Asia, History, India, Nature, Relax, Temple, Trekking, Uttranchal, Weekend - No Comments » - Posted on September, 6 at 2:53 pm
Altitude: 1890 mts
Temperature: Summer - Max 26 deg C, Min 10 deg C
Winter - Max 15 deg C, Min 2 deg C
Season: Round the year, but July - September could be avoided because of the rainfall
Clothing: Summer - Cotton or light woollen
Winter - Woollen
Language: Hindi, Kumauni and English
Situated at an altitude of 1,890 m, Kausani is a splendid hill station in the district of Almora of Uttaranchal. It is not very distant from cities, with the distance to the nearest places being: 51 km from Almora, 62 km from Ranikhet, 117 km from Nainital, 198 km from Pithoragarh, 174 km from Ramnagar and 370 km from Delhi.
Map to Kausani
Why is Kasauni famous ?
Popularly known as the ‘Switzerland of India’, is a perfect getaway from the heat of the cities. A small town, it is not yet full of tourists, although tourism is the main industry. Kausani experiences snowfall during the months of December and January, thus these two months may be avoided in addition the monsoon months. The hill resort of Kausani is a retreat in the summer months and may be visited during April-June and September-November.
Another thing it is famous for is the fabulous view - Several snow capped peaks (such as Bunder Poonch, Chaukamba, Neel Kant, Badrinath, Kedarnath, triple peaks of Trishul, pyramid shaped peak of Nanda Devi, the pole shaped Nanda Kot, five peaks of Panchachuli and many more) stand in a stately row, over 300 kms in length, shining against the clear and beautiful sky. This is an excellent view, more so when the suns rays turn the peaks into different shades of colors. The location of the hill station is what makes it incredible, situated atop a narrow ridge, at 6075-ft (1890 metres) above sea level. It is thickly forested, and separated from the soaring Nanda Devi ranges by low mountains.
Kausani has always been a great tourist destination owing to the natural beauty of the place. But it is not just the view, there is a cultural and historical context; Mahatma Gandhi stayed at Anashakti Yoga Ashram in the year 1929. Lakshmi Ashram is 1 km from the Anashakti Ashram. Sarla Bain, Gandhiji’s disciple spent her life in social service over here. The Pant Museum, a little distance from Kausani Bus Station, is the house where the renowned Hindu poet Sumitra Nandan Pant spent his childhood. You can go through the articles, awards, drafts of his poems, letters etc.
Places to see:
Baijnath is located at a distance of 17 km from Kausani. On the banks of the River Gomti is the ancient temple of Baijnath dedicated to Goddess Parvati. The temple has beautiful carvings and sculptures.
The Shiva temple at Someshwar is 15 km from the town. King Som Chand of Chand Dynasty built the temple. Another hill station, Pinakeshwar at an altitude of 9050 ft, is 20 km from Kausani.
Anasakti Ashram / Gandhi Ashram: Anasakti Ashram was built to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi who visited this place in 1929 and described it as the Switzerland of India. It is here that he wrote his treatise Anasakti Yoga. The ashram is well stocked with books, photographs of Gandhi’s life and a small bookshop. It has a small prayer room where prayers are held every morning and evening. There is a great quote from Mahatma Gandhi about Kasauni: “In these hills, nature’s hospitality eclipses all man can ever do. I wonder whether the scenery of these hills andthe climate are to be surpassed, if equalled, by any of the beauty spots of the world. After having been nearly three weeks in Almora hills, I am more than amazed why our people go to Europe in search of health”
Lakshmi Ashram / Sarla Ashram: Catherine Hillman, a disciple of Gandhi who came to be known as Sarlaben founded this ashram in 1964 which overlooks the beautiful Kosi Valley. Several skills like growing vegetables, cooking, caring for the animals and cleaning are taught to over 70 orphaned poor girls and woman who live in the ashram. Lakshmi ashram is located in a quiet place up the hills which lends a serene atmosphere to the ashram.
Sumitranandan Pant Gallery: Another important attraction in Kausani is Sumitranandan Pant Gallery built in memory of the famous Hindi poet Sumitranandan Pant. The gallery houses hundred of English and Hindi books in glass cabinets. A poetry symposium is organized here every year to mark the poet’s birth anniversary.
