Uttaranchal - the land of gods, the home of Himalayas and truly a paradise on earth, allures everyone from everywhere. The fresh air, the pure water, the chilling snow, the adversing mountains, the scenic beauty, the small villages, the simpler people and a tougher lifesytle is what that distinguishes Uttaranchal from rest of the world.Also known as Dev Bhumi, Uttaranchal is a boon for the pilgrim tourists. The Maha Kumba Mela, the Char Dham Yatra and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra give Uttaranchal an international recognisance. The major pilgrim places include Haridwar, Rishikesh, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Devprayag, Nandadevi and Purnagiri.
Uttaranchal is a paradise for nature lover's and adventure sports enthusiasts. Mussoorie, the 'Queen of Hills'; Nainital, the 'Lake District'; Kausani, the 'Switzerland of India'; Ranikhet, Pithoragarh, Pauri and Munsyari are just few highlights for the nature lovers. For adventure and excitement, one may choose Mountaineering (Bhagirathi, Chowkhamba, Nanda Devi, Kamet, Pindari, Sahastrataal, Milam, Kafni, Khatling, Gaumukh), Trekking, Skiing (Auli, Dayara Bugyal, Munsyari, Mundali), Skating, Water Sports like rafting, boating and angling and Aero Sports like Hand Gliding, Paragliding (Pithoragarh, Jolly Grant, Pauri).
The State is also a treasure house of exotic flora and fauna and is an ideal location for eco-tourism, as well as wildlife tourism. The world-famous Jim Corbett National Park is the pride of Uttaranchal. Other important sanctuaries are, Rajaji National Park, Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, Asan Barrage, Chilla etc.
Last but not the least, the rich cultural traditions and the cool and invigorating climate of Uttaranchal sums up for a perfect holiday destination to relax and unwind.
Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand is blessed with such a natural beauty that you must once visit or you will miss something in life. Himalayan ranges, the sacred rivers, lakes, natural forests, wildlife, geographical diversity, own cultural significance, religious well-being have made Uttarakhand the heaven on earth.
Glaciers
Uttarakhand abounds a number of spectacular Glaciers at a very high altitudes which is one of the main attractions amongst tourists. These glaciers are perfect destinations of enthusiastic adventure loving trekkers both from India and abroad. While some glaciers are considered Holy and sacred by Hindu, other are visited for their Sheer beauty and serenity. There are as many as 917 glaciers in Uttarakhand. Out of these 238 Glaciers found in Bhagirathi, 326 in Alaknanda, 264 in Kaliganga and 50 in Yamuna region. IN whole of Himalaya there are 46298 Glaciers which are spared in any area of 59406 Sq. Km.
The Glaciers in uttarakhand source some of the most important river system of India. While the river Ganga has its origin in the melt waters of Gangotri Glacier, the melt water of Yamunotri Glaciers feed the headstream of river Yamuna. The biggest Glaciers of uttarakhand is Gangotri Glaciers which is receding and a rate of 17 Meter annually and already receded many Km. in last few years. While there are hundreds of Glaciers forming in amongst the snow capped regions of Himalayas, only few of them are significant from tourism point of view. Such as
Glaciers in Uttarakhand
1. Milam Glacier :Milam is one of the largest and major Glacier in the Kumaon region. height of 4250 meters above the sea level.It is spread over 37 sq kms and is approximately 27 km long.
2. Doonagiri Glacier : 5.5 km long Doongiri Glacier extending at a height of 5150 mtrs to 4240 mtrs forms Dhauli Ganga.
3. Chorabari Glacier : A glacier at a height of 3800 metre. Chorabari Glacier starts from its accumulation zone ( 6000 mtrs) and terminates at 3800 mtrs
4. Maikoti Glacier :To the west of the Pindari Glacier, situated on the southern slope of the Sunderdhunga Khal, is the 5 km long Maiktoli Glacier.
5. Kaphini Glacier :Kafni is situated left of Pindar Valley, below the famous peak of Nandkot and to the southeast of Nanda Devi peak.Kafni glacier gives rise to river Kafni which is a tributary of river Pindar.
6. Gangotri Glacier : Gangotri Glacier originates at a height of 7,100 mts above the sea level. The glacier lies within a span of 28 kms and terminates at Gaumukh which is at 3892 mts.
7. Namik Glacier : The glacier is surrounded by peaks like Nanda Devi (7,848 m), Nanda Kot (6,861 m), and Trishuli (7,120 m).The glacier falls on ancient Indo-Tibet trade route.
8. Pindari Glaciers : Pindari Glacier is in Bageshwar district (Kumaon) at an altitude Variation of 3,600m to 5,000m.It occupies an area of 339.39-sq-kms.
9. Nandadevi Glacier :
10. Khatling Glacier : surrounded by snow capped peaks of Jogin group (6646 mts.), Sphetic Pristwar (6905 mts.), Barte Kauter (6579 mts.), Kirti Stambh (6902 mts.) and Meru.
11. Ralam Glacier :This magnificent glacier is situated at an elevation of 2, 290 meters above the sea level near Ralam Dhura at Ralam Khal in pithoragarh district.
12. Sunderdhunga Glacier : The elevation of the Sunderdungs glacier spans from 3200 mtrs to 6050 mtrs.
13. Dokriani Glacier : A glacier at a height of 3800 metre. 5 km long Dokriani Glacier flows in the northwest direction, originating from northern slope of Draupadi – ka – Danda and Jaonli Peak.
14. Tiprabamak Glacier : Tiprabamak glacier is in Garhwal Region. It’s the 6-km long glacier, the longest Glacier Of Bhyundar Ganga Basin.
15. Bander Punchh Glacier : A glacier at a height of 4442 metre. Banderpoonch Glacier is 12 km long and located at the northen slopes of Banderpoonch Peak, Banderpoonch west and khatling peak.
16. Satopnath and Bhagirathi-Khark Glacier :These glaciers are 13 and 18 km long respectively and terminate at an elevation of 3810 m and 3820 m, respectively.
Tourism in Uttarakhand
urism is flourishing in Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand, the land well equipped with all kinds of beauties and significance to attract visitors around the globe. Internal and international tourism is growing day by day. Besides the growing number of tourists, Uttarakhand is as clean and beautiful as ever.
Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand is unbeatable for religious tourism. May to October, the land of God is visited by the pilgrims around the globe. Char Dham of Uttarakhand – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath are the major destinations of devotees. But devotees also visit other pilgrimages like Panch Badri, Panch Kedar, Panch Prayag and Hem Kund Sahib around Uttarakhand. There are Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries scattered densely around Uttarakhand making it Dev Bhoomi.
Uttarakhand has enough space for those who will to trek through the mountains and forests. The trekking routes lead to glaciers, temples, lakes, waterfalls and towns. Trekking, camping, rafting, skiing, mountaineering, rock climbing are the major activities that adventurer tourists choose for recreation in Uttarakhand. The hills in the north of Uttarakhand are covered with snow during the winter which provides boundless opportunities for tourists to refresh. Auli, Mundali, Dayara Bugyal, Munsyari are some of the skiing destinations of sports lovers.
Students and researchers are attracted by the diverse varieties of flora and fauna and natural habitat of Uttarakhand. Herbs and variety of species of wildlife make Dev Bhoomi richer. National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries have protected many endangered species of animals and opened a vast research area for botanists, zoologists, ornithologists and ecologists. Some of the must visit places parks and sanctuaries are Valley of Flowers National Park, Jim Corbett National Park, Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary, Aranyam Eco and Herbal Park, Jhilmil Tal Conservation Reserves.
Nature lovers fall in love with the lakes, hills, rivers, forests and mesmerizing beauty of Uttarakhand. What would be more fascinating than witnessing the nature to full length?
Some of the major trekking destinations are:
Adi Kailash,
Auli,
Barkot,
Bedni Ali Bugyal,
Bhojbasa,
Chandrashila,
Chopta,
Dayara Bugyal,
Deoria Tal,
Dodital,
Gandhi Sarovar,
Gangnani,
Ghangaria,
Ghuttu,
Govind Wildlife Sanctuary,
Govindghat,
Hanuman Chatti,
Har Ki Doon,
Hemkund Sahib,
Kalpeshwar,
Kedar Tal,
Kedarnath,
Madhyamaheshwar,
Milam Glacier,
Mori,
Munsyari,
Nanda Devi National Park,
Roopkund,
Rudranath,
Sunderdhunga Glacier,
Tunganath,
Valley of Flowers National Park,
Yamunotri.
Piligrimage in Uttarakhand
Char Dham of Uttarakhand are believed to open gateway to heaven for the pilgrims. Taking dip in the Har-ki-pauri (steps of lord Shiva), entering through Haridwar (gateway to lord Vishnu), reaching to the Kedarnath(temple of lord Shiva) and Badrinath (temple of lord Vishnu) is a lifetime desire of every Hindu devotee. While in a pilgrimage tour, Panch Kedar (five forms of lord Shiva), Panch Badri (five forms of lord Vishnu), Panch Prayag (five confluences of sacred Ganga), Hemkund Sahib, Haridwar and Ganga ghats, Rishikesh are some of the places you won’t want to miss not just as they are in route but what they hold is not elsewhere.
Sacred water of Yamuna from Yamunotri and Ganga from Gangotri are taken home by Char Dham pilgrims. Water of these sacred rivers is used in all sacred functions of Hindu families. The route traditional pilgrims follow is Haridwar – Rishikesh – Devprayag – New Tehri – Chamba – Dharasu – Barkot – Hanumanchhatti – Janakichhatti – Yamunotri. Gangotri is the second of Char Dhams, you will have to get back from Dharasu and go to Uttarkashi and pass through Harsil – Bharavghatti – Gangroti. After finishing the rituals (if you have any) and endorsing yourself in the serene beauty of Gangotri, you should get back to Uttarkashi then follow through new Tehri – Tilwara – Guptakashi – Gaurikund and finally you reach Kedarnath, the third of Char Dham. Here too, you get back to Guptakashi, make way to Ukhimath – Gopeshwar – Chamoli – Joshimath – Govindghat – Hanumanchhatti and finally reach Badrinath, the last of four Dhams of Uttarakhand.
The return journey route is Badrinath – Joshimath – Chamoli – Karnaprayag – Rudraprayag – Srinagar – Rishikesh – Haridwar.
This route follows the Hindu ritual of Parikrama (circumference) but Rishikesh – Devprayag – Srinagar – Rudraprayag – Augustyamuni – Guptakashi – Gaurikund – Kedarnath could be an alternative route that you can follow if you want to skip Yamunotri and Gangotri.
Uttarakhand is a huge blessed shrine endowed with uncountable pilgrimages, some more names are here:
Adi Badri,
Adi Kailash,
Almora,
Baijnath,
Dwarahat,
Gangnani,
Gangolihat,
Ghangaria,
Hemkund Sahib,
Jageshwar,
Kalpeshwar,
Madhyamaheshwar,
Nanakmatta,
Nandprayag,
Patal Bhuvaneshwar,
Pinar Kaliyar Sharif,
Rudranath,
Tungnath,
Vishnuprayag.
Panch Prayag
Prayag in English means confluence. Confluences are considered sacred in Hinduism where people take bath before worship, Shraddha (the last rites for the departed ancestors) and the worship of river itself. There are five sacred confluences widely known as Panch (five) Prayag in Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand namely Vishnuprayag, Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag and Devprayag.
River Ganga, when fell to earth to wipe away the ashes of King Bhagirath’s ancestors, divided into 12 streams to make it easier for earth to endure her force. Panch Prayag are the places where five different streams of Ganga confluence at five different places one after another. Alakhananda meets Dhauli Ganga at Vishnuprayag, then she meets Nandakini river and creates Nandprayag. She now moves to form Karnaprayag uniting with Pindar river, then goes to meet Mandakini river and forms Rudraprayag and finally mixes with Bhagirathi river and forms the last of five prayags, Devprayag.
Large religious towns have developed, named after the confluences- Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag and Nandprayag, as thousands of pilgrims come every year to the pilgrimages with faith and devotion. There is no town at Vishnuprayag, the nearest town is Joshimath, itself a famous religious spot.
Nandprayag
The confluences of the Alaknanda and Nandakini rivers forms Nand Prayag at 914 mts. Trekkers are often seen here on their way to Tapovan across Kunwari pass, or on their way to Roopkund. This beautiful spot is a major tourist point.
It is said that the confluence is named for the pious Raja Nanda who had performed a huge fire purification ceremony here. According to one legend, the king had been granted to Devaki, the imprisoned sister of the tyrant king Kansa. Ultimately, the gods found an ingenuous if wily solution: Vishnu would be born as Krishna to Devaki but would be brought up by Nanda’s wife, yashoda.
