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Kedarnathji, Gangotri, Yamunotri.
Best Activity : Trekking
Nearby Tourist Destinations : Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mussoorie.
About Chardham
In the layers of the snow-covered reaches of the lofty Garhwal
Himalayas in Uttarakhand are located the holy Hindu shrines of
Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, together form the Char
Dham or the Four Holy Shrines. The region is referred as the land of
the gods in the ancient Puranas. Scores of pilgrims visit the
shrines by trekking arduously along the mountain paths, all for a
communion with the divine.
Over the centuries, these sites have been described in sacred
scriptures as the very places where devotees could earn the merits
of all the pilgrimages put together. Subsequently, temples were
built at these sanctified sites for all and sundry.
Badrinath-Kedarnath lie towards the northeast of Rishikesh. Gangotri
and Yamunotri are up north from Rishikesh. Of these sites, Badrinath
and Gangotri are directly accessible by road while Kedarnath is
reached by road followed by a short trek of 15 km from the Gaurikund
road head. Yamunotri is a 13-km trek from Hanuman Chatti.
Major Tourist Attractions of Chardham
Badrinath
Badrinath, dwelling at a height of 3,133 m, is said to be
unparalleled in its sanctity when compared to other pilgrimages.
Badrinath is located in the Narnarayan range against the imposing
Neelkanth peak. The Badrinath temple is stationed in a beautiful
valley on the bank of the River Alaknanda and is dedicated to Shri
Badrinathji, that is Shiva the Creative Destructor. The temple
traces its origin to Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century, though
legend has it that the temple stands on the site of an earlier
shrine.
The present temple was built about two centuries back by the Garhwal
kings. The main idol in the temple is of black stone and represents
Vishnu seated in a meditative pose. The temple is divided into three
parts: the garbha griha or sanctum sanctorum; the darshan mandap
where the prayers are held; and the sabha mandap where devotees
assemble. Below the temple are the hot springs, Tapt Kund and Surya
Kund, with waters at a temperature of 55°C. There are four other
Badris or shrines dedicated to Lord Vishnu that can be visited from
Badrinath. They are Yogadhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Bridha Badri
and Adi Badri. Forty-two kilometers from Badrinath is Joshimath, the
winter home of Shri Badrinathji.
East of Badrinath is the beautiful Valley of Flowers and the holy
lake of Hemkund. According to the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book
of the Sikhs, Guru Govind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs,
meditated on the banks of Hemkund.
Kedarnath
Kedarnath, at a height of 3,581 m, is the site of one of the 12
jyotirlingas in the country. The temple built of solid gray stone
stands against the backdrop of Kedarnath range. According to legend,
the Pandavas came here to pray to Lord Shiva after their victory in
the great battle of Kurushetra to atone for killing their own kin in
the course of the war. However, Lord Shiva kept eluding them and
sought refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being trailed,
he plunged into the ground, leaving only the hump exposed on the
earth, which is worshipped at the shrine. His arms are believed to
have surfaced at Tungnath, his face at Rudranath, belly at
Madmaheshwar, his locks and head at Kalpeshwar. These spots where he
reappeared (together with Kedarnath) form the Panch Kedar. All these
places are located in the Garhwal Himalayas and can be visited from
Kedarnath by road and subsequent trekking.
The present temple at Kedarnath traces its origins to the 8th
century, having been resurrected by Adi Shankaracharya. It stands
adjacent to the site of an ancient temple built by the Pandavas. The
samadhi or final resting place of Shankaracharya is behind the
temple.
Gangotri
Eighteen kilometers downstream from Gaumukh is Gangotri. It is an
important pilgrim site located at 3,048 m above sea level. The
Gangotri glacier is the original source of the river. 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 Shivling where Lord Shiva is
believed to have received the Ganges (called Bhagirathi here) in his
locks. It is visible in the winter months when the water level
recedes.
Yamunotri
The shrine of Yamunotri, at a height of 3,235 m, is dedicated to the
river Goddess Yamuna. The temple of Goddess Yamuna is the main
pilgrim site and there are many thermal springs in the vicinity.
Also present is a divya shila, a rock pillar that is worshipped
before entering the Yamunotri temple.
Accommodations
We offer best accommodation as per your requirements. Accommodation
offered are complete with high quality facilities and services, so
that your trip to Chardham is absolutely satisfying.
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