Kausani Tea Estate: Kausani is also famous for its several tea gardens and pear orchards.
Bageshwar: Bageshwar is 38kms from Kausani. It is located at the confluence of Saryu and Gomti rivers and is the location of the famous Uttarini fair that is held every year in January in Bageshwar. Bageshwar derives its name from Bagnath, a famous temple in this region.
Neeleshwar and Bheeleshwar: These are two hills located a short distance from the center of Bageshwar. Bheeleshwar is reachable by car and then climb up a flight of stairs for half an hour till you reach Neeleshwar. Chandika temple and Shiva temple stand on top of Neeleshwar.
Someshwar: 11 km from Kausani on the Kausani - Almora road is Someshwar town. The Shiva temple in this area is the 12th Jyortirlinga.
Pindari Glacier: This world famous glacier is a trekker’s paradise, as it is easier to visit than most other glaciers. This glacier is situated between the snow capped Nanda Devi and Nanda Kot mountains. The river Pindar originates from this glacier. The glacier is at an altitute of 3353 mts.
Kafni Glacier: It is situated at an altitude of 3853 mts. Many breathtaking views of the mighty Himalayan ranges are visible during the trek.
Sundar Dhunga Glacier: Located at an altitude 3880 mts.; the place is full of natural beauty, with picturesque view of many Himalayan ranges. The entire trek route is a treat for the eyes with beautiful locales strewn all over.
Things to do in Kasauni:
Enjoy the beauty of nature: Kausani is a quiet little location where you you can get peace of mind while taking long nature walks. Walking through pine trees gives a good aroma.
Trekking down the roads of Kausani is another interesting activity that you can do in Kausani. There are some great treks that you can do in Kasauni - Adi Kailash trek and the Bageshwar Sunderdhanga trek (they lead you to a trek through the Himalayas).
How to Reach
By Air: Nearest airport to Kausani is at Pant Nagar.
By Rail: Nearest railway station to Kausani is at Kathgodam, which is 35 km away. Kathgodam is connected with major cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Moradabad, Dehradun and Calcutta.
By Road: Kausani is well connected by surface network with major cities like Delhi, Nainital, Almora and Ranikhet.
Where to stay:
One can stay at the Holiday Home of the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam. Phone: (05969) 45015. Other accommodation includes the Forest Rest House, the Zila Parishad Dak Bungalow, Anashakti Yoga Ashram, the State Bungalow and private hotels as below.
Krishna Mountview Resort Kausani
Chevron Mountain Villa - Kausani
Suman Royal Resort, Kausani
Chevron Eco Lodge, Kausani
Sun n Snow Inn
Kausani Village Resort
Other articles:
1. A longish article (link)
2. Many photos of Kasauni (link)
Posted in Asia, History, India, Nature, Relax, Temple, Trekking, Uttranchal, Weekend | No Comments »
Asia, India, Mountain, Skiing, Trekking, Uttranchal - 2 Comments » - Posted on September, 2 at 6:51 am
Altitude : 2915 mts. to 3049 mts. (expandable if you include Gorson, to 3400 mts.)
Area: 5 Sq. kms.
Temperature: Summer - Between 13° C and 29° C; Winter - Between 9° C and 2° C
Rainfall: 180 cms.
Average yearly Clothing Summer-Light woollen Winter- Heavy woollen
More and more people are starting to hear of this great skiiing location called Auli. Competitions are starting to happen over there, and with current security related problems in the ski resort type location, Gulmarg (In Jammu and Kashmir), Auli has become known as Indias skiing capital. Inside Auli, Auli Ski Resort is India’s currently best ski resort (resting at 8,200 feet), in the Chamoli district of Uttaranchal. The resort is close to China and Nepal. It is a place where you just want to ski for the fun of it. The awesome beauty around is extremely pleasing.
Map to get to Auli
The skiing opportunity in Aui is located at an altitude of 2,500-3,050m above sea level, and the 3 KM long slope in Auli offers some exciting skiing opportunities to both beginners as well as professional skiers (in these 3 km, the height drops by 500m). The background of lofty snow clad mountains heightens the sprit of the skiers.
