view
of the Banderpunch Range. Barkot is also approachable by
road directly from Delhi (334 km ) via Saharanpur,
Harbartpur, Nainbagh and Naugaon.8 km from Barkot is
Gangani, a place of pilgrimage, on the left bank of
Yamuna.
The holy tank here is called Gangayan Kund. Water from
the tank is taken for puja purposes to the opposite
village of Than, housing the imposing temple of Rishi
Jamdagni. 2 kms. from Gangani is Kharadi a place known
for its roaring waterfall.
The motorable road continues till Jankichatti via
Syanachatti, Ranachatti and Hanumanchatti, 50 km from
Barkot. From Jankichatti its is a 5 km trek to yamunotri
for which ponies,dandies and kandies (baskets for
carrying children) are also available.
The temple of Yamunotri falls on the left bank and was
originally constructed by Maharaj Pratap Shah of Tehri
Garhwal. Near the temple are three hot springs. The most
important, Surya Kund, is a tank full of boiling water
into which rice and potatoes are dipped to be cooked and
taken as “prasad”.
Near the Kund, a rock slab, the “Divya Shila” is
worshipped before puja is offered to the black marble
idol of Yamuna. The shrine of Yamunotri is one of the
"four dhams" of Uttarakhand.
The source of Yamuna lies above 1 km. ahead at an
altitude of about 4421 meters. The approach is extremely
difficult and pilgrims therefore offer puja at the
temple itself.Pilgrims can find accommodation in the
houses belonging to the "Pandas" or the sole Dharamshala.
On the way one can stay at Janaki Chatti 8 kms. from
Hanuman Chatti. There are tourist bangalow, PWD and
Forest Rest Houses and Dharamshalas.
Gangotri:
Visited by hundreds of thousands pilgrims every year,
this 18th century temple constructed by Gorkha General
Amar Singh Thapa , is near the spot where the goddess
Ganga is said to have first descended on earth from
heaven, in answer to the prayers of King Bhagriath. The
revered shrine of Gangotri, situated at an altitude of
3,200 mts.
about sea-level amidst sylvan surroundings, constitutes
one of the most important pilgrimages for the devout
Hindu. Lord shiva received her into his matted locks to
break the great force of her fall. From there it emerged
into many streams and the one which started from
Gangotri was called Bhagirathi. The Pandavas, it is
said, came here to perform the great 'Deva Yajna' to
atone for the deathof their kinsmen in the epic battle
of Mahabharat. The temple itself is situatedon the right
bank of the Bhagtathi .There are a number of ashrams
lockedonthe other side of the ashrams locked on the
other side of the Bhagirathi, many of which provide
accommodation facilities to the travellers. Places of
Religious Interest.
Gangotri is an ideal location for the tourists looking
for peace and adventure. Located in the hills, 18 kms
downstream from Gaumukh is Gangotri. It is an important
pilgrim site located at 3,048 m above sea level.
Gangotri is situated in the northern part of the state
of Uttaranchal and is very close to the Indo-Tibetan
border. Gangotri glaciers, the original source of the
sacred river Ganges, attracts tourists in large numbers
every season. Discover the daunting rivers and attempt
to reveal the mysteries of the natural world, which are
rare to find elsewhere. Along with the thrill of
exploring nature, what one experiences here is the aura
that India is totally Indian.
At Gangotri there is a temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga
and the sacred stone where Raja Bhagirath is believed to
have worshipped Lord Shiva. Submerged in the river here
is the natural rock Shivalinga where Lord Shiva is
believed to have received the Ganges (called Bhagirathi
here) in his matted locks. It is visible in the winter
months when the water level recedes.
Major Tourist Attractions in Gangotri
The shrine of Gangotri is around 300 years old.
Renovated in the 20th century, the shrine is a 20-feet
high structure of white granite. During the winters the
statue is taken to Mukhimath village where it is
worshipped. There is a natural rock Shivalinga, called
the Jalamagna Shivalinga. This is the place where Lord
Shiva received Ganga in his locks. Visible only during
winters.
Gangotri Adventures:
Gaumukh Glaciers (18 km.)
