Badrinath
One of the most important pilgrim centres of the country is a part of sacred 'Char Dhams' of the State. It is flanked by Nar and Narayan mountains, while the Neelkanth Peak forms a splendid backdrop.The Shri Badrinathji temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu was established by Adi Shankaracharya and later built by the rulers of Garhwal about two centuries ago. It can be divided into three partsthe Garbha, the Darshan Mandap and Sabha Mandap. The principal idol carved out of black stone represents meditating Lord Vishnu.
Badrinath is one of the holy towns of the Hindus located at Chamoli district of Uttarakhand in India. It is the most important of all the four dhams in India. The town of Badrinath lies between Nar and Naryana mountain ranges and in the shadow of Nilkantha peak, 301 km north of Rishikesh. The town is located at an elevation of 3,133mts above sea level on the left bank of Alakananda River.
The main attraction of Badrinath is the Badrinath temple also known as the Badrinarayan temple. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is also one of the 108 Divya Desams or holy shrines of Vaishnavities. The present temple is conical in shape built two centuries ago by the Garhwal kings. 15 idols are present in the temple complex, each built in black stone. Lord Vishnu is represented here in a meditative posture and is flanked by Nar and Narayan. According to legend, the temple was originally established by Adi Shankaracharya which was renovated several times after its establishment. Badrinath is also one of the Panch Badris. The other four badris are Yogadhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Bridha Badri or the 'Old Badri' and Adi Badri.
Some of the other attractions of Badrinath include the Tapt Kund a natural thermal spring on the banks of the Alakananda. It is believed that the water of this kund has medicinal properties. An important pilgrimage detination of both the Hindus and the Sikhs is Hemkund Sahib located at a distance of 43kms from Badrinath. Neelkanth is another prime attraction of Badrinath which is a snow-covered peak of Badrinath. You can also visit the Panch Prayag i.e. Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Vishnuprayag; from Badrinath. You can also visit the Mata Murthi temple which is dedicated to the mother of Sri Badrinathji. 3km from Badrinath is Mana village inhabited by an Indo-Mongolian tribe.
"Tapt Kund", the holy hot water spring is located in front of the temple at the bank of Alaknanda River. A dip in the hot waters is a must before entering the shrine. The temple opens every year in the month of Apr. - May and closes for winters in the third week of Nov. Besides Badrinath there are four subsidiary badris, which cbmprise the sacred 'Panch Badri'. The other four badris are - Yog Dhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Adi Badri and Vriddha Badri.
Hemkund Sahib : Hemkund or the 'Snow Lake' nestles at a height of 4329 m. amidst seven snow-covered mountains, which are collectively called Hemkund Parvat. The sacred star shaped gurudwara near the lake is one of the most important Sikh pilgrim centre and is visited by large number of Sikhs and Hindus from all over the world.
It is believed that Guru Govind Singh ji, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs meditated over here.
The Hemkund Lake is also known as Lok Pal Lake (named after Laxman temple) located on the bank of the lake. According to the Hindu mythology, a number of sages and religious teachers from the Hindu mythology, including Rishi Medhasa of the Markandeya Purana and Lakshman, the brother of Lord Ram performed penance.
The Hemkund 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 19 km trek from Govindghat. The trek takes one through pine forests where rhododendron (burans), wild roses, ferns and alpine flowers abound, along the banks of Laxman Ganga River. The first 13km trek from Govindghat takes to you Ghangharia, the base camp for the journey towards Hemkund Sahib through Bhyundar village.
Another 6 km steep trek from Ghangharia leads to Hemkund. The trek is bestowed with several fresh water streams, small glaciers and several varieties of wild flowers including the Brahm Kamal (Brahama Kamal) – the state flower of Uttarakhand.
The lake is about two kilometres in circumference. It has clear, still water mirror images of the Saptashringa peaks (5500 m) that surrounds it.
Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara - 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 River.
Lok Pal Temple- A small temple near by, dedicated to Lord Lakshman.
