Travel Sites in
Uttar Pradesh
&
Uttaranchal

Lucknow
Taj Mahal
Varanasi
Allahabad
Chardham
Gangotri
Yamunotri
Kedarnath
Badrinath
Rishikesh
Hardwar
Corbett Park
Rajaji Park
Kumaon
Mussoorie
Dehra Dun
Nainital

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BADRINATH

     In an effort to unify the country, Adi Shankaracharya established four peethas (centers) in the four corners of the country. They are Badrikashram in the north (Badrinath), Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu in the south, Dwarkapuri in the west and Jagannath Puri in the east (Sringeri mutt in Karnataka state is also claimed to be the fourth peetha). Badrinath is at the bottom of Nar-Narayan Parvat. Neelkanth peak, 6,597 mts., is behind the site. Badrinath is at an altitude of 3,133 mts. It is one of the holiest places of the Hindus, situated on the banks of Alaknanda river. The Badrinath temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It has a height of 15 metres. According to legends, there existed a temple prior to the Vedic period. The idols include those of Lakshmi (Vishnu's consort), Garud (Vishnu's vehicle), Shiva, Parvati and Ganesh. The Panch Dharas- Prahlad Dhara, Kurma Dhara, Urvashi Dhara, Briu Dhara and Indra Dhara as well as the Panch Shilas Narad Shila, Varaha Shiala, Garud Shila, Markandeya Shila and Nari Narsingh Shila are attractions for Hindu pilgrims.

     Then there is the Tapt Kund whereonetakes bath for going inside the temple. This is a thermal spring on the bankof Alaknanda river. Brahma Kapal is a platform on the bank of the river from where the Hindus perform rites from their ancestors. Sheshnetra is 1.5 km away. There is an impression of the legendary snake, Sheshnag's eye. Lord Vishnu's footprint is visible , it is said, on a boulder at Charanpaduka, three km from Badrinath. Neelkanth peak, of 6,597 mts. altitude, and called Garhwal Queen, is a snowpeak overlooking Badrinath. Narad Kund, near Tapt Kund, is a semi-historical site from where the Badrinath idol was rediscovered.

Brahma kamal: The God's own lotus, far from the earth!

How to reach: The nearest airport is at Jelly Grant, 315 km away. The nearest rail heads are at Rishikesh, 297 km away, and Kotdwara, 327 km away. There is bus service to Badrinath from Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehra Dun, Kotdwara and other major towns.
Accommodation: There are many lodgings.
Food: There are several restaurants. Non-vegetarian food and alcohol are banned in Badrinath.
Altitude: 3,133 mts.; Climate: June to October- Average maximum temperature 16 deg C., average minimum is 8 deg C, in winter the place is snow-bound and the temperature touches zero at night.
Season: The best season to visit the place is June to October. The temple remains open from the first week of May till the second week of November.
Clothing: June to September light woollens, rest of the year heavy woolens; Languages: Hindi, Garhwal and English.

EXCURSIONS

Yogadhyan Badri, situated at Pandukeshwar, is one of the five Badris. It is 24 km before Baddrinath. According to mythology, the Pandavas after giving up their kingdom, spent the rest of their lives here.
Bhavishya Badri surrounded by forests, is situated at Subain near Tapovan, 17 km on Joshimath-Malari route. Tapovan has sulphurous hot springs. Bhavishya meaning future, it is said, Badrinath will become inaccessible one day and then worship will be shifted here. And hence the name! At Bridha Badri, it is said, Lord Vishnu was worshiped before Adi Shankaracharya established the temple at Badrinath. The temple here is open round-the-year.
Adi Badri is located on Karnaprayag-Ranikhet route. Adi Shankaracharya reconstructed the temples here.
Alaka Puri: 15 km beyond Badrinath and after Mana village near the Tibetan border is Alaka Puri, the source of Alaknanda river. It is believed to be the abode of Kuber, Yakshas and Gandharvas. Sato Panth is 25 km from Badrinath. The trek is dangerous. It is a lake at an altitude of 4,402 mts.
Arwatal is beyond Badrinath and Mana village. 17 km away is Ghastoli and after another 18 km comes Arwatal. The terrain is icy and stream-stridden. Hence hazardous. Arwatal has an altitude of 3,980 mts. Those desiring adventure can attempt Arwatal. Photography is banned.
At Vyas Guha, Ved Vyas is supposed to have composed Mahabharat. It is a rocky cave.
Bhim Pul is a huge rock placed across Saraswati river like a bridge, beyond Mana village. Bhim, the second of Pandavas, is believed to have placed the rock across.
Three km from Mana is Vasudhara waterfalls. It has a height of 122 mts.