- The famous site nearby is the Gaumukh glacier, which
is at an altitude of 4200 m above sea level. It is the
geographical origin of the Ganges and is at a distance
of 18 km from Gangotri uphill. Here Ganges is known as
the Bhagirathi. The sourse of the Bhagrithi for a dip in
its icy waters is dip in almost a must for pilgrims; and
to the temple of Bhairavanth at Bhaironghati, (10 km.).
GMVN Tourilst Bungalow is located at Bhojbasa, about 14
km., from Gangotrli, on the road to Uttarkashi, at thle
confluence of the Jat Ganga and Bhagirathi
rivers.Pilgrlims also trek to Nandanvan (6km) and
Kedartal (18km) from Gangotri.
Cheedvasa & Bhojvasa: From Gangotri is Cheedvasa
at a distance of 28 kms. Bhojvasa, is at a distance of
22 km, both are an ideal camping site.
Nandanvan: Nandanvan is a 6 kms trekking route
along the glacier and gives a spectacular glimpse of the
Shivalinga. Across the Gangotri glacier is the Sylvan
Tapovan, which is known for its greenness encircling the
base of the Shivalinga peak. From here, one can go to
Vasuki Tal, Kalindikhal, at a height of 5590 m to reach
Badrinath.
Kedarnath:
Kedarnath is the seat of Lord Shiva. It is one of the
twelve "Jyotirlingas" of Lord Shiva. Lying at an
altitude of 3584 m at the head of river Mandakini, the
shrine of Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimage
for the Hindus. It is no wonder that Adi Guru
Shankaracharya - a great scholar & saint, chose to
enshrine Lord Shiva in this land, where the unholy
becomes oly and the holy becomes holier. Kedar meaning
powerful is another name of Lord Shiva the protector and
the destroyer.
Situated in the backdrop of the majestic Sri Kedarnath
range, Kedarnath is a 14 km trek from Gaurikund.
At Kedarnath
there are several Kunds (pools, tanks) that are known
for their religious significans - shivkund, Retkund,
hanskund, Udakkund, Rudhirkund are the most important. A
little away from Kedarnath is a temple dedicated to
Bhaironathji who is ceremoniously worshipped at the
opening & closing of Kedarnath. The belief is that
Bhairavnathji protects this land from evil during the
time when temple of Kedarnath is closed. There are more
than 200 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in Chamoli
district itself, the most important one is Sri
Kedarnath.
During the winters,
the shrine is submerged in snow & hence is closed.
Fortunate are those who have good weather, but twice
blessed are those who are at Kedarnath on a moonlit
night- the snow peak gleams like hundred silver
pinnacles atop the glittering mountains.
The holiest of Shiva's shrines is linked to Gold among
base metals so that every pilgrims finds peace here, and
it is said that devotees who die here become one with
Shiva himself. Beyond the temple is the highway to
heaven, called Mahapanth.
The opening of date :
of Kedarnath Temple is fixed and depends on the Shiva
Ratri and decided by priests in Ukhimath. Normally
Kedarnath temple opens on Mid May. The closing date of
Kedarnath is fixed on Yama Dwitiya (second day after
Diwali, November).
Kedarnath Temple is open for devotees from 6 am to 2 pm
and 5 pm to 8 pm.
Shingar Darshan is from 5 pm onwards and Aarti is
performed at 6:45 pm. Sharavani Annakoot Mela is
celebrated on the day before Raksha Bandhan during
August. Special Samadhi puja is help on the closing day
of Kedarnath.
The Kedarnath Temple committee office organises booking
for special pooja which is performed before the general
darshan in the morning.
Legend of Kedarnath:
According to legend, the place came into being during
the period when the five Pandavas brothers were asked to
seek Shiva's blessings purging them of the sin of
killing their cousins. Lord Shiva unwilling to give
darshans to the Pandavas frled Kashi to live incognito
in Guptkashi, where eventually he was detected by the
Pandavas. While fleeing Shiva took refuge at Kedarnath
in the form of a bull and started to plunge underground
when he was spotted by the Pandavas. He dived into the
ground, leaving behind his hump on the surface. No
wonder the natural rock formation that is worshipped
here resembles the hump of a bull. Thus Shiva pleased
with the determination of the Pandavas, exonerated them
from their sin, gave them darshan & bestowed upon them
the opportunity to worship his hump.
