Adventure with Professional's
The Celestial Jyotirlingam
Amidst the dramatic mountainscapes of the majestic Kedarnath range stands one of the twelve 'Jyotirlingas' of Kedar or Lord Shiva. Lying at an altitude of 3584 mts. on the head of river Mandakini, the shrine of Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the Hindus.
Kedarnath is a majestic sight, standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by lofty snow covered peaks. The present temple, built in the 8th century by Adi Shankaracharya, stands adjacent to the site of an earlier temple built by the Pandavas. The inner walls of the assembly hall are decorated with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard.
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the exquisitely architectured Kedarnath temple is said to be more than a 1000 years old. Built of extremely large, heavy and evenly cut gray slabs of stones, it evokes wonder as to how these heavy slabs were handled in the earlier days. The temple has a " Garbha Griha" for worship and a Mandap apt for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form.
Situated 297 kms from the holy town of Rishikesh and about 600 kms from Delhi, Badrinath lies at an elevation of 3,133 m above sea-level. Considered to be amongst the most pious of the eternal Hindu shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Badrinath is located in the lap of Nar-Narayan Parvat, with the Neelkanth peak(6,597m) overlooking in the background.
It is to the credit of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, who in order to revive the lost prestige of Hinduism and to unite the country in one bond, built four dhamas or pilgrimage centers in four corners of the country. Badrinath temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is located on the right bank of river Alaknanda, perched at an altitude of over 3000m in the middle of a valley full with scenic beauty.
Whether someone agrees or not, it has been said that:
"there were many sacred spots of pilgrimage in heaven, earth and the other world, but neither is any equal to Badrinath nor shall there be one".
Even minus this religious claim, Badrinath has some scintillating scenic beauty and rare recreational spots in the vicinity. Indeed, an universal attraction.
The present temple was built about two centuries ago by the kings of Garhwal. The principal idol in the temple is of black stone and represents Vishnu seated in a meditative pose, and flanked by Nara-Narayan. Badrinath is also known as Vishal Badri and is one of the Panch Badris.
The temple remains closed from October to April due to severe winter conditions. During this period the idols of Utsavo Murti are taken to Pandukeshwar.
Gangotri is at an elevation of 10,5000 feet (3140 meters). Gangotri is located about 250 km from Rishikesh and 230 km from Yamunotri. The actual source of the Ganges is Gaumukh, a hard 19 km climb from Gangotri. Bhagiratha is said to have prayed at Gangotri to save his relatives.
The Pandavas are said to have visited this place to atone for the sin of killing their relatives during the Kurukshetra war. At this point the Ganges River flows north, giving this village its name, Gangotri, which means "Ganga turned north."
Gangotri is a very nice town and is fairly popular with foreign tourists, many who have come to make the trek to Gaumukh, or further.
At Gangotri the Kedar Ganga merges with the Bhagirathi. There is a falls called Sahasradhara about 100 yards below this confluence. Just before the falls the river squeezes itself into a narrow gorge about one metre wide.
The Gangotri temple is dedicated to the goddess Ganga. It is erected near a sacred stone, called Bhagiratha Shila. King Bhagiratha is said to have sat here to worship Shiva, so Lord Shiva would take the Ganges on his head. Soon after the arati to the deities in the temple, an arati is performed to the holy Ganges River. The temple is open from May to early November.
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. According to an old legend, Asit Muni, the revered sage, used to reside here.
Yamunotri finds a special mention in the Hindu mythology. According to a legend, this secluded hilly spot was the home of an ancient sage, Asit Muni.
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.
From Rishikesh, a 213 kms. journey by road takes one to Hanumanchatti. From here, the remaining 13 kms. trek is covered on foot or on ponies. Palanquins and Porters are also available on hire.
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. According to an old legend, Asit Muni, the revered sage, used to reside here.
Yamunotri finds a special mention in the Hindu mythology. According to a legend, this secluded hilly spot was the home of an ancient sage, Asit Muni.
The sanctity of the region of Tungnath is considered unsurpassed. The peak of Tungnath is the source of three springs that form the river Akashkamini. At this temple at 3,680 mts., Shiva's arm is worshipped. The highest Hindu shrine in the Himalayas, 3 kms uphill from Chopta, Thungnath is reached through a path that wends through alpine meadows and rhododendron thickets. An hour's climb from here leads to Chandrashila with its panoramic views. The entire journey and the shrine are located in some of the finest, most picturesque pocket of the Himalayas.
The temple comes to sight only a few hundred yards before the finish of the trekking. Standing in the centre of the stone paved platform, under 3,600 metres high summit of Chandrashila (4,090m) the monument is a fine piece of ancient architecture. The strong built and powerful looks of the temple, made with stone, symbolize the power and anger of Lord Shiva. The idols of Vyas and Kalbhairav stand along the "Shivling" inside the temple. The other four 'Kedar' are beautifully engraved on silver plate. Facing the small, low height gate of the temples, sits Nandi-the divine bull, the vehicle of the Lord. Two small temples, dedicated to Parvati and Kalbhairav embellish the small courtyard, on a flat rock possible to have an idea before starting the construction.
In the lap of the Himalayas, there are many lakes: Sahastra Tal, Vasuki Tal, Naini Tal, Bhim Tal, Gohana Tal, Durmi Talk, Devri Tal, Bhenak Tal, Guddiyar Tal, Mahadevasar Tal and Sahasrabahu Tal, but Dodital excels all others. Its water is believed to possess a unique quality that freshens the skin. Dodital has two other names, Dhoondital and Dundital. Dhoondital means Ganesh-Ka-Tal (lake of Ganesha). There is a legend that in the Puranic Age, Ganesh selected it for his abode. An ancient idol of Ganesh still exists here and it is difficult to hazard a guess about its age. In Sanskrit, Dhoondis is synonymous to 'Ganesh'.
People of the last border village Aghora say that fear had earlier kept the people away from Dodital and if some one did come here he never returned. He died of exhaustion or by the shower of incessant hail and horrible storms. Many years ago, a party of pilgrims came here with some guides from the village Aghora. At that time the hailstorm lasted for twelve unbroken hours but, fortunately, there was no casualty among them. All came out safely from the experience. The horrible storm did not harm them. Neither did it hit the village Aghora. Since then, the road to Dodital is opened for tourists. Now, many groups of tourists converge here every year and carry home the cherished memory of their sojourn in the lap of the Himalayas, an unforgettable experience.
Dodital is indeed an angler's paradise. The Dodital Lake is renowned for trout and Mahseer fishing. The Dodi Lake is a fresh water lake and a tempting trout pool. There is a circular path by the side of the Dodi Lake. The path takes you to where the feeder stream meets the lake. You can easily spot the Shining red spotted Himalayan Golden Trout in the crystal clear waters. The fresh water lakes like the Dodital surrounded by the Himalayan peaks are excellent for the catch regardless of the season. The camps near the fishing grounds realize the idea of adventure and fun in the holidays.
Trek is one of the popular trek that can be undertaken round the year, in Garhwal Himalayas except during heavy snowing months of December & January. Deoriatal Lake has captivating surroundings with forest all around. The mighty Chaukhamba Peak & Neelkanth peaks are reflected in the pristine waters of this lake