Devprayag
Deoprayag is a spiritual metaphor, a beautiful showcase of traditions, myths and mysticism. Here the holy rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet, making it a unique confluence alike the Triveni of Allahabad.
From here the two rivers merge into one and becomes the “Ganga”.
Deoprayag is not situated at a great height, just at the altitude of 618mts from the sea level, but it’s endowed with abundant natural beauty.
According to belief, Lord rama and his father King Dashratha did penance here. The main temple is “Rudranath Temple”, dedicated to Lord Rama.
ACCESSIBILITY :
List Tick Deoprayag is at a distance of 70kms from Rishikesh.
List Tick The nearest airport is Jolly Grant at Dehradun, 90kms.
List Tick The nearest railhead is Rishikesh, 70kms.
List Tick By road, Deoprayag is well connected with Rishikesh and other parts of the garhwal Himalayas.
Vishnuprayag
Formed by the confluences of the impetuous Vishnu Ganga (known, after this point, as the Alaknanda) and the Dhauliganga rivers, Vishnu Prayag , 1,372 m. has an ancienttemple here by a pool called Vishukund. It is said that the sage Narada worshipped Vishnu at this sanctified spot, and the Lord, pleased with his austerities, had given him his blessings.
Visitors are find the Kagbhusandi lake bewitching with its emerald green depths giving it a still surface, while on the banks, blossoms evoke the colors of nature in all her glory. The lake can be approached from either Bhundar village near Ghangaria or from Vishnu Prayag.
ACCESSIBILITY :
Nearest Airport : Jolly Grant 284 Km.
Nearest Rail : Rishikesh 268 Km.
PLACES NEAR BY :
* Badrinath
* Auli
* Nandprayag
* Vishnu Hydro Electric Project
* Valley of Flowers
* Hemkund Sahib “The Holy place of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji”
* Hanuman Chatti
* Kagbhushandi Lake
RIVERS:
* Alaknanda River
* Dhauliganga River
Rudraprayag
Rudraprayag, at the confluence of the holy rivers Alaknanda and Mandakini is named after Lord Shiva. According to “Puranas”, the divine messenger Narada meditated here, to appease his lord. Lord Shiva appeared in his “Rudra” (violent) incarnation to bless him. It’s the very place where Sati, the wife of Shiva was reborn after self immolation at her father’s place. The centre point of the town is the ancient temple of Rudranath (Shiva).
ACCESSIBILITY :
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant at a distance of 158 kms. The nearest railhead is Rishikesh, 142 kms. Nearest major town is Srinagar.
Being at the crossroads of Kedarnath (84 kms.) and Badrinath (159 kms.), Rudraprayag is easily accessible by roads. All the important places of the Garhwal region are connected with the town, through buses.
PLACES NEAR BY:
* Guptakashi
* Sonprayag
* Agastyamuni
* Tungnath
* Madhyamaheshwar
* Syalsaur
* Dhargi Devi
TEMPLES NEAR BY:
* Rudranathji Temple
FAMOUS FOR RUDRANATH TEMPLE:
Rudraprayag is situated on the confluence of the rivers Mandakini and Alaknanda. It is home to the Rudranath Temple that is dedicated to Shiva. Near the temple is the place where Narada, an ancient Indian sage reputed to be the inventor of the veena, a musical instrument, is believed to have meditated.
RIVERS:
* Alaknanda
* Mandakini
Panch Kedar
Panch Kedar refers to the five temples of Lord Shiva popularly known as Kedarnath, Madhyamaheshwar, Tungnath, Rudranath and Kalpeshwar. According to the legend, The temple finds its mention from the times of Mahabharata. It is said that when the five Pandava brothers were asked to seek Shiva’s blessings, purging them off sin of fratricide, or killing their cousin brothers in the terrifying bettle of Kurukshetra. Lord Shiva 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 behind his hump on the surface. His body got divided into parts, which fell at different places. At Kedarnath, his hump was left and is worshipped as the idol in the shrine. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva are worshipped at four other places – Arms (Bahu) at Tungnath,Face (Mukh) at Rudranath,Navel (Nabhi) at Madmaheshwar,Hair (Jata) at Kalpeshwar.Together with Kedarnath, these places are known as the Panch Kedar Five Abode of lord Shiva.
1. KedarNaath
2.Madhyamaheshwar
3. TungNaath
4. RudraNaath
5. Kalpeshwar
Kedarnath:The temple of Kedarnath (3583 m) shows its first glimpse after a trek of about 500 meters on one the most scenic locations of the Uttarakhand Himalayas. The toddler Mandakini finds her way out from the womb of the massive glacier behind Kedarnath. The temple is “one of the twelve Jyotirlinga of lord Shiva” and is the northernmost located shrine out of the Chaar Dhaam of Uttarakhand. An interesting belief leads to such logic for the distance.
According to the legends, the Pandavas of the great epic Mahabharat went to Shiva for emancipation from of the curse of killing their kinsmen and the Kauravas in the Great War. Lord Shiva was not very amused with the deeds of the Pandavas so in order to avoid them the lord escaped from Uttarkashi to Guptkashi in the guise of a bull but when the Pandavas identified the lord from the flock of cattle He escaped further and ducked Himself to the ground as the gigantic Bhim of the five Pandavas was about to catch hold of the bull disguised lord. Only the hump of the lord remained on the ground, where the temple stands, whereas his torso appeared at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, Nepal. The other portions, namely face, hair coils, arms and navel appeared at Rudranath, Kalpeshwar, Tungnath and Madhyamaheshwar respectively. These shrines, including Kedarnath, are known as Panch Kedar or the five abodes of lord Shiva. The grey stone Kedarnath temple architecture reflects Katyuri style which is ceiled with wood topped by a gold kalash. The temple houses one sanctum sanctorum where a conical rock formation, the hump of the bull, is worshipped as lord Shiva and Gangajal carried from Gangotri is offered to Him. The Darshan Mandap is guarded by an idol of Nandi, the lord’s ride, and a large idol guards the temple from outside. The Sabha Mandap is adorned by the idols of Ganesh with Riddhi and Siddhi, Parvati, Laxmi and Vishnu, Krishna, Kunti, Yudhistir, Bhim, Arjun, Nakul, Sahdev, Draupadi and idols depicting Hindu mythology. Adiguru Shankaracharya came to the temple from Kerala with his followers in order to revive Hinduism in the country as Emperor Ashoka was overlapping it with Buddhism through his Dhamma Yatra. Adiguru attained Parinirvana near the temple at the age of 32 and ever since then his followers, who are Veera Shaiva from kerala, has been the Rawals or the chief priests of the temple who have settled in Ukhimath and Guptkashi. Puja is performed in the morning and in the evening after which Bhog (holy feast) is given to the pilgrims. The Shravani Annakoot Mela is observed a day before Raksha Bandhan in the month of August when cooked rice is first offered to the Jyotirlinga and then distributed as Bhog. The temple closes down on Yama Dwitiya, two days after Diwali and reopens on Akshaya Tritiya which falls in the last week of April or the first week of May. The winter seat of Kedarnath is the village of Ukhimath and it is a belief that Bhaironnath, whose temple is about 500 meters form the Kedarnath temple, guards the temple vicinity all through winter
Tungnath:The 30km drive from Ukhimath towards gopeshwar ascends through enchanting landscapes perched with the tranquil village of Dugalbita. The vast meadows of Chopta surrounded by thick forest serve as a halting joint for commuters between Ukhimath and Gopeshwar. The numerous eating joints enthrall with the tempting aroma of Jakhya fried Rajma and Culath. Chopta is the beginning point for the trek to the temple Tungnath. There is one GMVN guest house and some private tented accommodations available near at Chopta.