Shandaracharya Samadhi :
The Samadhi of Adi Guru Shankaracharya is located just
behind the Kedarnath temple. It is said that after
establishing four sacred Dhams in India, he went into
his samadhi at an early age of 32 years.
Chorbari (Gandhi Sarovar) : Only 1 km trek away from Kedarnath. Floating - ice on the crstal
clear waters of the lake fascinates the visitors.
Vasuki Tal :
Situated at a height of 4,150mt, the lake is surrounded
by high mountains and offers an excellent view of
Chaukhamba peaks.
Gaurikund :
It is the base for a trek to Kedarnath and serves as a
roadhead. The village has a temple dedicated to Gauri
and hot water springs.
Trijuginarayan :
According to legend,this was the place where the wedding
of Lord Shiva and Parvati was solemnised. In front of
the Shiva Temple.
Ukhimath :
Winter home of the deity at Kedarnath temple and the
seat of the rawal of Kedarnath.Cinnected by bus services
to Rudraprayag and other major centers.
Madmaheshwar
: One of Panch Kedars, the temple of Madmaheshwar is
located at an altitude of 3,289 mt above sea-level, on
the slope of a ridge, 25 km north-east of Guptkashi.
There is a motorable road from Guptashi to Kalimath.
The best statue of Har Gauri in India measuring over a
metre high is found in the kali temple. The trek from
Kalimath to Madmaheshwar is distinguished by wild
unparalleled scenic beauty and engulfed by Chaukhamba,
Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks. Gaundar at the confluence
of Madmeshwar Ganga and Markanga Ganga, is the last
settlement before one reaches Madmaheshwar, the place
where Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of belly.
Tungnath :
The arms of Lord Shiva came out as per the Kedarnath
myth at Tungnath. He is worshipped here as one of the
Panch Kedars. Tungnath Temple at an altitude of 3,680mt
is the highest Shiva shrine among the Panch kedars but
the easiest to reach from Chopta, the nearest roadhead.
Rudranath :
The face of Lord Shiva is worshipped at the Rudranath
temple, at an elevation of 2,286 mt above sea-level and
is 23 km from Gopeshwar. 5 km of the has to be trekked.
The trek passes through wild orchards and picturesque
bugyals and involves trekking over high ridges (some
times 4,000 mt). The temple site provides magnificent
views of Hathi Parvat, Nanda Devi, Nanda Ghungti,
Trishuli and many other peaks. There are a number of
holy Kund near Rudranath temple namely - Suryakund,
Chandrakund, Tarakund etc. The entire area is utterly
enchanting and unmatched in scenic beauty.Anusuya Devi
temple is located on the trek to Rudranath involving an
additional trek of 3 km.
Kalpeshwar :
The more hardy to tourist may like to trek about 35 km
to Kalpeshwar, where the locks (hair) with head, of Lord
Shiva are worshipped. Located in Urgam Valley at an
altitude of 2,134 mt above sea-level, the temple is a
further 10 k m trek from Rudranath to Helong, the motor
head on Rishikesh- Badrinath route.
Deoria Tal :
At an altitude of 2,440 mt, the beautiful lake of Deoria
Tal is located on the Chopta - Ukhimath motor road about
3 km away from Sari. Another trek is from Ukhimath.
In the early morning, the snow Kedarnath are clearly
refected on the lake waters. The lake also provides an
excellent venue for angling, as well as birdwatching.
Badrinath:
Situated 297 kms from the holy town of Rishikesh and
about 600 kms from Delhi, Badrinath lies at an elevation
of 3,133 m above sea-level. Considered to be amongst the
most pious of the eternal Hindu shrines of Kedarnath,
Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Badrinath is located
in the lap of Nar-Narayan Parvat, with the Neelkanth
peak(6,597m) overlooking in the background.
It is to the credit of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, who in
order to revive the lost prestige of Hinduism and to
unite the country in one bond, built four dhamas or
pilgrimage centers in four corners of the country.
Badrinath temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is located
on the right bank of river Alaknanda, perched at an
altitude of over 3000m in the middle of a valley full
with scenic beauty.
