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Kedarnath
Badrinath Yatra (7 Nights / 8 Days)
Delhi - Haridwar - Rudraprayag - Kedarnath - Joshimath -
Badrinath - Rishikesh - Delhi
Day 1: Delhi -
Haridwar (230 kms/6hrs)
Arrival Delhi Railway Station, Meet & Assist further drive
to Haridwar. Later drive to Haridwar transfer to your Hotel.
Visit Har-ki-Pauri for Ganga Aarti in evening. Back to your
hotel, Night halt.
Haridwar: Haridwar,
lying at the feet of Shiva's hills, i.e., Shivaliks, in the
Haridwar district of Uttaranchal Pradesh, is a doorway.
Suryavanshi prince Bhagirath performed penance here to
salvage the souls of his ancestors who had perished due to
the curse of sage Kapila. The penance was answered and the
river Ganga trickled forth forms Lord Shiva's locks and its
bountiful water revived the sixty thousand sons of king
Sagara. In the traditional of Bhagirath, devout Hindus stand
in the sacred waters here, praying for salvation of their
departed elder. It is doorway to the sources of the Ganga
and the Yamuna, 3000 to 4500 meters up into the snowy ranges
of the central Himalayas. The 'Aarti' worship of the Ganga
after sunset and the floating 'dia' (lamp) is a moving
ritual.
Temples & Sight Seeing:
Har-ki-Pauri, Chandi Devi & Mansa Devi Temple, Daksha
Mahadev Temple, Bilkeshwar Mahadev, Anandmai Ashram, Pawan
Dham, Bhooma Niketan, Vaishno Devi Temple, Doodhadhari
Temple & Bharat Mata Mandir.
Day 02: Haridwar - Rudraprayag (160kms/5hr)
Morning visit Haridwar Local Sight Seeing, later drive to
Rudraprayag enroute visit Deoprayag. Check in Hotel, night
halt.
Rudraprayag: It is the
confluence of river Mandakini and river Alaknanda.
Temples: Rudranath and
Chamunda Devi, Koteshwar Temple (3 Kms).
Day 03: Rudraprayag - Kedarnath (75kms by road & 14kms
Trek)
Morning drive to Gaurikund, Trek start from Gaurikund to
Kedarnath (3584 mts) on foot or on by pony / Doli. Tour
members should carry personal medicines, heavy woolen,
toiletries and clothes for an overnight halt at Kedarnath.
Check in Hotel. Later visit Kedarnath Temple. Night halt.
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 04: Kedarnath - Rudraprayag (14Kms Down Trek &
75kms/3hr by Road)
Early morning, after Temple Darshan trek down to Gaurikund.
Later, drive to Rudraprayag via Guptkashi. Check in Hotel at
Rudraprayag. Night Halt.
Day 05: Rudraprayag - Badrinath (165kms/7hr)
Drive to Badrinath via Joshimath. Check in Hotel. Later at
evening visit Badrinath Temple for Aarti. Overnight stay.
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 "Badri
van", meaning "forest of berries".
Tapt Kund: Natural
thermal springs on the bank of the river Alaknanda, where it
is customary to bathe before entering the Badrinath temple.
Narad Kund: A recess in
the river, near Tapt Kund, forming a pool from where the
Badrinath idol was recovered.
Brahama Kapal: A flat
platform on the bank of river Alaknanda. Hindus perform
proppitiating rites for their deceased ancestors.
Sheshnetra: 1.5kms. away
is a boulder having an impression of the legendary serpent,
better known as the Sheshnag's eye.
Charanpaduka: 3kms. away
is a beautiful meadow where the footprint of Lord Vishnu is
seen on a boulder.
Mata Murty Temple:
Devoted to the mother of Sri Badrinathji. Other important
temples include Sesh Netra Temple, Urvashi Temple and
Charanpaduka.
Mana Village: Inhabited
by an Indo-Mongolian tribe, it is the last Indian village
before Tibet.
Vasundhara: As the name
suggests, vasundhara is a magnificent water fall. This place
is 5 kms. from Badrinath out of which 2 kms. is motorable
upto Mana.
Bhim Pul: On the other
side of Mana village, a massive rock forming a natural
bridge, lies over the roaring Saraswati river. It presents a
spectacular view of water thundering down through the narrow
passage under the rock and is believed to have been placed
there by Bhim, the second eldest among the five Pandava
brothers.
Vyas Gufa (cave): Near
Mana Village, this is a rock-cave where Ved Vyas is believed
to have composed the Mahabharata and the pauranic
commentaries.
Day 06: Badrinath - Joshimath (44kms/3hr) / Kirtinagar
(200kms/8hr)
Early morning, pilgrims after having a bath in the Taptkund
have the Darshan of Badrivishal. Brahamakapal is significant
for Pinddan Shraddh of ancestors (Pitrus). There are other
interesting sight seeing spot like Mana, Vyas Gufa,
Maatamoorti, Charanpaduka, Bhimkund and the "Mukh" of the
Saraswati River. Just within the three kms of Badrinathjee.
Later drive back to Joshimath/Kirtinagar. Check in Hotel.
Overnight stay at Joshimath/Kirtinagar.
Joshimath: is situated
on the slopes above the confluence of Alaknanda and
Dhauliganga. Of the four 'Maths' established by Adi
Shankaracharya, Joshimath is in the Badrinath to Joshimath
and installed in the temple for people to worship.
There are many
temples in the township most important is the temple of Nir
Singh in commotion of Lord Vishnu. The left arm of this
deity is with time and the popular belief holds that the day
the the arm completely withers Badrinath valley will cease
to exist and the Gods will transfer the residence into the
neighboring Niti Valley at Bhavishya Badri. Joshimath is
connected by regular bus service to Rishikesh, Haridwar,
Badrinath and many other centres in the region.
Day 07: Joshimath - Rishikesh (254kms/8hr) / Kirtinagar –
Rishikesh (100kms/3.5hr)
Early morning, visit Narsingh Temple & Shankracharaya Math.
Later, Drive back to Rishikesh. Check in Hotel. Overnight
stay.
Rishikesh: the 'place of
sages' is a celebrated spiritual town on the bank of Ganga
and is surrounded by Shivalik range of the Himalayas on
three sides. It is said that when Raibhya Rishi did hard
penances, God appeared by the name of " Hrishikesh " and
this area hence firth came to be known as Rishikesh.
Temples & Sight Seeing:
Laxman Jhulla, Ram Jhulla, Triveni Ghat, Bharat Mandir,
Shivananda Ashram, Parmarth Ashram.
Day 08: Rishikesh - Delhi (230kms/7hr)
Morning, visit Rishikesh Local Sight seeing & Temples. Later
drive back to Delhi. On Arr. Delhi, transfer to Railway
Station / Airport. Tour Terminate. |