History of Auli: Way back in the 8th century ad, the great Guru Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have tread on these snowfields of Auli and he built the temple at Joshimath, which you can still visit. For hundreds of years, the colorful semi-nomadic tribes of the Bhotiyas, of the Mongolian stock, traversed the trails at Auli, locally called Thatauli and conducted trade with neighboring Tibet, using their yaks laden with goods.
Before Auli was developed as a ski resort by the Government (including getting experts from abroad to view the slopes), its slopes were the training ground for men of valor and courage, the ski-equipped men of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force. Among the awesome, legendary peaks ranged round Auli, is the 23,490-feet-high Trishul. It 1958 in an expedition mountaineers took four days to climb the peak and only 90 minutes to ski down to the base camp.
In the summer, Auli looks down, but is nothing compared to the view and pleasures in winter. In the winter it is irresistible with some excellent snowy mountain slopes and incredible skiing facilities. From January to March, the Auli slopes are usually covered with a thick carpet of snow, about 3m deep. The stretch of 3-kms with a drop in elevation of 500m is considered to be a very good skiing ground by international standard. The skiing season starts around December and goes uptill March. It is during this time only that the resort sees maximum visitors, mainly ski lovers from across the country. It is also during this time that the ski festivals and National skiing championships start. In case you plan your visit to Auli between December and March then you may check out the ski courses conducted by Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam. These courses are conducted for both amateurs and advanced learners.
An 800m long chair lift connects the lower slopes with upper slopes in Auli, making it easy for skiers to zip up in moments. Once reaching the ski start point they can ski down rapidly, while other can walk down the snow-paths at leisure. Auli has about 10-20 km of ski slopes for all elevels from beginners to advanced skiers. You can enjoy downhill skiing, cross country skiing and slalom on the slopes of Auli, (and these very same slopes also host the National Winter games in India).
Part of the reason it is even more popular is because of the surroundings; Oak and Conifer trees flank the slopes, you get a 180 degree view of the Himalayas and the prominent peaks, Nanda Devi, Kamet, Mana Parvat and Dunagiri hills. The beauty of the place is awe inspiring and this is what makes Auli ski resort such a hit with the tourists.
To get there, from Joshimath, Auli can be reached by road or ropeway. It provides an excellent panoramic view of the giant mountain peaks like Nanda Devi, Kamet and Dunagiri. The 500m ski-lift system, the longest such system in Asia, or the trolley, as it is known locally, connects Joshimath with Gorson, located above Auli. A short distance beyond Gorson lies the hill of Gorson Top, which provides excellent views of the mountains and also lies on the 24-km trek to Kauri Pass. From Gorson, Auli’s only chair lift travels to the base lodge, which is a small building that marks the starting point of all the ski runs.
By road, Auli is accessible from Joshimath through a 16 kilometer drive.
However, it is not as close as you might like, and is actually quite distant, with
the nearest railway station being Haridwar at 299 kms and the closest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 273 kms.
On the way to Auli there are various food-outlets private as well as government run restaurants available. in terms of equipment, tourists are advised to bring woollen clothing’s, cap, socks, dark glasses, gloves, mufflers, pullovers, wind-proof jacket, gum/snow boots and a torch light in their travel kit. These accessories are a must for the tourist, keeping in mind the weather conditions of Auli, where the temperature drops to as low as - 8 degree Celsius in winters, although it is moderately cold in the summers.
Auli - How to reach
The nearest airport is Dehradun, about 298 km away. Rishikesh, about 235 km away, is the nearest railhead. Regular road services are available from Delhi, Dehradun, Rishikesh and Hardwar to Joshimath, 16 km away. From Joshimath one can hire jeeps to Auli. One can also trek the five kilometer between Joshimath and Auli. For further information, contact the GMVN office at Rajpur Road, Dehradun or the UP tourism offices located all over the country.
BY ROAD - Regular road services are available from Delhi, Dehradun, Rishikesh and Hardwar to Joshimath, 16 km away. From Joshimath one can hire jeeps to Auli. One can also trek the five kilometer between Joshimath and Auli. For further information, contact the GMVN office at Rajpur Road, Dehradun or the UP tourism offices located all over the country.