Tungnath is one of the Panch Kedar (five abode of Lord Shiva), where the lord’s arms appeared after He plunged Himself inside the earth following a pacification chase from the Pandavas to which the lord was unwilling as the Pandavas were guilty of killing their kinsmen in the great war of Mahabharat. Geographically, Tungnath (3660m) is the highest of all the Panch Kedars but at the same time it is the easiest to access through within comparatively very less time. It takes only 2 to 3 hours to cover 3km to the temple. The first short half on the wide path goes through mixed forest of Oak and Rhododendron which inhabits more than 76 species of exotic Himalayan birds. The Bandarpoonch peak and the Kedar massif showcase their impressive appearance on the west. Gradually, the dense forest gives way to the meadows and grass cushioned slopes which are the domain of rare Himalayan herbs. The varied wild flowers and berries are a visual and fragrant delight during monsoon. A research center for aromatic plants lies en route. A cup of hot noodles or noodles at the on route snack joint is an experience in itself. As the path broadens, a Ganesh temple on a rock signifies the religious importance of the area and act as the entrance to the abode of the almighty Shiva. The corridor housing eating joints and night shelters leads to the courtyard where the granite stone temple of Tungnath stands. A stone Nandi, the lord’s bull, guards the temple outside and the interiors are embellished with the idols of the Pandavas and Adiguru Shankaracharya and a black stone Shivalinga, which is worshiped as the arm of the lord, stands in the middle of the sanctum. Other temples in the vicinity are those of Parvati and Vyas. Most people return to Chopta the same day after Darshan as it is only about an hours matter downhill. However, basic accommodation is available at Tungnath and the vast meadow waits for those who intend to camp underneath the milky way over the land of the almighty Shiva.
Chandrashila Peak : Further north of Tunganath, about 2km, is the meadow known as Chandrashila (4130m) which is the vantage point for the amphitheater of the Alaknanda and Mandakini valleys which are dominated by the peaks like Nanda Devi, Chaukhamba, Kedarnath, Neelkanth, Gangotri and Bandarpoonch.
The place is divine and ideal for meditation. According to the legends, Chandrama (moon) did a long penance on the peak hence the name. Lord Rama also is said to have meditated at Chandrashila in pacification of Brahma Hatya as he killed Ravana who was a Brahmin.
Madhyamaheshwar:Madhyamaheshwar (Second abode of lord Shiva)
The trek to Madhyamaheshwar goes through some of the most enchanting terrains of Uttarakhand. The motor-able road stretches up till the village of Ransi from where onwards gradual and easy ascend leads to the meadow where the temple of Madhyamaheswar (3289m) stands midst the mixed individual oaks, rhododendron and birch often flaunt by the only sound and sight of the melodious and colorful monal pheasant, the state bird of Uttarakhand.
Madhyamaheshwar is one of the Panch Kedar (five abodes of Shiva) of Uttarakhand ideally situated. A tiny shrine, more of a stone pile, seems very ancient just a couple of 100 meters above where a black Shivling is evidently one of the oldest in the vicinity known as Budha (old) Madhyamaheshwar. According to the legends, lord Shiva was annoyed with the Pandavas of the epic Mahabharata as they killed theirs kinsmen in the Great War and the lord shunned the five brothers and their consort Draupadi when they reached Himalayas to seek amnesty from the Him. The lord disguised himself as a bull and lunged inside the earth at Kedarnath. It is believed that at Madhyamaheshwar the lord’s navel reappeared from beneath the earth thus coining the name as Madhya means middle in Hindi. However, the locals also support the theory of lord of intoxication as Maddh is the Hindi term for it.
The ancient temple is scenically located amidst a meadow adorned with a tiny settlement where delicious pahari food and cozy shelter makes it a memorable experience gazing the massive Chaukhamba peak (7138m) from any of the windows or just laying anywhere in the gentle cushion of grass of the meadow.
Rudranath:
One among the five of Panch Kedar pilgrimages dedicated to lord Shiva, Rudranath is situated in Chamoli district of Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand at an altitude of 2,286 meters above the sea level.
The story of formation of Panch Kedar is related to Pandavas of the Hindu holy epic Mahabharata. After the holy war Mahabharata in Kuruchhetra, Pandavas felt guilty about killing their kinsmen and others in the war. They wanted to get rid of the sins committed and so went to lord Shiva for rescue. Lord Shiva didn’t want to meet Pandavas, so he changed himself as bull. When Pandavas realized that lord Shiva has changed his form, they followed the bull. Unwilling to protect Pandavas from their sins, lord Shiva dived into the earth. In this course, his body parts submerged in earth. The place lord Shiva had dived was Kedarnath, his hump remained there and different body parts appeared at different places- hair in Kalpeshwar, navel and stomach in Madhyamaheshwar, face in Rudranath and arms in Tungnath.