The Valley of Flowers is 19 trek from Govindghat. Govindghat is on the main route to Badrinath. The Valley has been declared as national park. Camping has been regulated. River Pushpawati flows through the Valley.

Hemkund Sahib is located near the Valley at an altitude of 4,329 mts. The lake is considered to be holy. With snow-clad peaks and glaciers around, the sight is enchanting. It is said the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, meditated here in his earlier birth. There is a gurudwara and a Lakshman temple. There is another story that Lakshman was brought here after he was injured by Ravan. Govindghat is at the confluence of Alaknanda and Lakshman Ganga, on the main routre before Badrinath.
Joshimath is 42 km before Badrinath. Adi Shankaracharya established a math here. Auli is 15 km from Joshimath. There is a cable car from Joshimath to Gorson via Auli. Skiing courses are also conducted here. The place is also good for winter sports.

CHAR DHAM (GARHWAL HILLS)

     Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath constitute the Char Dhams, the holiest of shrines in the Himalayas. The perennial river, Ganga, is the symbol of India's culture and civilization. Called Goddess Ganga, it first descended to the earth from the heaven at Gangotri. It is said that to reduce the impact of the fall, Lord Shiva allowed the river to fall through his locks of hair, where after it emerged as four streams. The river that emerged from Yamunotri was called Yamuna, the one from Gangotri as Ganga, that from Kedarnath as Mandakini and the one at Badrinath was called Alaknanda. Surya Kund is a thermal spring near the Yamunotri shrine. Another site, Divya Shila, is a rock pillar worshiped before entering the shrine. Jankichatti is three km before Yamunotri. It has several thermal springs one can take bath. Hanumanchatti, 13 km before Yamunotri, is on the road to Yamunotri. This is the last bus point. Horses and ponies are available. Here is the confluence of Hanuman Ganga and the Yamuna rivers. Didi Tal can be reached from here on foot or pony. Saptarishi Kund is also a site near Yamunotri but difficult to reach.

How to reach Yamunotri: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant between Rishikesh and Dehra Dun. The nearest rail head is at Rishikesh. and the nearest bus point Hanumanchatti, 13 km before the shrine. Rishikesh to Yamunotri by road the distance is 222 km and from Barkot to the shrine it is 40 km. The Rishikesh-Yamunotri Road bifurcates at Dharasu, the other going to Gangotri. Alternately, the shrine can be reached via Mussoorie and Barkot (see map);
Altitude: 3,235 mts;
Climate: In summer cool during daytime and cold at night, in winter the place is snow-bound.
Clothing: Light woollens in summer and very heavy woollens in winter.
Languages: Hindi, Garhwali and English.
Accommodation: Only dharamshalas are available at Yamunotri. There is a Government guest house at Jankichatti, 3 km before the shrine.
Food: Only dhabas (local eating places) are available. Non-vegetarian food and alcohol are prohibited in Yamunotri.
Season: The Yamunotri temple is closed from November to May.

GANGOTRI

     Gangotri is the source of the river Bhagirathi. It is surrounded by the mountain peaks of Shivalik, Satopanth and Bhagirathi Sisters. There are several legends connected with Gangotri. One is that King Bhagirath used to worship Lord Shiva at the sacred stone here.

Gomukh: The snout of Gangotri's glacier, source of Bhagirathi

The temple located nearby is a recent addition. It is also believed that the Pandavas conducted Deva Yagna here to atone for the killings in the Mahabharata war. The widely believed mythological anecdote about Gangotri is that Lord Shiva sat on this rockShivalinga in the river while taking the brunt of the fall of the Ganga in his lock

of hair so that the impact is not much on the earth. In summer the linga is submerged and visible when winter comes.