Places to stay:
1. Cliff Top Club, Auli
2. Auli skiing resort
Places nearby:
Hemkund Sahib: Considered to be one of the most sacred Sikh pilgrimage centre, Hemkund Saheb also makes an ideal trekking spot.
Valley Of Flowers: If one is fond of flowers then is a must visit place for him.Witness the endless galore of multihued blooms and you’ll just wish to stay in this oblivion flowery world forever.
Articles:
India Travelogue (link)
India Travel Forum (link)
Skiiing in Auli (link)
Walks in India (link)
Kauri Pass (link)
Travel Pod (with lots of photos) (link)
Sankalpindia.net (link)
Travelworldzone.net (link)
Youngsters Ignited (link)
Shrirang Patil’s Blog (link)
India Travel Blog (link)
Trekking around Auli (link)
Photos (all from flickr):
Snow Boarding, Snow storm, Landscape, Sunrise, Himalayas, Rainbow, Trekking, Clifftop Club Auli
Posted in Asia, India, Mountain, Skiing, Trekking, Uttranchal | 2 Comments »
Asia, India, Lake, Mountain, Pilgrimage, Religion, Temple, Trekking, Uttranchal - No Comments » - Posted on August, 29 at 2:54 pm
Altitude: 4320 m above sea level.
Season: July-October.
Clothing: Woollens .
Hemkund (Snow Lake) Sahib, as the name itself suggests, is a high-altitude lake (4329 m) surrounded by seven huge now-covered mountains, which are collectively called Hemkund Parvat. Close to the lake is a sacred Gurudwara that is a pilgrimage centre for Sikhs and Hindus from all over the world. Hemkund Sahib is a revered site for both Sikhs and Hindus, and involved a hard trek (or a ride with ponies / porters) to reach there.
Map to Hemkund Sahib
It marks the place where Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last Guru, unified with God after prolonged meditation in his previous birth. HOw was it found ? Well, the guru’s autobiography contained a detailed description of the place; and when a devout sikh, Havaldar Mohan Singh stumbled onto this place in the last century, he knew that he had rediscovered the holy site.
According to Hindu mythology, Hemkund or Lokpal as it is also known, is where Lakshman had done his penance. Hemkund is sanskrit name derived from two meaning ‘Hem’ - “Himalayas” & “Kund”, so by hindu mythology it is meant Bowl in Himalayas, where Lord Lakshman did his penance. Reaching is not easy, Hemkund comes by crossing Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Nandprayag & Vishnuprayag.
The lake is about two kilometres in circumference. It has clear, still water mirror images of the Saptashringa peaks (5500 m) that surrounds it. The lake is the source of the Laxman Ganga (alternatively called Hem Ganga) stream that merges with the Pushpawati stream flowing from the Valley of Flowers, at Ghangaria. From this point on, the river is called Laxman Ganga. Hemkund is also a very popular trekking destination, with Hemkund being a tough 15 km trek from Govindghat. The trek takes one through beautiful and refreshing pine forests where rhododendron (burans), wild roses, ferns and alpine flowers abound.
There is a reasonably well maintained path to the village of Gobind Dham or Ghangaria. There is another Gurudwara where pilgrims can spend the night. In addition there are a few hotels and a well-maintained campground with tents and mattresses. After this a 5,000 ft (1,500 m) climb in 6 km of stone paved path reaches Hemkund. There are no sleeping arrangements at Hemkund and one is advised to leave by 2PM to make it back to Gobind Dham by nightfall.
The best season to visit Hemkund? No doubts and there is really no other time: it’s between July and October. During these days, you’ll find the water still, has shards of ice floating in it, glinting in the sun with the rock-strewn banks of the lake covered in moss and the flowers in bright bloom. Other times, Hemkund is inaccessible because of snow from October through April. Each year the first Sikh pilgrims arrive in May and set to work to repair the damage to the path over the harsh winter, part of the ritual of ‘kar seva’.
Which are the important places here and nearby:
Gurudwara Hemkund Saheb: This imposing star-shaped structure of stone and concrete masonry is on the shores of the lake. An outlet behind the Gurudwara is source of the Lakshman Ganga.