Whether someone agrees or not, it has been said that:
"there were many sacred spots of pilgrimage in heaven,
earth and the other world, but neither is any equal to
Badrinath nor shall there be one".
Even minus this religious claim, Badrinath has some
scintillating scenic beauty and rare recreational spots
in the vicinity. Indeed, an universal attraction.
The present temple was built about two centuries ago by
the kings of Garhwal. The principal idol in the temple
is of black stone and represents Vishnu seated in a
meditative pose, and flanked by Nara-Narayan. Badrinath
is also known as Vishal Badri and is one of the Panch
Badris.
The temple remains closed from October to April due to
severe winter conditions. During this period the idols
of Utsavo Murti are taken to Pandukeshwar.
Badrinath Temple(Adi Shankaracharya Ji)
The Temple has been renovated several times due to
damage by avalanches. The present structure is 15 mtrs
high and has a gilded cupola. The rawal or chief priest
of the temple is a Namboodripad Brahmin from Kerala. 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.
Tapt Kund And Surya Kund
The famous hot springs just below the temple. The
sulphurous waters have a temperature of 550C. A dip,
considered holy and refreshing to the body as well as
the soul, is a must before offering prayers to Shri
Badrinath ji.
Neelkanth
A majestic peak of the Himalayas, towering to 6600 mtrs,
presents the most dramatic sight of Badrinath.
Mata Murti Mandir
About 3 km from Badrinath, on the right bank of the
Alaknanda stands this temple, dedicated to the mother of
Shri Badrinathji.
Mana Village
4 km. Inhabited by an Indo-Mongolian tribe, it is the
last Indian village before Tibet on this route.
Vyas Gufa, Ganesh Gufa, Bhimpul and Vasundhara Falls
3-6 km. All these destinations are famous for their
links with Hindu mythology and form part of the
pilgrimage of Badrinath.
Govindghat, Ghangaria
24 km. Here the Alaknanda and Laxman ganga meet.
Provides access to the famous Valley of Flowers National
Park (19 km) and Hemkund Sahib (20 km).
Vasuki Tal
This is high altitude lake which can be reached by an 8
km trek that ascends to 14,200 feet.
Hemkund Sahib
45 km.
Deoprayag
70 km from Rishikesh. The confluence of Rivers Alaknanda
and Bhagirathi this is an important pilgrim spot with
its famous Shiv and Raghunath temples.
Shrinagar
105 km from Rishikesh. An important cultural and
educational centre, this old capital of Garhwal was once
completely destroyed in the Gohna Lake dam-burst. Places
to visit here are the Kamleshwar and Kalpaveshwar
Temples and the Shankar Math.
Rudra Prayag
137 km from Rishikesh. The confluence of the Alaknanda
and Mandakini. The temples that dot this region are
those of Rudranath and Chamunda Devi. A road branches
from here to Kedarnath.
Karna Prayag
169 km from Rishikesh. The confluence of the Alaknanda
and Pindar rivers, where there are temples dedicated to
Uma and Karn.
Nand Pyarag
169 km from Rishikesh. The confluence of the Alaknanda
and Pindar rivers, where there are temples dedicated to
Uma and Karn.
Nand Prayag
190 km from Rishikesh, where the River Alaknanda meets
the River Mandakini. An important pilgrim centre that
has the temple of Gopalji.
Bhavishya Badri
It is commonly believed that in the course of centuries,
the road from Joshimath to Badrinath will be blocked.
This will happen because the two hills flanking
Badrinath will become joined. Then will the temples at
Bhavishya Badri, one of the Panch Badri's, be
worshipped. The other four are Vishal Badri (Badrinath),
Yoga Badri (Pandukeshwar), Adi Badri and Vridha Badri
(at Animath, near Joshimath).
Adi Badri
Situated at an altitude of 3,200 feet, Adi Badri has
ancient temples. It is 17 km from Karnaprayag on the
Karnaprag-Ganai-Ranikhet route. Accommodation is
available at a PWD Inspection Bungalow.
Time of Yatra will decide by the yatra comatte . We
arrange chardham yatra from delhi for any Information u
are free to call us in office hours. |