How to Reach
Hemkund is 19 km trek from Govindghat. The base for journey to Hemkund is Ghangaria which is 13km trek from Govindghat. Govindghat is connected with Joshimath on (Delhi-Bardinath highway) with 18km long motorable road.
By Air : Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, 307 kms. (Dehradun 334 kms.)
By Rail: Nearest railway station is Rishikesh, 293 kms.
By Road: Hemkund Sahib is 6 Kms. from Ghangharia, which is approachable on foot or on pony from Govindghat which is connected by road with Rishikesh, Kotdwara, Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Ranikhet and other important stations of Garhwal and Kumaon.
Around Hemkund Sahib
Ghangharia (5 kms): It serves as the base for visiting Hemkund Sahib and is the last inhabited part of the valley.
Govind Ghat (15 kms) : It is set on the confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhyundar or Lakshman Ganga. There is a big gurudwara here.
Gopeshwar :
The headquarters of Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Gopeshwar is located at a height of 1300 meters above sea level. It is famous for its temples and natural beauty enhanced by its wonderful weather. According to some, the name Gopeshwar is linked with Lord Krishna.
The main attraction of Gopeshwar is an ancient temple of Lord Shiva. Hundreds and thousands of devotees come here to seek blessings and offer prayers to Lord Shiva. Gopeshwar is surrounded by four famous temples of Tunganath, Anasuya Devi, Rudranath and Badrinath. The Tunganath temple is located at an altitude of 3,680mts above sea level. It is the highest shrine of Lord Shiva among all the Panch Kedars. According to legend, it is said that the temple of Lord Shiva was built by the Pandavas to please Lord Shiva, who was angry by the massacre at Kurukshetra during the war with the Kauravas. Badrinath is one of the four dhams at an elevation of 3,133 mts above sea level. It is said that Lord Vishnu visited the place, called ‘Badri Van’, or the berry garden, to meditate after being rebuked by Narad.
According to Narad, Lord Vishnu was immersed in worldly pleasures and nothing else. The main deity at Badrinath is therefore that of a meditating Lord Vishnu. Other interesting places of interest in Gopeshwar are the Vaitarni Kund, a group of temples without idols and Oak view. To reach Gopeshwar the nearest station is Rishikesh while the nearest airport is Jolly Grant in Dehradun. Gopeshwar is also well connected to Almora, Rishikesh and Dehradun by road.
The Panch Prayag : 'Panch prayag' or the five most sacred river confluences of the Garhwal Himalayas are of immense religious importance. The five prayags are VishnuPrayag, NandPrayag, KarnaPrayag, RudraPrayag and DevPrayag, of which three are in Chamoli district.
Devprayag:
Devprayag is situated at an altitude of 475mts above sea level at the confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi River. Devprayag is situated in Tehri Garhwal district and some part of Devprayag comes under Pauri Garhwal district. Devprayag is the last prayag (confluence) of Alaknanda River and from this point the confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi River is known as Ganga. The town lies on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway, 71kms ahead of Rishikesh.
The town is the seat of the pundits of Badrinath Dham. The town of Devprayag holds great religious importance amongst Hindus as the divine Ganga River takes its real form from here. The town is named after Dev Sharma who led his ascetic life here and it is also believed that he was blessed with a glimpse of god. The place showers the tourists with its serene and divine natural beauty and it is also believed than Lord Rama and King Dushratha did penance here. There is an ancient Raghunathji Temple built above the confluence with massive rocks and it is believed that the temple was built more than ten thousand years ago.
The structure of the town was devastated by an earthquake of 1803 but it was subsequently repaired. The confluence has Brahma Kund on Bhagirathi River and Vashisht Kund on Alaknanda River. There is a place called Baitalshila and it is claimed that a bath in it can cure leprosy. Devprayag can be visited anytime of the year but try to avoid the monsoons as the water is muddy and there are chances of roads getting blocked due to landslides.
Vishnuprayag : It is the confluence of Alaknanda and Dhauli Ganga Rivers at 6000 feet above sea level. Joshimath is just 12 kms from Vishnuprayag.