Temple of Lord Lakshman: A small temple near by, dedicated to Lord Lakshman.
Ghangharia: 5 km. Situated in the midst of a pine grove, Ghangharia serves as a base for visiting Hemkunt Sahib, It is the last human habitation in the valley. A Tourist Lodge, log huts, tents and a Gurudwara provide comfortable accommodation.
Valley of Flowers: About 3 km from Gobinddham is the 5 km long Valley of Flowers. It is now a protected area, with the Indian Government having declared this valley as a national area to preserve this valley in its pristine shape. The best months for the Valley of Flowers are July and August, during the monsoons. Note that during these same months, the Valley can be closed to visitors if the weather is totally inclement.
Govindghat: 15 km. the confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhyundar of Lakshman Ganga. It has an imposing Gurudwara named after Guru Govind Singh.
Badrinath: 22 km from Govindghat
Places to stay:
State Govt Tourism Accommodation
* Tourist Rest House, Joshimath.
* Tourist Rest House, Ghangharia.
How to get there:
By Air : Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, 307 kms. (Dehradun 334 kms.)
By Rail : Nearest railhead is Rishikesh, 293 kms.
By Road : Hemkund Saheb is 5 Kms. from Ghangharia, which is approachable on foot from Govindghat which is connected by road with Rishikesh, Kotdwara, Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Ranikhet and other important hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon Hills.
From Delhi: Hemkund, is a distant 514 km away from Delhi. DTC and UP Roadways buses ply regularly upto Haridwar / Rishikesh from ISBT, Delhi. Govindghat is 20 km beyond Joshimath on the motor road to Badrinath and 4 km before Pandukeshwar, the point at which there is a diversion for Lokpal Hemkund and the Valley Of Flowers. Hemkund is 20 km from Govindghat. After crossing the Vishnu Ganga, one has to trek 9 km to reach the Bhiyundar valley. At Ghangharia, the Pushpavati river meets the Lakshman Ganga coming from Hemkund. The 7 km trek from Ghangharia to Hemkund entails a steep climb.
Other articles:
Trip to Hemkund Sahib (link)
Photo Essay (link)
Pilgrimage Tour (link)
Photos from Hemkund Sahib (link)
Photos and a forum post (link)
Posted in Asia, India, Lake, Mountain, Pilgrimage, Religion, Temple, Trekking, Uttranchal | No Comments »
Asia, History, India, Mountain, Pilgrimage, Religion, Temple, Uttranchal - No Comments » - Posted on August, 17 at 12:12 pm
Altitude: 3,553 metres
Coordinates: 30.73° N 79.07° E
Temperature : Max: 17.9°C, Min: 5.6<°C
Season: May to October
Clothing: Summer - Light Woolen, Winter - Heavy Woollen
Languages: Garhwali, Hindi & English
Distance : 77km from Rudraprayag, 42km from Badrinath, 228km from Rishikesh
The most remote of the four Char Dham sites, Kedarnath is located in the Himalayas, near the head of river Mandakini, and is flanked by breathtaking snow-capped peaks. Kedarnath hosts one of the holiest Hindu temples and is a popular destination for Hindu pilgrims from all over the world. As the temple is located on the snowy heights of the Himalayas, the entrance into the temple is restricted throughout winter. Therefore, it is open six months a year, from May to October.
Kedarnath is accessible only after a steep 14 km trek through a paved path (horses or palanquins are available for rent) from Gaurikund, which is connected by road from Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun and other important hill stations of the Garhwal and Kumaon regions in Uttarakhand. The temple is open only during the months of April/May(on Akshaya Trithiya) to October/November (closes on Diwali - festival of light), due to heavy snowfall and extreme cold weather during winter.
Map to Kedarnath:
View Larger Map
The temple is believed to have been built by Adi Sankaracharya and is one of the twelve Jyothirlingas, the holiest Hindu shrines of Lord Shiva. The older temple existed from the times of Mahabharat, when the Pandavas are supposed to have pleased Shiva by doing penance in Kedarnath. The temple opens its gates three days before the day of opening of the Badrinath temple, during the last week of April and the temple remains open till winter commences and snow comes into the picture. During winter months the roads get blocked and so the temple closes down during this time. The uniqueness and greatness of this temple is mentioned in the Vedas, Ithihaas and the Epics. It is surrounded by high snow covered mountains. Besides its religious significance, it is also visited by those who love to conquer the rough terrain of Garhwal. It is said that this temple is older than 1000 years. On the south side of the main temple there stands Bhairavnath Temple, which is dedicated to God Bairav.
