Pilgrimage Tours 2012

Holy Himalayas up in the misty heights of the majestic Garhwal Himalayas that adorn the magnificent state of Uttarakhand, awaits a rejuvenating spiritual experience for the devout.

Nestling in the lofty peaks are the four most holy pilgrimages of Uttarakhand India - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Sri Kedarnathji and Sri Badrinathji, collectively referred to as the Char Dham (or four pilgrimage centres) of Hinduism. For centuries, saints and pilgrims, in their search for the divine, have walked these mystical vales known in ancient Hindu scriptures as 'Kedarkhand'.

Rishikesh is starting ponit of Uttarakhand Pilgrimage Tours. Pilgarimage tours like- Chardham Yatra 2012 (covering Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri), Teen Dham Gangoti kedar badri, Do Dham Yatra, Ek Dham Yatra, Panch Badri Yatra, Panch Kedar Yatra, Panch Prayag Yatra and Hemkund Sahib Yatra

Badrinath Dham is one of the oldest of Hindu places of worship. On the right bank of the river Alaknanda lies the sacred shrine perched at an altitude of 3133 m above sea level, Guarded on either side by the two mountain peaks Nar & Narain with the towering Neelkanth peak providing a splendid back drop. Also known as the Vishal Badri, the largest among the five Badris, it is revered by all as the apt tribute to Lord Vishnu. Badrinath is one of the Char Dhams of the country, also known as Vishal Badri, Vishnu Bhagwan is the other name of Lord Badri Vishal.

It is said about Badrinath that - “There are many sacred spots of pilgrimage in the heavens, earth and the nethere world, but there has been none equal to Badri, nor shall there be”.

At Yamunotri & Gangotri, the pilgrims are cleansed body & soul and with having achieved purity in that sense, pilgrims to Sri Kedarnath becomes most rewarding. It is also customary to worship Lord Shiva with water of Ganga, which pilgrims going from Gangotri as well take some there to Kedarnath. Kedarnath is the seat of Lord Shiva. It is one of the twelve "Jyotirlingas" of Lord Shiva. Lying at an altitude of 3584 m at the head of river Mandakini, the shrine of Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimage for the Hindus. It is no wonder that Adi Guru Shankaracharya - a great scholar & saint, chose to enshrine Lord Shiva in this land, where the unholy becomes oly and the holy becomes holier. It is the place where Lord Shiva absolved Pandavas from the sin of killing their own cousins Kauravas in the battle of Kurukshetra. The origin of the revered temple can be found in the great epic Mahabharat.

At Kedarnath there are several Kunds (pools, tanks) that are known for their religious significans - shivkund, Retkund, hanskund, Udakkund, Rudhirkund are the most important. A little away from Kedarnath is a temple dedicated to Bhaironathji who is ceremoniously worshipped at the opening & closing of Kedarnath. The belief is that Bhairavnathji protects this land from evil during the time when temple of Kedarnath is closed.

At an altitude of 3042 mts. The picturesque pilgrimage in the hinterlands of the Himalayas is the most sacred spot where Ganga, the stream of life, touched earth for the first time.

According to mythology, Goddess Ganga, the daughter of heaven, manifested herself in the form a river to absolve the sins of king Bhagirath’s predecessors, following his sever penance of 5500 years, Lord Shiva received into his matted locks to minimize the impact of her fall.

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 situated at an elevation of 3200 m above sea level amidst captivating surroundings along the right bank of Bhagirathi is 100 km form Uttarkashi.

En route of Gangotri, We visit Gangnani, noted for its thermal springs where one can take a bath for relaxation & rejuvenation. Devotee take bath here before proceeding Gangotri.

At an altitude of 3235mts. The first stopover the Char Dham Yatra is the western most shrine of Yamunotri in the Garhwal Himalayas. Dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, it is perched atop a flank of the Bandar Poonch peak and is situated at Uttarkashi district opposite to Gangotri. The actual source , a frozen lake of ice and glacier (Champasar glacier) located on the Kalind mountain at the height of 4421 m above sea level, about 1 km further up, is not frequented generally as it is not accessible and hence the shrine has been located on the foot of the hill. The tiny Yamuna has icy cold water and its absolute innocence & the infantile purity heightens that deep feeling of reverence, Yamunotri for the devout.

Close to the temple are hot water spring gushing out from the mountain cavities. Suryakund is the most important kund. Near the kund there is a shila called Dibya- Shila. Which is worshipped before puja is offered to the deity. Devotees prepare rice and potatoes to offer at the shrine by dipping them in these hot water springs, tied in muslin cloth. Rice so cooked is taken back home as prasadam.

Panch Badri Yatra you visit five Badri of Uttarakhand, Adi Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Yogadhyan Badri, Badrinath, Vridha Badri.

Panch Kedar Yatra you visit five Kedari, Kedarnath, Tungnath, Kelpeshwar, ,Madmeshwar, Rudranath.

Prayag In Panch Prayagi Yatra you visit five Prayag of Uttarakhand, Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Kranprayag, Nandprayag, Vishunuprayag.