Nandaprayag: It is the confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers, about 21 kms from Karnaprayag, on the main route to Badrinath. The famous Gopalji temple is situated here. NandaPrayag hosts fair on the occasion of Baisakhi and Janmasthami.
Karnaprayag: It is situated on the sacred confluence of Alaknanda and Pindari rivers and is known for the Karna Temple and the Uma Devi Temple. It is believed that Lord Surya gifted Kavatch, Kundal and Tuneer to Karna at KarnaPrayag. KarnaPrayag hosts several temples groups- KaalBhairov temple dedicated to Kaleshwar in the North, Jaleshwar temple in the South and Chandika temple & Narayan temple in the East.
Rudraprayag:
Rudraprayag lies at the confluence of two rivers Alkananda and Mandakini. It is said that Narad was blessed by Lord Shiva in this place and appeared in Rudra avatar. Rudraprayag is one of the Panch Prayags or five confluences of Alaknanda River. Rudraprayag is blessed with nature’s bounty, the climate of which depends upon the height of the region.
Rudraprayag is situated 34kms ahead of Srinagar at an elevation of 610mts above sea level. The road to two sacred Dham of Uttarakhand, Kedarnath and Badrinath diverts from Rudraprayag. NH58 goes towards Badrinath and Kedarnath is connected via NH109. Rudraprayag therefore acts as a popular town. You can buy several different things from the market of Rudraprayag.
Rudraprayag is best described as the "Abode of Gods" with majestic Himalayas, gushing water of the sacred rivers, and a rich variety of flora and fauna. Agastamuni is located 18kms from Rudraprayag at an altitude of 1000mts above sea level. This place holds a lot of religious significance as rishi Agastya meditated here for several years. Rudraprayag is named after the Rudra roop of Lord Shiva. Popular temples of Rudraprayag are Kedarnath, Madhyamaheshwar, Tungnath and Kalimath.
In the north of Rudraprayag is Koteshwar where millions of Shivlings are believed to exist. Huge fair is hosted every year on the day on Mahashivratri. RudraPrayag is 32 kms from KarnaPrayag.
Joshimath :
Joshimath is a popular hill station and a famous centre for pilgrimage at a height of 1,890mts above sea level in Chamoli district of Garhwal division in Uttaranchal. In ancient scriptures Joshimath is described as Kartikeyapura as it has been named after Kartikeya, the God of Katyuri kings. Joshimath is one of the four maths or monasteries established in the 8th century by Adi Guru Sri Shankaracharya. The rivers Alkananda and Dhauliganga meet at the confluence of Karmaprayag located just below Joshimath. Joshimath is the base for trekking to the famous Valley of Flowers. The best time to visit Joshimath and for the trek is from mid July till end-August. Among the important attractions of Joshimath includes a temple dedicated to Narashima, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Some other temples are dedicated to Hanuman, Gaurishankar, Ganesha, and Naudevi and Surya.
In winters, the town becomes home to Lord Badri who is brought down from Badrinath to Vasudeva temple at Joshimath. Some nearby places of excursion are Auli, one of the best skiing destinations in India and Nanda Devi National Park which is 23kms from Joshimath. You can also trek up to the exotic Valley of Flowers from Joshimath. One of the routes used for the trek is from Govindghat till a small market at Ghangaria. Overnight accommodation is available at Ghangaria. Camping at the Valley of Flowers is not allowed. An alternative route is from Hemkund Saheb, a Sikh pilgrimage centre to Ghangaria which is about five and a half kms. Joshimath is connected with a 4km cable car upto Auli making it the longest and highest trolley of Asia. Joshimath is the also the home of the oldest tree of India, Kalpavriksha which is stood at Joshimath from the time of Adi Shankaracharya. Joshimath is also called as Jyotirmath. The average literacy rate of Joshimath is 77% which is higher than the literacy rate of India. Joshimath is a traveler’s delight and devotees temple as well. The view of the Hathi Parbat (Elephant Mountain) from Joshimath is mystifying.