The original temple (now extinct) with 12 Jyothirlingas, was built by the Pandavas at the present site and Adi Sankaracharaya restored the present Kedarnath temple. The Samadhi of Adi Sankaracharya lies behind this temple. The statue of Nandi, the divine bull of Shiva, stands at the entrance of the temple. Inside the temple, there are marvellous sculptures of Kedaragouri, Krishna, Pandavas, Draupadi, Karthikeyan etc. The shrine is covered by snow for 6 months in a year (closed from Oct-Nov up to Apr-May). The statue is carried to Ukhimath, and is reinstated in Kedarnath in the month of May.
Even though the route to Kedarnath Temple is very tough indeed, the religious faith is what keeps the pilgrims going, overcoming all hindrances and obstacles, to reach their desired destination. The hilly path and the deep gorges make the journey full of thrill and adventure.
The actual temple is an impressive stone edifice of unknown date. According to the Puranas, the Pandava brothers did a major penance in Kedarnath to please Lord Shiva. As a matter of fact, as one enters the main temple, the first hall contains statues of the five Pandava brothers, Lord Krishna, Nandi, the vehicle of Shiva and Virabhadra, one of the greatest guards of Shiva. An unusual feature of the temple is the the head of a man carved in the triangular stone fascia of the temple. Such a head is seen carved in another temple nearby, namely, the temple constructed on the site of Marriage of Shiva and Parvati. No specific family of pujaris supervises rituals at Kedarnath, which focus around veneration of the stone lingam that rests in the inner sanctum of the temple. Behind the temple is the samadhi mandir of Adi Sankara.
The origin of the revered temple can be found in the great epic - Mahabharata. According to legend, the Pandavas sought the blessings of Lord Shiva to atone their sins fafter the battle of Mahabharata. Lord Shiva eluded them repetedly 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. This conical protrusion is worshipped as the idol on the shrine. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva are worshipped at four places the arms (bahu) at Tungnath, mouth (mukha) at Rudranath, naval (nabhi) at Madmaheshwar and hair (jata) at Kalpeshwar. Together with Kedarnath, these places are known as the panch Kedar.
Places to see nearby:
Chorabari (Gandhi Sarovar) with floating - ice on the crystal clear waters of the lake and Vasuki Tal, another lake at an altitude of 4,150 m are fascinating sites around Kedarnath.
Vasuki Tal: Situated at an altitude of 4135m and surrounded by the Chaukhamba Mountain Ranges, Vasuki Tal is a lovely lake. You can get an excellent view of the Chaukhamba Peak (7,138m) from here.
The Ardhnarishwar Temple and Vishwanath Temple at Guptkashi, at about 49 km from Kedarnath, are worth seeing. Apart from these, Agastyamuni is a place located at approximate distance of 73 km, which has temple dedicated to sage Agastya.
Ukhimath: 62km from Kedarnath. Well connected by road with Rudraprayag, Ukhimath is a peaceful place. The deities of the Kedarnath Temple are installed at this matha (Hindu monastic establishment) when the Kedarnath Temple closes during winter.
Devaria Tal: 68km from Kedarnath. Located at a height of 2,430m, it is a very beautiful lake. You can get an excellent view of the Chaukhamba Peak from here.
Shankaracharya Samadhi is another place of interest in Kedarnath. The Samadhi, final resting place, of Adi Guru Shankaracharya is located right behind the Kedarnath Temple. It is said that he went for samadhi after establishing the four dhams in India. Chorabari is also good place just about 2 km away. It is a small lake from where Yudhishtir, the eldest among Pandavas, is said to have departed to heaven.
Tungnath - 2nd Panch Kedar: Set on the crest of a hill at an altitude of 3,886 meters, Tungnath is the highest temple in India. Legend has it that the arm of Shiva appeared here. Ravana, of the Ramayana, is said to have performed penance at this temple to propitiate Shiva. The high altitude temple is a Seat of Swyambhu Linga or the Lord Shiva Incarnate.