Face of Lord Shiva is worshipped as Nilkantha Mahadev in Rudranath. Angry face of lord Shiva is worshiped as Rudra (Raudra) rup in Hinduism. Irritated and angry lord Shiva had dived into the earth and his angry face had appeared in the place, thus Rudranath. But in Rudranath, lord Shiva’s face has a mask or his Rudra rup and when the priest take off the mask for bathe, you can see the pleasing and charming face of lord Shiva which will provide answers to all your questions of life and you will feel emancipated. The path to Rudranath is tough and dangerous; one needs to have courage and deep desire. If you halt for the night and get up early, you may get chance to see the pleasing Shiva rup and feel blessed throughout your life.
When you are going to Kedarnath, you will start from Tungnath and reach Rudranath then you go to Madhyamaheshwar, Kalpeshwar is the forth and Kedarnath is the last of Panch Kedar. In the return journey, Rudranath is forth pilgrimage of Panch Kedar.
Near the Rudranath temple flows the holy Rudraganga popularly known as Vaitarani or Baitarani (the river of salvation in Hinduism which the dead souls must pass through or they won’t be freed). Hindu pilgrims perform Shraddha (last rites of dead ancestors) at Baitarani river. Once you are in Rudranath temple, you can view beautiful Nanda Ghunti, Nanda Devi, Trishul peak, Devasthan and Hathi parvat. There are many sacred water kund (lakes) like Surya-kund, Chandra-kund, Tara-kund, Mana-kund near the Rudranath temple.
Every year on the day of Rakshyabandhan (tying protective thread on wrist), the full moon day in the Hindu month of Sravan (July-August), an annual fair is celebrated in the temple. Locals attend the fair. Bhattas and Tiwaris of Gopeshwar village, 24km below Rudranath, are the priests of the temple. The best time to visit Rudranath is from April to November. During winter, the symbolic image of lord Shiva is brought to Gopinath temple of Gopeshwar for worship and return journey of the image is celebrated in special manner. the doli yatra (journey) begins from Gopeshwar, passes through Sagar, crosses Lyuti Bugyal and Panar and reach Pitradhar. At Pitradhar, they worship the ancestors. There is temple of Shiva, Parvati and Narayan (Vishnu) at Pitradhar. People keep stone at Pitradhar as house for their ancestors. The yatra continues crossing through Dhalabni Maidan and finally reaching Rudranath. They perform a worship of Vandevi as they believe that the area is protected by Vandevi.
Rudranath temple has staues of Pandavs, Kunti and Draupadi as well. Devotees take bath at Narad Kund before visiting the temple.
You will love to plan a trek to Rudranath Temple. The dense forests, beautiful meadows, enthralling springs, lovely peaks will make your tough journey easy and interesting. You will note the journey as a lifetime achievement that nourished your body, mind and soul. The return trek to Panar will be easy and quick. You can also use alternate route- you can walk down to village of Sagar (2000meters) and go to Mandal or Gopeshwar in jeeps. Jeeps are available there in regular intervals.
Char Dham
Pilgrims on the Char Dham pilgrimage of Uttarakhand usually visit Yamunotri and Gangotri and bring back the sacred waters from the origins of the rivers Yamuna and Ganga. The traditional pilgrimages follow the route of Haridwar – Rishikesh – Deo Prayag – New Tehri – Chamba – Dharasu – Barkot – Humanchatti – Jankichatti – Yamunotri – Dharasu – Uttarkashi – Harsil – Bharavghatti – Gangotri – Uttarkashi – New Tehri – Tilwara -Guptkashi – Gaurikund and Kedarnath, then to Badrinath via Guptkashi – Ukhimath – Gopeshwar – Chamoli – Joshimath – Govindghat – Humanchatti – Badrinath. The return journey route will be from Badrinath – Joshimath – Chamoli – Karanprayag – Rudraprayag – Srinagar – Rishikesh – Haridwar. This route is in accordance with the Hindu ritual of parikrama. However a possible alternative is the trail to Kedarnath from Rishikesh is via Deoprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Augustymuni, Guptkashi and Gaurikund.
Badrinath:
Pilgrims on the Char Dham pilgrimage of Uttarakhand usually visit Yamunotri and Gangotri and bring back the sacred waters from the origins of the rivers Yamuna and Ganga. The traditional pilgrimages follow the route of Haridwar – Rishikesh – Deo Prayag – New Tehri – Chamba – Dharasu – Barkot – Humanchatti – Jankichatti – Yamunotri – Dharasu – Uttarkashi – Harsil – Bharavghatti – Gangotri – Uttarkashi – New Tehri – Tilwara -Guptkashi – Gaurikund and Kedarnath, then to Badrinath via Guptkashi – Ukhimath – Gopeshwar – Chamoli – Joshimath – Govindghat – Humanchatti – Badrinath. The return journey route will be from Badrinath – Joshimath – Chamoli – Karanprayag – Rudraprayag – Srinagar – Rishikesh – Haridwar. This route is in accordance with the Hindu ritual of parikrama. However a possible alternative is the trail to Kedarnath from Rishikesh is via Deoprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Augustymuni, Guptkashi and Gaurikund.
Badrinath:
The last of the pilgrimage of the four Dhaams of Uttarakhand and the first of the four Dhaams of India, the shrine of Badrinath is seated at 3110 meters on the banks of Alaknanda river which dissects the beautiful valley dominated by the Nar and the Narayan mountains. The colorful intricate pahaari designed temple is nestled in the lap of the Narayan peak while the scenic Neelkanth Mountain guards from behind. Most of the township is inhabited in the lap of the Nar Mountain. The main gate, known as Singhdwar, leads to a Mandapam and the Garbhgriha (sanctum) where the black stone idol of Lord Vishnu is seated in Padmasana, a posture resembling more of the Bhodisatva than that of Vishnu. The idol was taken out from Narad Kund, a pond nearby, by Adiguru Shankaracharya who reinstalled it at the present location. Hinduism was under threat of overlapping by Buddhism when king Ashoka the great was spreading the new religion all over the Indian stretches through his Dhamma Yatra. It was then that Adiguru Shankaracharya went on a revival of Hinduism by establishing for Dhams at the four corner of the country.