Auli :
Auli is the most popular skiing destination of Uttaranchal state. Auli is situated in Chamoli district of Garhwal region covering elevation from 2,519mts to 3,050mts above sea level. Auli is a ‘bugyal’ which means meadow in the regional language. Auli is often compared with best ski resorts of the world y foreigners. Auli is going to host SAF winter games in the year 2010. Auli is blessed with invigorating views of the splendid mountain range, Himalayas. The slopes of Auli provide enough thrills to professional skier and novice as well.
GMVN conducts 7 and 14 days skiing courses at Auli and special provisions for day tourists are also available. The conditions for skiing are perfect at Auli. A 500 m long ski-lift and an 800 m long chair-lift link the upper and lower slopes. The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited takes care of this resort and they have imported snow beater to maintain slopes. Walking through the misty slope provides one with the imposing spectacles of some of the lofty mountain ranges like Nanda Devi, Mana Paravat and Kamat. The best time to visit Auli is throughout the year except monsoons. But if you want to enjoy the eternal bliss of snow then visit Auli from December end to March. If you are planning a visit to Auli in winters then tourists are advised to bring heavy woolens, caps, socks, gloves, mufflers, pullovers, trousers, wind proof jackets, sunglasses, snow boots, torch and a whistle for personal use.
Auli Ropeway: Auli boasts the Asia’s highest and longest cable car covering a distance of 4km. This cable car wonder is named as Gondola. It also has a Chair Lift and a Ski-Lift. The ropeway of Auli connects Auli with Joshimath and it would take 15-20 minutes to reach Auli from Joshimath. Auli ropeway has ten towers of self-supporting steel structures. The return cable car ticket from Joshimath to Auli and Auli to Joshimath to Auli will cost you around Rs. 400. The enchanting Himalayas are distinctly visible while you are travelling in Gondola. Auli also offers the luxury of an 800mts long chair lift linking the lower ski slopes with the upper region. This Chair Lift has remote-controlled hydraulic and pneumatic braking system, making it safe to travel. A storm warning device is also attached with it. The ropeway of Auli helps tourists to explore the region with unique and unsurpassed experience.
Slopes of Auli
The slopes of Auli are considered amongst the best skiing place in Asia by the skiers of different countries. There are four Ski slopes in Auli:
10 No. Slope (White) is 900mts long
8 No. Track (Blue) is 800mts long
Temple Track (Red) is for beginners and is 400mts in length
Composite Slopes is 3.1kms long
There are two international standard ski lifts for skiers which take them back to high slopes.
Standing Lift for pole shift costs Rs. 30 per person. Pole Shift standing lift joins Temple Track with Tower No. 10
Sitting Lift for chair lift costs Rs. 200 per person. Chair lift connects Auli to Clifftop Club.
Valley of Flowers :
Nestled in the west Himalayas, Valley of Flowers covers an area of 87.50sqkms with endemic alpine flowers. Valley of Flowers can be reached by a trek of 16km originating from Govindghat. The valley is entirely covered with blooming flowers from June to October with unique flowers. And during winters it remains covered with the blankets of snow. The Valley of Flowers is the home of over 500 species of wild flowers. The valley of flowers was declared as the national park of India in the year 1982 and it is now a world heritage site. The virgin beauty of this mystical valley has successfully lured botanists, nature lovers and adventure lovers since beginning.
The pristine water of Pushpawati River divides this enchanting valley into two parts. Capture thick dew drops on the vivid flowers, listen to the chirping of birds and enjoy the salubrious air of the Himalayas. This Valley was introduced to the world as the Valley of Flowers by Frank S, Smith, a mountaineer, explorer and botanist who camped here for several weeks in the monsoon of 1937. The locals always knew about the existence of the valley and believed that it was inhabited by fairies. More than 500 specifies of wild flowers bloom in the valley during the monsoons and some of the plants have medicinal value. The region is also rich in varied fauna and you might encounter Himalayan bear, snow leapord, musk deer, blue sheep and several colorful butterflies.
Tourists are not allowed to stay in the Valley of Flowers and therefore there is no accommodation in the Park. You can stay at private lodges and hotels in Ghangaria, the base camp for your trek to the Valley of Flowers. The best time to visit Valley of Flowers is from June mid to October.