Rudranath – 3rd Pancha Kedar: Shiva’s face is worshipped at the Rudranath temple. It is about 2,286 m above sea level and is 23 km from Gopeshwar. 5 km of the distance is motorable and 18 km is on foot. The trek passes through wild orchards and picturesque bugyals (meadows) and involves trekking over high ridges (sometimes 4,000 m). The temple site provides magnificent views of Hathi Parvat, Nanda Devi, Nanda Ghungti, Trishuli and many other peaks.
Madhyamaheshwar – 4th Pancha Kedar: The stomach of Shiva is believed to have emerged at Madmaheshwar. The temple of Madhyamaheshwar is located at an altitude of 3,289 m above sea level, on the slope of a ridge, 25 km north-east of Guptakashi. There is a motorable road from Guptakashi to Kalimath. The best statue of Har Gauri in India measuring over a metre high is found in the Kali temple.
Kalpeshwar – 5th Pancha Kedar: The hardier tourist may like to trek about 35 km to Kalpeshwar, where the locks (hair) and head, of Lord Shiva are worshipped as Jatadhar. Located in Urgam Valley at an altitude of 2,134 m. above sea level, the temple is a further 10 km trek from Rudranath to Helong, the motor head on Rishikesh-Badrinath route. The small rock temple of Kalpeshwar is where the Hair appeared.
How to get there:
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant and tourists can avail of the rail route and the nearby rail heads are Haridwar, Rishikesh and Deheradun. Apart from this, tourists can avail local buses, taxis, and jeeps to Gourikund. After reaching Gourikund, tourists have to trek 14 kms and this trekking experience will always be a memorable experience for the tourists.
Other reading information:
1. Trek (link)
2. UttranchalListing.info (link)
Posted in Asia, History, India, Mountain, Pilgrimage, Religion, Temple, Uttranchal | No Comments »
Asia, History, India, Mountain, Pilgrimage, Religion, Temple, Uttranchal - No Comments » - Posted on August, 17 at 11:41 am
Altitude: 3415 meters
Coordinates: 30.73° N 79.48° E
Best time to vist: the temple usually remains open from first week of May to 2nd week of November
Languages: Hindi, English and Garhwali
Area: 3 sq km
Languages: Hindi, English, Garhwali
Situated in the lap of Nar-Narayan Parvat, with the towering Neelkanth peak (6,597mts.) in the background, the River Alakananda flows beside. Badrinath is one of the most revered Hindu shrines of India. This hill resort is a famous pilgrimage for the Hindus as the temple of the God Vishnu is situated here. It is believed that to revive the lost prestige of Hinduism and to unite the country in one bond, Adi Guru Sri Shankaracharya built four pilgrimage centres in four corners of India. Among them were Badrikashram in the north, Rameshwaram in the south, Dwarkapuri in the west and Jagannath Puri in the east. Badrinath situated at an elevation of 3,133 mts. is considered to be amongst the most pious.
The famous temple of Hindus, Badrinath was built by the Garhwal kings about 2 centuries ago. It dates back to the time when Sri Shankaracharya who has found the math in the 8th century A.D. The temple is 15 metes in height and has a dome of a gilt bull and spire. On the right bank of Alaknanda lies the sacred spot. Encircled by a beautiful valley, the 15 mts. high temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is built in the form of a cone with a small cup of a ilt bull and spire.
Map to Badrinath:
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The temple is divided into three parts the ‘garbha griha’ or sanctum sanctorum, the ‘darshan mandap’ where the rituals are conducted and the ’sabha mandap’ Where devotees assemble. Within the temple complex there are 15 idols sculptured in black stone. Lord Vishnu in a meditative posture flanked by Nar and Narayan is th eprinciple idol while other images of Goddess Laxmi, Garud (Vishnu’s mount), Lord Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha are also there. Specially attractive is the one metre high image of Sri Badrinathji, finely sculpted in black stone. It represents lord Vishnu seated in a meditative pose.