Besides Badrinath in the north, other three Dhams include Dwarka Dham in the west, Jagannath Dham in the east and Rameshwaram Dham in the south. Other idols in the Badrinath temple are that of Laxmi, Ganesh, Nar, Narayan, Kuber, Uddhav, Garud, Narad and Ghanta Karn. Badrinath owes its name to Badri Van (wilderness of Badri, a berry) as according to the legends, Lord Vishnu himself meditated in the wilderness and his consort Laxmi adopted form of a Badri tree to shade the meditating Lord, hence the name Badrinath meaning the Lord of Badri. As the tradition goes, Kedarnath is to be visited first before the Darshan of Badrinath, therefore, the temple of Adi Kedareshwar stands nearby for those who miss the Darshan of Kedarnath. The Badrinath temple underwent renovations several times owing to heavy snowfall and avalanches. The present temple is estimated around two centuries old. Just outside the temple on the bank of Alaknanda, Brahma Kapal Tirth is the place were devotees offer puja for their ancestors after which, it is believed, that no other shraad puja (worship of the ancestors) is required to perform. A bath in Tapt Kund, the pond of natural hot water stream on the bank of Alaknanda, is simply rejuvenating and is mandatory before every puja. There is provision to prior booking for individual puja during early morning between 4:30 to 6:30 am for which the temple managenment has to be contacted. The priests in the temple, known as Rawal, are the successors of the Namboodiri Brahmins from Kerala who were appointed by the Adiguru Shankaracharya. These Namboodiri Brahmins are assisted by the local Dimri Brahmis of Uttarakhand. The temple timings are 4 am to noon and 3 to 9pm. The temple opens on an auspicious day that falls between the last week of April to the first week of May and closes somewhere in the last week of November. It is believed that the gods, the Yakshsa, the Kinnar and the Naag worship the lord during the winter hush.
Besides Badrinath in the north, other three Dhams include Dwarka Dham in the west, Jagannath Dham in the east and Rameshwaram Dham in the south. Other idols in the Badrinath temple are that of Laxmi, Ganesh, Nar, Narayan, Kuber, Uddhav, Garud, Narad and Ghanta Karn. Badrinath owes its name to Badri Van (wilderness of Badri, a berry) as according to the legends, Lord Vishnu himself meditated in the wilderness and his consort Laxmi adopted form of a Badri tree to shade the meditating Lord, hence the name Badrinath meaning the Lord of Badri. As the tradition goes, Kedarnath is to be visited first before the Darshan of Badrinath, therefore, the temple of Adi Kedareshwar stands nearby for those who miss the Darshan of Kedarnath. The Badrinath temple underwent renovations several times owing to heavy snowfall and avalanches. The present temple is estimated around two centuries old. Just outside the temple on the bank of Alaknanda, Brahma Kapal Tirth is the place were devotees offer puja for their ancestors after which, it is believed, that no other shraad puja (worship of the ancestors) is required to perform. A bath in Tapt Kund, the pond of natural hot water stream on the bank of Alaknanda, is simply rejuvenating and is mandatory before every puja. There is provision to prior booking for individual puja during early morning between 4:30 to 6:30 am for which the temple managenment has to be contacted. The priests in the temple, known as Rawal, are the successors of the Namboodiri Brahmins from Kerala who were appointed by the Adiguru Shankaracharya. These Namboodiri Brahmins are assisted by the local Dimri Brahmis of Uttarakhand. The temple timings are 4 am to noon and 3 to 9pm. The temple opens on an auspicious day that falls between the last week of April to the first week of May and closes somewhere in the last week of November. It is believed that the gods, the Yakshsa, the Kinnar and the Naag worship the lord during the winter hush.
Gangotri:
As the holiest river of India, Ganga has cherish and bonded the Hindu culture and belief since ages and has nurtured the great Indo – gigantic plains with its divine waters and fertile banks. For Indians Ganga is more than just a river and is rather a mother. The banks, ghat and prayag of Ganga has witnessed the maximum religious congregation than anywhere else in the entire country right from underneath the snout of Gaumukh in the greater Himalayas, from where the holy river blissfully emerges, till the point it gels in the waters of the Bay of Bengal covering 2,480 km knitting the bond of purity and holiness among the Indians.
Gangotri is the shrine dedicated to Ganga who is worshiped as a deity inside the white stone 20 ft high temple overlooking the vigorously flowing Bhagirathi which becomes Ganga after uniting with Alaknanda at deoprayag. Ganga had descended down to earth from heaven to purify one reason and eventually went on purifying the whole humanity ever since.
Yamunotri:
Gangotri is the shrine dedicated to Ganga who is worshiped as a deity inside the white stone 20 ft high temple overlooking the vigorously flowing Bhagirathi which becomes Ganga after uniting with Alaknanda at deoprayag. Ganga had descended down to earth from heaven to purify one reason and eventually went on purifying the whole humanity ever since.
Yamunotri:
Traditionally the first of the Char-Dham of Uttarakhand, Yamunotri is the iconic source of the holy river Yamuna. However, the actual source of the river is the Champasar glacier near the Saptrishi Kund of the eastern face of the Bandarpoonch peak. In the year 1816 British Army officer and world famous lithographer Sir James Frazer depicted the 3 feet tall temple with a priest performing pooja. Later the temple was rebuilt by the Maharaja of Tehri Sudarshan Shah around the year 1850. The temple was damaged several times owing to heavy snow. It was finally rebuilt by Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri with a black stone image of Yamuna and a white marble image of Ganga both worshipped as goddesses. An interesting story leads to the descending of Yamuna on earth. According to the legend, Surya Dev married Vishwakarma’s daughter Sangya but she couldn’t bear the heat of Surya Dev while intimacy for long after giving birth to Yama and Yamuna. She produced her clone Chhaya who could bear the heat owing to her long and dense locks. Sangya asked Chhaya to keep the secret; Chhaya agreed to the condition that nobody ever dishonor her hair. One day Yama accidentally kicked Chhaya while playing; Chhaya cursed Yama of a rotten leg. Surya Dev got furious and grabed Chhaya with her hair and the secret was revealed as chhaya broke down. Yamuna, out of love for his brother, descended down to earth to do penance to bring her brother out of the curse. Yamuna did penance for years and got her brother Yama out of the curse. Yamuna was blessed by her brother Yama, the god of death, with the omen that her devotees would be barred from akalmrityu (untimely death). The convention of Bhai-Dooj came into being ever since then. Hence, it is still a belief that a dip in Yamuna’s holy water would exclude from akalmrityu. There are a few hot water spring around the wooden temple out of which Suryakund is the prime one which was offered by Surya Dev himself to his beloved daughter Yamuna as a help to endeavor the harsh cold environ of the Kalind Parvat, the base of the Yamunotri temple. Pilgrims today boil rice and potato tied in a piece of cloth by dipping in the boiling water which cooks within minutes to serve as Prasad. A black stone slab, Divya Shila, where a hot water spring shoots out is worshipped first of all as the origin of the holy Yamuna. Pilgrims also carry the holy water of Yamuna to offer to lord Krishna as Yamuna was one of the queen’s of the lord. A small stream near the temple is worshipped as Ganga as according to the legends, sage Asit had his humble hermitage near the temple. The sage was such a devotee of both heavenly rivers Yamuna and Ganga that he would walk between the two every day to take divine bath in the holy waters of both. Over the period of time when he couldn’t continue because of old age, it is said that Ganga herself appeared for her devotee near the temple. The temple opens for pilgrims on the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritiya which fall around the last week of April to the first week of May. The closing down ceremony of the temple follows on Yama Dwitiya or on Bhai-Dooj, the second day of Diwali. The deity is then taken down to the village of Kharsali near Jankichhatti (2576m) the natives of which are the priests of the temple. The temple vicinity is then left by a complete hush with only sound of gently flowing Yamuna dripping from the ice snouts and rumbling through the pebbles.