One of the most important pilgrim centres of the country is a part of sacred 'Char Dhams' of the State. It is flanked by Nar and Narayan mountains, while the Neelkanth Peak forms a splendid backdrop.The Shri Badrinathji temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu was established by Adi Shankaracharya and later built by the rulers of Garhwal about two centuries ago. It can be divided into three partsthe Garbha, the Darshan Mandap and Sabha Mandap. The principal idol carved out of black stone represents meditating Lord Vishnu.
Badrinath is one of the holy towns of the Hindus located at Chamoli district of Uttarakhand in India. It is the most important of all the four dhams in India. The town of Badrinath lies between Nar and Naryana mountain ranges and in the shadow of Nilkantha peak, 301 km north of Rishikesh. The town is located at an elevation of 3,133mts above sea level on the left bank of Alakananda River.
The main attraction of Badrinath is the Badrinath temple also known as the Badrinarayan temple. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is also one of the 108 Divya Desams or holy shrines of Vaishnavities. The present temple is conical in shape built two centuries ago by the Garhwal kings. 15 idols are present in the temple complex, each built in black stone. Lord Vishnu is represented here in a meditative posture and is flanked by Nar and Narayan. According to legend, the temple was originally established by Adi Shankaracharya which was renovated several times after its establishment. Badrinath is also one of the Panch Badris. The other four badris are Yogadhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Bridha Badri or the 'Old Badri' and Adi Badri.
Some of the other attractions of Badrinath include the Tapt Kund a natural thermal spring on the banks of the Alakananda. It is believed that the water of this kund has medicinal properties. An important pilgrimage detination of both the Hindus and the Sikhs is Hemkund Sahib located at a distance of 43kms from Badrinath. Neelkanth is another prime attraction of Badrinath which is a snow-covered peak of Badrinath. You can also visit the Panch Prayag i.e. Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Vishnuprayag; from Badrinath. You can also visit the Mata Murthi temple which is dedicated to the mother of Sri Badrinathji. 3km from Badrinath is Mana village inhabited by an Indo-Mongolian tribe.
"Tapt Kund", the holy hot water spring is located in front of the temple at the bank of Alaknanda River. A dip in the hot waters is a must before entering the shrine. The temple opens every year in the month of Apr. - May and closes for winters in the third week of Nov. Besides Badrinath there are four subsidiary badris, which cbmprise the sacred 'Panch Badri'. The other four badris are - Yog Dhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Adi Badri and Vriddha Badri.
Hemkund Sahib : Hemkund or the 'Snow Lake' nestles at a height of 4329 m. amidst seven snow-covered mountains, which are collectively called Hemkund Parvat. The sacred star shaped gurudwara near the lake is one of the most important Sikh pilgrim centre and is visited by large number of Sikhs and Hindus from all over the world.
It is believed that Guru Govind Singh ji, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs meditated over here.
The Hemkund Lake is also known as Lok Pal Lake (named after Laxman temple) located on the bank of the lake. According to the Hindu mythology, a number of sages and religious teachers from the Hindu mythology, including Rishi Medhasa of the Markandeya Purana and Lakshman, the brother of Lord Ram performed penance.
The Hemkund 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 19 km trek from Govindghat. The trek takes one through pine forests where rhododendron (burans), wild roses, ferns and alpine flowers abound, along the banks of Laxman Ganga River. The first 13km trek from Govindghat takes to you Ghangharia, the base camp for the journey towards Hemkund Sahib through Bhyundar village.
Another 6 km steep trek from Ghangharia leads to Hemkund. The trek is bestowed with several fresh water streams, small glaciers and several varieties of wild flowers including the Brahm Kamal (Brahama Kamal) – the state flower of Uttarakhand.
The lake is about two kilometres in circumference. It has clear, still water mirror images of the Saptashringa peaks (5500 m) that surrounds it.
Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara - 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 River.
Lok Pal Temple- A small temple near by, dedicated to Lord Lakshman.
How to Reach
Hemkund is 19 km trek from Govindghat. The base for journey to Hemkund is Ghangaria which is 13km trek from Govindghat. Govindghat is connected with Joshimath on (Delhi-Bardinath highway) with 18km long motorable road.