On the banks of river Alaknanda on a flat platform called the Brahma Kapal you can catch Hindus propitiating sacred rites for their deceased ancestors. About 1.5 kms away at Sheshnetra you can see a boulder looking like a snake known as the Sheshnag’s eye, the legendary snake. Charanpaduka, about 3 kms away from the Badrinath is a beautiful meadow with foot prints of Lord Vishnu on the boulder. Besides the snowy peak towering over Badrinath is the spectacular Neelkanth Mountain, popularly called the ‘Garhwal Queen’.
Badri refers to a berry that was said to grow abundantly in the area, and nath refers to Vishnu. Badri is the Sanskrit name for the Indian Jujube tree, which has an edible berry. Some scriptural references also refer to Jujube trees being abundant in Badrinath. Legend has it that Goddess Lakshmi took the form of the berries to protect Lord Vishnu from the harsh climate during his long penance.
One legend has it that when the goddess Ganga was requested to descend to earth to help suffering humanity, the earth was unable to withstand the force of her descent. Therefore the mighty Ganga was split into twelve holy channels, with Alaknanda one of them. It later became the abode of Lord Vishnu or Badrinath. According to the Skanda Purana: “There are several sacred shrines in heaven, on earth, and in hell; but there is no shrine like Badrinath.”
The hill station is closed almost after Diwali as during the winter months as the area becomes snow-covered. The tourist season starts from the month of May. The weather is not to so hot during the days and cold by the night during the summer months. The gates of the temple are closed from the month of October till April and the idol of Vishnu is shifted to Vasudeva temple at Joshimath. Alaknanda is one of the largest rivers of Garhwal and is equated with the River Ganga in holiness. The origin of the river Alaknanda is from the Glacier Alka Puri, which can be bvisited from this place. Satopanth is a triangular lake and is located at a height of 4402 m from sea level. It is one of the sources of the Alaknanda river.
Joshimath is a well-known hill station as well as a religious center. It is the winter seat of lord Badrinath. Auli, 6 km from Joshimath can be visited for skiing and other winter sports during winters. The Valley of Flower is a place known as Heaven on Earth. There are numerous verities of flowers in the valley, which are rarely found otherwise. You can see flower like Brahma Kamal there in the months of June-August.
Tapt Kund: Badrinath Temple Devotees take a holy dip in the natural thermal springs on the banks of the river Alaknanda, before entering the Sri Badrinathji Temple. The water of the Kund is believed to have medicinal properties.
Neelkanth: A pyramidal-shaped snowy peak towering above Sri Badrinathji, Popularly known as the `Garhwal Queen.
Charanpaduka: The footprints of Lord Vishnu can be seen on a boulder in this beautiful meadow.
Bhavishya Badri: Located at Subain near Tapovan about 17 km east of Joshimath The temple of Bhavishya is surrounded by dense forests. Pilgrims have to trek beyond Tapovan, up the Dhauliganga River. Traditionally it is believed that a day will come when the present route to Badrinath will be inaccessible and Lord Badrinath will be worshipped here. Thus the name ‘Bhavishya Badri’ which literally means the Badri of the future.
Mata Murti Ka Mela: Every year in the month of September a big fair is organized in honor of the mother of Lord Badrinath called Mata Murti Ka Mela.
Badri Kedar Festival: This festival is held in the month of June in the shrines of both Badrinath and Kedarnath. The festival lasts for 8 days.
Mana Village, 4 km away, is inhabited by an Indo-Mongolian tribe It is the last village on the Indo-Tibet border. Many places famous in Hindu mythology lie close to Mana Village such as Vyas Gufa, Ganesh Gufa, Bhimpul and Vasudhara falls.
How to get there :
Airport: Jolly Grant, (317kms.)
Railhead: The nearby railway stations are at Rishikesh, 297 km away, and Kotdwara, 327 km away.
Road: Well connected to Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun, Kotdwar and other hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon region. Situated 297 kms from the holy town of Rishikesh and about 600 kms from Delhi
Places to stay:
Chardham Camp
Hotel Narayan Palace
Park Inn
Hotel Devlok (GMVN
Travellers Lodge (GMVN)
Other reading information:
1. UttranchalListing.info (link)
2. Photos of Badrinath (link)
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