PLACES ROUTE OF YAMUNOTRI
Barkot : Barkot (1828 m) is an upcoming township and is the last market on the route to Yamunotri. The town is beautifully located amidst buck weed fields, vast valley sliding down to the crystal clear energetically flowing Yamuna and the grand panorama of the distinctively beautiful Bandarpoonch massif. The fields of Barkot are famous for its Rajma, potato, pea, plum, pear, apple, apricot and walnut. From Barkot onwards, the picturesque route cruises against the vibrantly gushing Yamuna.
Sayanachatti : The stopovers at the pilgrim route in Uttarakhand are known as Chatti. Sayanachatti (1982 m) is one such small village for night halt on the Yamunotri route 30 km from Barkot. There are few eating joints along the road which also provide shelter for the night for a reasonable price, however, there is one GMVN guest house a little secluded from the roadside.
Hanumanchatti : Next stopover en route 5 km from Sayanachatti is Hanumanchatti (2134 m) which had long been the motor road end and the last point for tit-bit shopping. This little hub remains quite busy during pilgrimage and trekking season as it is also the starting point for the round trek to Dharwadhar which leads to Dodital Lake. The Hanumanchatti GMVN guest house is serenely located on the banks of the Yamuna. The road head has now been extended till Jankichatti.
Phoolchhatti : A short drive from Hanumanchatti leads through Phoolchatti (2561 m), a nature’s wonder with exotic wild flowers, which is a visual delight during spring through monsoon. A GMVN guest house is perched in tranquility.
Jankichatti : Another short drive on tricky route takes to Jankichatti (2567 m) which is the last motor able point. Jankichatti is the busiest chatti in the entire route as the pilgrims have to return the same day from Yamunotri due to the limitations of a night halt shelter. The 6 km trek to the shrine is bliss with gigantic mountains, tall alpine trees, exotic Himalayan flora and the soul strumming sound of the young and playful Yamuna. The route ahead Jankichatti is narrow and quite adventurous. Pony and daandi (palanquin) are available for the easy movers for which a prior booking is advisable.
Saptrishi Kund : The actual source of the Yamuna lies on the Kalinda Parvat above the shrine the approach towards which is through a tricky steep climb of about over 1000 meters. The devoted pilgrims take a dip in the Saptrishi Kund before worship at the temple below. The lake vicinity provides an excellent view of the towering mountain ranges and the enchanting meadows.
Badrinath
Gangotri
Kedarnath:
PLACES ROUTE OF YAMUNOTRI
Barkot : Barkot (1828 m) is an upcoming township and is the last market on the route to Yamunotri. The town is beautifully located amidst buck weed fields, vast valley sliding down to the crystal clear energetically flowing Yamuna and the grand panorama of the distinctively beautiful Bandarpoonch massif. The fields of Barkot are famous for its Rajma, potato, pea, plum, pear, apple, apricot and walnut. From Barkot onwards, the picturesque route cruises against the vibrantly gushing Yamuna.
Sayanachatti : The stopovers at the pilgrim route in Uttarakhand are known as Chatti. Sayanachatti (1982 m) is one such small village for night halt on the Yamunotri route 30 km from Barkot. There are few eating joints along the road which also provide shelter for the night for a reasonable price, however, there is one GMVN guest house a little secluded from the roadside.
Hanumanchatti : Next stopover en route 5 km from Sayanachatti is Hanumanchatti (2134 m) which had long been the motor road end and the last point for tit-bit shopping. This little hub remains quite busy during pilgrimage and trekking season as it is also the starting point for the round trek to Dharwadhar which leads to Dodital Lake. The Hanumanchatti GMVN guest house is serenely located on the banks of the Yamuna. The road head has now been extended till Jankichatti.
Phoolchhatti : A short drive from Hanumanchatti leads through Phoolchatti (2561 m), a nature’s wonder with exotic wild flowers, which is a visual delight during spring through monsoon. A GMVN guest house is perched in tranquility.
Jankichatti : Another short drive on tricky route takes to Jankichatti (2567 m) which is the last motor able point. Jankichatti is the busiest chatti in the entire route as the pilgrims have to return the same day from Yamunotri due to the limitations of a night halt shelter. The 6 km trek to the shrine is bliss with gigantic mountains, tall alpine trees, exotic Himalayan flora and the soul strumming sound of the young and playful Yamuna. The route ahead Jankichatti is narrow and quite adventurous. Pony and daandi (palanquin) are available for the easy movers for which a prior booking is advisable.
Saptrishi Kund : The actual source of the Yamuna lies on the Kalinda Parvat above the shrine the approach towards which is through a tricky steep climb of about over 1000 meters. The devoted pilgrims take a dip in the Saptrishi Kund before worship at the temple below. The lake vicinity provides an excellent view of the towering mountain ranges and the enchanting meadows.
Badrinath
Gangotri
Kedarnath:
The temple of Kedarnath (3583m) shows its first glimpse after a trek of about 500 meters on one the most scenic locations of the Uttarakhand Himalayas. The toddler Mandakini finds her way out from the womb of the massive glacier behind Kedarnath. The temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga of lord Shiva and is the northernmost located shrine out of the Chaar Dhaam of Uttarakhand.