By Air : Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, 307 kms. (Dehradun 334 kms.)
By Rail: Nearest railway station is Rishikesh, 293 kms.
By Road: Hemkund Sahib is 6 Kms. from Ghangharia, which is approachable on foot or on pony from Govindghat which is connected by road with Rishikesh, Kotdwara, Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Ranikhet and other important stations of Garhwal and Kumaon.
Around Hemkund Sahib
Ghangharia (5 kms): It serves as the base for visiting Hemkund Sahib and is the last inhabited part of the valley.
Govind Ghat (15 kms) : It is set on the confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhyundar or Lakshman Ganga. There is a big gurudwara here.
Gopeshwar :
The headquarters of Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Gopeshwar is located at a height of 1300 meters above sea level. It is famous for its temples and natural beauty enhanced by its wonderful weather. According to some, the name Gopeshwar is linked with Lord Krishna.
The main attraction of Gopeshwar is an ancient temple of Lord Shiva. Hundreds and thousands of devotees come here to seek blessings and offer prayers to Lord Shiva. Gopeshwar is surrounded by four famous temples of Tunganath, Anasuya Devi, Rudranath and Badrinath. The Tunganath temple is located at an altitude of 3,680mts above sea level. It is the highest shrine of Lord Shiva among all the Panch Kedars. According to legend, it is said that the temple of Lord Shiva was built by the Pandavas to please Lord Shiva, who was angry by the massacre at Kurukshetra during the war with the Kauravas. Badrinath is one of the four dhams at an elevation of 3,133 mts above sea level. It is said that Lord Vishnu visited the place, called ‘Badri Van’, or the berry garden, to meditate after being rebuked by Narad.
According to Narad, Lord Vishnu was immersed in worldly pleasures and nothing else. The main deity at Badrinath is therefore that of a meditating Lord Vishnu. Other interesting places of interest in Gopeshwar are the Vaitarni Kund, a group of temples without idols and Oak view. To reach Gopeshwar the nearest station is Rishikesh while the nearest airport is Jolly Grant in Dehradun. Gopeshwar is also well connected to Almora, Rishikesh and Dehradun by road.
The Panch Prayag : 'Panch prayag' or the five most sacred river confluences of the Garhwal Himalayas are of immense religious importance. The five prayags are VishnuPrayag, NandPrayag, KarnaPrayag, RudraPrayag and DevPrayag, of which three are in Chamoli district.
Devprayag:
Devprayag is situated at an altitude of 475mts above sea level at the confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi River. Devprayag is situated in Tehri Garhwal district and some part of Devprayag comes under Pauri Garhwal district. Devprayag is the last prayag (confluence) of Alaknanda River and from this point the confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi River is known as Ganga. The town lies on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway, 71kms ahead of Rishikesh.
The town is the seat of the pundits of Badrinath Dham. The town of Devprayag holds great religious importance amongst Hindus as the divine Ganga River takes its real form from here. The town is named after Dev Sharma who led his ascetic life here and it is also believed that he was blessed with a glimpse of god. The place showers the tourists with its serene and divine natural beauty and it is also believed than Lord Rama and King Dushratha did penance here. There is an ancient Raghunathji Temple built above the confluence with massive rocks and it is believed that the temple was built more than ten thousand years ago.
The structure of the town was devastated by an earthquake of 1803 but it was subsequently repaired. The confluence has Brahma Kund on Bhagirathi River and Vashisht Kund on Alaknanda River. There is a place called Baitalshila and it is claimed that a bath in it can cure leprosy. Devprayag can be visited anytime of the year but try to avoid the monsoons as the water is muddy and there are chances of roads getting blocked due to landslides.
Vishnuprayag : It is the confluence of Alaknanda and Dhauli Ganga Rivers at 6000 feet above sea level. Joshimath is just 12 kms from Vishnuprayag.
Nandaprayag: It is the confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers, about 21 kms from Karnaprayag, on the main route to Badrinath. The famous Gopalji temple is situated here. NandaPrayag hosts fair on the occasion of Baisakhi and Janmasthami.
