Char Dham Yatra
Importance of Chardham
In India
the Hindu traditions speak volume about India. Yamunotri, Gangotri, Sri
Kedarnathji and Sri Badrinathji, collectively concerned as the Char Dham
(four pilgrimage centres) of Hinduism. For centuries, saints and
pilgrims, in their search for the divine, have walked these occult vales
known in ancient Hindu scriptures as 'Kedarkhand' If the scriptures of
HINDU RELIGION are to be believed, the holy centres of Gangotri,
Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath - conjointly called the Chardham
(meaning four hallowed places) - are the most hallowed of all
pilgrimages. Undertaking a journey to these places will not just wash
away one's sins but ensure release from the cycle of birth and death.
Char Dham Yatra Packages (10Days -9Nights)
Haridwar - Barkot - Yamunotri - Utterkashi - Gangotri - Rudraprayag -
Kedarnath - Joshimath - Badrinath - Rishikesh - Haridwar
Day 01: Haridwar - Barkot (220
Kms/7Hr)
Haridwar - Barkot (220 Kms/7Hr)
Day 02: Barkot - Yamunotri - Barkot {36 Kms drive &
7kms Trek (one side)}
Drive to Hanuman Chatti, from here you have to take local jeeps for
Janki chatti (It helps to reduce the trek upto 8 kms), trek start from
here to Yamunotri (6kms). Either by walk or by horse or by Doli at own
cost. Arr. Yamunotri, One can cook rice by packing it in a cloth and
dipping it in the hot water of the hot kund. Pilgrims take this cooked
rice home as "Prasad". Here near the temple "Pooja"
can be offered to Divya Shila, After taking bath in Jamunabai Kund's
warn water and having "Darshan" of pious "Yamunaji"
returning to Hanumanchatti. Later drive back to Barkot. Overnight stay
at Hotel.
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 03: Barkot - Uttarkashi (100 Kms/4Hr)
Drive to Uttarkashi via Barkot. Check in Hotel, Later visit Vishwanath
Temple. 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 04: Uttarkashi - Gangotri - Uttarkashi (100 Kms/3Hr
each side)
We proceed to Gangotri (3048 mts), enroute we enjoy picturesque Harsil
village, Bhagirathi River and the most magnificent view of the
Himalayas. After Gangotri Darshan we return to Uttarkashi. 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 05: Uttarkashi - Rudraprayag (175 Kms/6Hr)
Early morning, drive to Rudraprayag. 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 06: 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 r! emaining
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 07: 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 08: 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 09: Badrinath Joshimath (44Kms/3Hr) /
Kirtinagar (200Kms/7Hr) - 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. Check in Hotel. Overnight stay at Joshimath.
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 10: Joshimath - Rishikesh (254Kms/8Hr) / Kirtinagar
Rishikesh (100Kms/3Hr) Haridwar (20Kms)- 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
Haridwar.

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