In the folds holy
Himalayas of the majestic Garhwal Himalayas that adorn the magnificent
state of Uttaranchal, awaits a rejuvenating spiritual experience for the
devout.Nestling in the snow-covered lofty peaks are located the sacred
Hindu shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri,collectively
referred to as the Char Dham or the Four Holy Shrines.The four dhams receive
holy water in the form of four streams - Yamuna (Yamunotri), Bhagirathi (in
Gangotri), Mandakini (in Kedarnath) and Alaknanda (in Badrinath).
Badrinath
Badrinath dhaam is
considered as one of the most sacred centres of pilgrimage situated in the
lofty Himalayan heights in the Tehri-Garhwal hill tracks (Uttarakhand) at the
height of 10,248 feet above sea level.It is an arduous mountain route to
Badrinath from Rishikesh or Haridwar in the Garwahl Himalayan region, where
roads get blocked with landslides during the monsoon season. Throughout the
route to Badrinath there are numerous pilgrimage sites at Deva Prayag,
Rudraprayag, Karana Prayag, Nanda Prayag, Vishnuprayag as well as Pandukeswar.
Lord MahaVishnu is believed to have done his penance in this
place. Seeing the Lord doing his penance in the open, Goddess Mahalaxmi is
believed to have assumed the form of Badri tree to provide him shelter to face
the onslaught of the weather conditions, therefore got name "Badri Narayan".
The temple of Shri
Badrinathji on the banks of the Alaknanda river, dates back to the vedic times.
Situated at an altitude of 3133 mts., the present temple is believed to have
been built by Adi Guru Shankracharya - an 8th century's philosopher-saint, who
also established a 'math' here. Also known as 'Vishal Badri', Badrinath is one
of the Panch Badris'
At Badrinath one can witness one of the
greatest wonders of Nature in the Hot water springs of Taptakund on the banks
of river Alaknanda. The temperature of the water in this Kund is 55 degree
centigrade whereas the normal temperature in this region for most part of the
year at 9-10 degree centigrade to sub-zero levels. Before visiting the temple
the pilgrims take a holy bath in the Taptakund.
Kedarnath
Kedarnath is situated amidst the
stunning mountainscape of the Garhwal Himalayas at the head of the Mandakini
River. Kedar is another name of lord Shiva, the protector & the destroyer.
Kedarnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.The shrine(temple) of Kedarnath is
amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the Hindus.The temple is situated at an
altitude of 3580 m amidst the background of snow covered mountain peaks and
greenery.Immediately behind the temple, is the high Keadardome peak, which can
be sighted from great distances. The temple is built of large, heavy and evenly
cut grey slabs of stones and is considered more than 1000 years old.
Gangotri
Gangotri, the source of
the Ganga (Ganges) River and seat of the goddess Ganga, is one of the four
sites in the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. According to mythology, Goddess
Ganga - the daughter of heaven, manifested herself in the form of a river to
absolve the sins of king Bhagirath's predecessors, following his severe penance
of several centuries, Lord Shiva received into his matted locks to minimize the
immense impact of her fall. She came to be called Bhagirathi at her legendary
source.Along the right bank of Bhagirathi stands the shrine of Gangotri
dedicated to the Goddesss. It was constructed in the early 18th century by
a Gorkha Commander, Amar Singh Thapa.The river itself begins at Gangotri which
literally means Ganga Uttari or Ganga descending She came to be called
Bhagirathi at her legendary source. The Shrine of Gangotri is situated at an
elevation of 3200 m above sea level. Set amidst captivating surroundings along
the right bank of Bhagirathi Gangotri is 100 km from Uttarkashi.
Yamunotri
The sacred shrine of Yamunotri, source of
the river Yamuna, is the westernmost shrine in the Garhwal Himalayas, perched
atop a flank of Bandar Poonch Peak (3615 m) and situated opposite to Gangotri.
Yamunotri is the origin of the sacred river Yamuna. Famous for its thermal
springs and glaciers, it is one of the most important stopovers on the
itinerary of the Hindu pilgrim. Among the major attractions of Yamunotri are
hot water springs nearby. Devotees prepare rice and potatoes to offer at the
shrine, by dipping them in these hot water springs, tied in muslin cloth. The
trek to Yamunotri is spectacular, dominated by a panorama of rugged peaks and
dense forests. Divya Shilla is a rock pillar that is worshipped by the pilgrims
before they enter the Yamunotri temple.
About Site