Karnaprayag: It is situated on the sacred confluence of Alaknanda and Pindari rivers and is known for the Karna Temple and the Uma Devi Temple. It is believed that Lord Surya gifted Kavatch, Kundal and Tuneer to Karna at KarnaPrayag. KarnaPrayag hosts several temples groups- KaalBhairov temple dedicated to Kaleshwar in the North, Jaleshwar temple in the South and Chandika temple & Narayan temple in the East.
Rudraprayag:
Rudraprayag lies at the confluence of two rivers Alkananda and Mandakini. It is said that Narad was blessed by Lord Shiva in this place and appeared in Rudra avatar. Rudraprayag is one of the Panch Prayags or five confluences of Alaknanda River. Rudraprayag is blessed with nature’s bounty, the climate of which depends upon the height of the region.
Rudraprayag is situated 34kms ahead of Srinagar at an elevation of 610mts above sea level. The road to two sacred Dham of Uttarakhand, Kedarnath and Badrinath diverts from Rudraprayag. NH58 goes towards Badrinath and Kedarnath is connected via NH109. Rudraprayag therefore acts as a popular town. You can buy several different things from the market of Rudraprayag.
Rudraprayag is best described as the "Abode of Gods" with majestic Himalayas, gushing water of the sacred rivers, and a rich variety of flora and fauna. Agastamuni is located 18kms from Rudraprayag at an altitude of 1000mts above sea level. This place holds a lot of religious significance as rishi Agastya meditated here for several years. Rudraprayag is named after the Rudra roop of Lord Shiva. Popular temples of Rudraprayag are Kedarnath, Madhyamaheshwar, Tungnath and Kalimath.
In the north of Rudraprayag is Koteshwar where millions of Shivlings are believed to exist. Huge fair is hosted every year on the day on Mahashivratri. RudraPrayag is 32 kms from KarnaPrayag.
Joshimath :
Joshimath is a popular hill station and a famous centre for pilgrimage at a height of 1,890mts above sea level in Chamoli district of Garhwal division in Uttaranchal. In ancient scriptures Joshimath is described as Kartikeyapura as it has been named after Kartikeya, the God of Katyuri kings. Joshimath is one of the four maths or monasteries established in the 8th century by Adi Guru Sri Shankaracharya. The rivers Alkananda and Dhauliganga meet at the confluence of Karmaprayag located just below Joshimath. Joshimath is the base for trekking to the famous Valley of Flowers. The best time to visit Joshimath and for the trek is from mid July till end-August. Among the important attractions of Joshimath includes a temple dedicated to Narashima, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Some other temples are dedicated to Hanuman, Gaurishankar, Ganesha, and Naudevi and Surya.
In winters, the town becomes home to Lord Badri who is brought down from Badrinath to Vasudeva temple at Joshimath. Some nearby places of excursion are Auli, one of the best skiing destinations in India and Nanda Devi National Park which is 23kms from Joshimath. You can also trek up to the exotic Valley of Flowers from Joshimath. One of the routes used for the trek is from Govindghat till a small market at Ghangaria. Overnight accommodation is available at Ghangaria. Camping at the Valley of Flowers is not allowed. An alternative route is from Hemkund Saheb, a Sikh pilgrimage centre to Ghangaria which is about five and a half kms. Joshimath is connected with a 4km cable car upto Auli making it the longest and highest trolley of Asia. Joshimath is the also the home of the oldest tree of India, Kalpavriksha which is stood at Joshimath from the time of Adi Shankaracharya. Joshimath is also called as Jyotirmath. The average literacy rate of Joshimath is 77% which is higher than the literacy rate of India. Joshimath is a traveler’s delight and devotees temple as well. The view of the Hathi Parbat (Elephant Mountain) from Joshimath is mystifying.