An interesting belief leads to such logic for the distance. According to the legends, the Pandavas of the great epic Mahabharat went to Shiva for emancipation from of the curse of killing their kinsmen and the Kauravas in the Great War. Lord Shiva was not very amused with the deeds of the Pandavas so in order to avoid them the lord escaped from Uttarkashi to Guptkashi in the guise of a bull but when the Pandavas identified the lord from the flock of cattle He escaped further and ducked Himself to the ground as the gigantic Bhim of the five Pandavas was about to catch hold of the bull disguised lord. Only the hump of the lord remained on the ground, where the temple stands, whereas his torso appeared at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, Nepal. The other portions, namely face, hair coils, arms and navel appeared at Rudranath, Kalpeshwar, Tungnath and Madhyamaheshwar respectively. These shrines, including Kedarnath, are known as Panch Kedar or the five abodes of lord Shiva.
The grey stone Kedarnath temple architecture reflects Katyuri style which is ceiled with wood topped by a gold kalash. The temple houses one sanctum where a conical rock formation, the hump of the bull, is worshiped as lord Shiva and Gangajal carried from Gangotri is offered to Him. The Darshan Mandap is guarded by an idol of Nandi, the lord’s ride, and a large idol guards the temple from outside. The Sabha Mandap is adorned by the idols of Ganesh with Riddhi and Siddhi, Parvati, Laxmi and Vishnu, Krishna, Kunti, Yudhistir, Bhim, Arjun, Nakul, Sahdev, Draupadi and idols depicting Hindu mythology. Adiguru Shankaracharya came to the temple from Kerala with his followers in order to revive Hinduism in the country as Emperor Ashoka was overlapping it with Buddhism through his Dhamma Yatra. Adiguru attained Parinirvana near the temple at the age of 32 and ever since then his followers, who are Veera Shaiva from kerala, has been the Rawals or the chief priests of the temple who have settled in Ukhimath and Guptkashi. Puja is performed in the morning and in the evening after which Bhog (holy feast) is given to the pilgrims. The Shravani Annakoot Mela is observed a day before Raksha Bandhan in the month of August when cooked rice is first offered to the Jyotirlinga and then distributed as Bhog. The temple closes down on Yama Dwitiya, two days after Diwali and reopens on Akshaya Tritiya which falls in the last week of April or the first week of May. The winter seat of Kedarnath is the village of Ukhimath and it is a belief that Bhaironnath, whose temple is about 500 meters form the Kedarnath temple, guards the temple vicinity all through winter.
Ukhimath : The headquarters of the Rudraprayag district, 5km from Kund, Ukhimath is an ancient dwelling which derives its name from Usha, the daughter of the Demon Banasur. There are ancient temples in the town vicinity dedicated to Shiva, Parvati, Usha, Anirudha and Mandhata. Ukhimath holds a special religious significance hence lord kedarnath is brought down to the temple of Onkareshwar during winter months. The Rawals and priests of Kedarnath are the inhabitants of this humble town.
PLACES OF KEDARNATH
1) GauriKund
2) Shankaracharya’s Nirvanabhoomi
3) Chorabari lake/Gandhi Sarovar
4) Basukital
ACCESSIBILITY
Distance : 275Km Gauri Kund +(14 Km trek from Gauri Kund) Km from Dehradun.
An interesting belief leads to such logic for the distance. According to the legends, the Pandavas of the great epic Mahabharat went to Shiva for emancipation from of the curse of killing their kinsmen and the Kauravas in the Great War. Lord Shiva was not very amused with the deeds of the Pandavas so in order to avoid them the lord escaped from Uttarkashi to Guptkashi in the guise of a bull but when the Pandavas identified the lord from the flock of cattle He escaped further and ducked Himself to the ground as the gigantic Bhim of the five Pandavas was about to catch hold of the bull disguised lord. Only the hump of the lord remained on the ground, where the temple stands, whereas his torso appeared at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, Nepal. The other portions, namely face, hair coils, arms and navel appeared at Rudranath, Kalpeshwar, Tungnath and Madhyamaheshwar respectively. These shrines, including Kedarnath, are known as Panch Kedar or the five abodes of lord Shiva.
The grey stone Kedarnath temple architecture reflects Katyuri style which is ceiled with wood topped by a gold kalash. The temple houses one sanctum where a conical rock formation, the hump of the bull, is worshiped as lord Shiva and Gangajal carried from Gangotri is offered to Him. The Darshan Mandap is guarded by an idol of Nandi, the lord’s ride, and a large idol guards the temple from outside. The Sabha Mandap is adorned by the idols of Ganesh with Riddhi and Siddhi, Parvati, Laxmi and Vishnu, Krishna, Kunti, Yudhistir, Bhim, Arjun, Nakul, Sahdev, Draupadi and idols depicting Hindu mythology. Adiguru Shankaracharya came to the temple from Kerala with his followers in order to revive Hinduism in the country as Emperor Ashoka was overlapping it with Buddhism through his Dhamma Yatra. Adiguru attained Parinirvana near the temple at the age of 32 and ever since then his followers, who are Veera Shaiva from kerala, has been the Rawals or the chief priests of the temple who have settled in Ukhimath and Guptkashi. Puja is performed in the morning and in the evening after which Bhog (holy feast) is given to the pilgrims. The Shravani Annakoot Mela is observed a day before Raksha Bandhan in the month of August when cooked rice is first offered to the Jyotirlinga and then distributed as Bhog. The temple closes down on Yama Dwitiya, two days after Diwali and reopens on Akshaya Tritiya which falls in the last week of April or the first week of May. The winter seat of Kedarnath is the village of Ukhimath and it is a belief that Bhaironnath, whose temple is about 500 meters form the Kedarnath temple, guards the temple vicinity all through winter.
Ukhimath : The headquarters of the Rudraprayag district, 5km from Kund, Ukhimath is an ancient dwelling which derives its name from Usha, the daughter of the Demon Banasur. There are ancient temples in the town vicinity dedicated to Shiva, Parvati, Usha, Anirudha and Mandhata. Ukhimath holds a special religious significance hence lord kedarnath is brought down to the temple of Onkareshwar during winter months. The Rawals and priests of Kedarnath are the inhabitants of this humble town.
PLACES OF KEDARNATH
1) GauriKund
2) Shankaracharya’s Nirvanabhoomi
3) Chorabari lake/Gandhi Sarovar
4) Basukital
ACCESSIBILITY
Distance : 275Km Gauri Kund +(14 Km trek from Gauri Kund) Km from Dehradun.
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