Auli :
Auli is the most popular skiing destination of Uttaranchal state. Auli is situated in Chamoli district of Garhwal region covering elevation from 2,519mts to 3,050mts above sea level. Auli is a ‘bugyal’ which means meadow in the regional language. Auli is often compared with best ski resorts of the world y foreigners. Auli is going to host SAF winter games in the year 2010. Auli is blessed with invigorating views of the splendid mountain range, Himalayas. The slopes of Auli provide enough thrills to professional skier and novice as well.
GMVN conducts 7 and 14 days skiing courses at Auli and special provisions for day tourists are also available. The conditions for skiing are perfect at Auli. A 500 m long ski-lift and an 800 m long chair-lift link the upper and lower slopes. The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited takes care of this resort and they have imported snow beater to maintain slopes. Walking through the misty slope provides one with the imposing spectacles of some of the lofty mountain ranges like Nanda Devi, Mana Paravat and Kamat. The best time to visit Auli is throughout the year except monsoons. But if you want to enjoy the eternal bliss of snow then visit Auli from December end to March. If you are planning a visit to Auli in winters then tourists are advised to bring heavy woolens, caps, socks, gloves, mufflers, pullovers, trousers, wind proof jackets, sunglasses, snow boots, torch and a whistle for personal use.
Auli Ropeway: Auli boasts the Asia’s highest and longest cable car covering a distance of 4km. This cable car wonder is named as Gondola. It also has a Chair Lift and a Ski-Lift. The ropeway of Auli connects Auli with Joshimath and it would take 15-20 minutes to reach Auli from Joshimath. Auli ropeway has ten towers of self-supporting steel structures. The return cable car ticket from Joshimath to Auli and Auli to Joshimath to Auli will cost you around Rs. 400. The enchanting Himalayas are distinctly visible while you are travelling in Gondola. Auli also offers the luxury of an 800mts long chair lift linking the lower ski slopes with the upper region. This Chair Lift has remote-controlled hydraulic and pneumatic braking system, making it safe to travel. A storm warning device is also attached with it. The ropeway of Auli helps tourists to explore the region with unique and unsurpassed experience.
Slopes of Auli
The slopes of Auli are considered amongst the best skiing place in Asia by the skiers of different countries. There are four Ski slopes in Auli:
10 No. Slope (White) is 900mts long
8 No. Track (Blue) is 800mts long
Temple Track (Red) is for beginners and is 400mts in length
Composite Slopes is 3.1kms long
There are two international standard ski lifts for skiers which take them back to high slopes.
Standing Lift for pole shift costs Rs. 30 per person. Pole Shift standing lift joins Temple Track with Tower No. 10
Sitting Lift for chair lift costs Rs. 200 per person. Chair lift connects Auli to Clifftop Club.
Valley of Flowers :
Nestled in the west Himalayas, Valley of Flowers covers an area of 87.50sqkms with endemic alpine flowers. Valley of Flowers can be reached by a trek of 16km originating from Govindghat. The valley is entirely covered with blooming flowers from June to October with unique flowers. And during winters it remains covered with the blankets of snow. The Valley of Flowers is the home of over 500 species of wild flowers. The valley of flowers was declared as the national park of India in the year 1982 and it is now a world heritage site. The virgin beauty of this mystical valley has successfully lured botanists, nature lovers and adventure lovers since beginning.
The pristine water of Pushpawati River divides this enchanting valley into two parts. Capture thick dew drops on the vivid flowers, listen to the chirping of birds and enjoy the salubrious air of the Himalayas. This Valley was introduced to the world as the Valley of Flowers by Frank S, Smith, a mountaineer, explorer and botanist who camped here for several weeks in the monsoon of 1937. The locals always knew about the existence of the valley and believed that it was inhabited by fairies. More than 500 specifies of wild flowers bloom in the valley during the monsoons and some of the plants have medicinal value. The region is also rich in varied fauna and you might encounter Himalayan bear, snow leapord, musk deer, blue sheep and several colorful butterflies.
Tourists are not allowed to stay in the Valley of Flowers and therefore there is no accommodation in the Park. You can stay at private lodges and hotels in Ghangaria, the base camp for your trek to the Valley of Flowers. The best time to visit Valley of Flowers is from June mid to October.
No comments:
Post a Comment