How to reach: The nearest airport is jolly Grant, between Rishikesh and Dehra Dun. The airport is 26 km from Rishikesh. The nearest rail head is in Rishikesh, 249 km from Gangotri. Bus goes right up to the shrine. There is bus service to several places like Uttarkashi, Tehri, Rishikesh, Hardwar.
Altitude: 3200 mts.
Climate: Summer is cool during daytime and cold at night. Winter is snow-bound.
Clothing: Wear light woollens during summer and very heavy woollens during winter;
Languages: Hindi, Garhwali and English.
Accommodation: Government rest houses and dharamshalas are available.
Food: Only dhabas (local eating places) are available. Non-vegetarian food and alcohol are prohibited in Gangotri.

Nearby sites:

Kedar Ganga Sangam is close to Gangotri. Bhaironghatti is 10 km from Gangotri. The Bhairav Nath temple is in the midst of forests. It is a tourist attraction. Beyond Bhaironghatti, across Jahanvi river, is situated Bhairon temple. This can be reached on foot.
Gaumukh Glacier,18 km from Gangotri,is the source of Bhagirathi river. Pilgrims make it a point not to miss this mystic site though they have to tread the terrain or ride on a pony. One can return to Gangotri the same day. Trekking is easy on this route. Further from Gaumukh are Nandan Van and Tapovan from where the Shivalik peak can be seen.
Harsil, 26 km from Gangotri, and Gangnani, 55 km from Gangotri, on the way to Gangotri, are known for their natural scenic beauty and trnquil environment. Further down is Uttarkashi, 92 km from Gangotri and 155 km from Rishikesh. This is also a venerated pilgrim centre where Lord Vishwanath temple is situated. The temple is described in Kedar Khand of Skand Puran. Magha Mela is celebrated here on every January 14 when devotees take holy dip in Bhagirathi. The Nehru Institute of Mountaineering is also located in Uttarkashi.

KEDARNATH

     A 14 km trek from Gaurikund, Kedarnath shrine is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in the country. Kedar is another name for Lord Shiva. Mythology says the Pandavas sought Lord Shiva's blessings for redemption from the sin of killing of Kauravas. But the Lord eluded them by taking the form of a bull in Kedarnath and when followed further by the Pandavas, he went down into the earth, shedding the hump there. Other parts emerged at four other places: arms at Tungnath, face at Rudranath, belly at Madmaheswar and the locks of hair with head at Kalpeshwar. All the four shrines are worshiped as Panch Kedar. The old temple seen here is said to have been built by the Pandavas The new temple standing beside was built by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century AD. It has large, neatly cut stones. The samadhi of Adi Shankaracharya is just behind the Kedarnath temple.

Kedarnath Temple

How to Reach: Jolly Grant is the nearest airport, 239 km from Kedarnath. The nearest rail head is in Rishikesh, 221 km from Kedarnath. Kotdwara is another rail station, 236 km away. The nearest bus station is in Gaurikund. From Gaurikund to Kedarnath, a distance of 14 km one has to trek. Ponies, horses and dandies are also available. Gaurikund is connected to Rishikesh, Kotdwara, Dehra Dun and other towns by bus.
Altitude: 3,581 mts.
Climate: May to October: average maximum temperature is 15 deg. C and average minimum temperature is 8 deg. C. At other times the mercury touches zero. Rainfall is 1475 mm. The best season to visit Kedarnath is May to October. Clothing: May - heavy woollens, June to September - light woollens, October to November - heavy woollens. Languages: Hindi, Garhwali and English; Accommodation: Plenty of lodges available.

EXCURSIONS

Vasuki Tal is situated at a height of 4,150 mts. The lake is in the midst of high-rising mountains.
Sonprayag is at the confluence of sone Ganga and Mandakini rivers. From here the road takes one to Triyuginarayan. The wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvathi was solemnized here. It is said the flame at the temple was witness to the wedding. The distance from Sonprayag is 12 km, by vehicle.
Guptkashi on Kedarnath route has Ardhanariswar and Vishwanath temples. Down Guptkashi, a little away from the main route is Ukhimath, on Chamoli road. Ukhimath is the winter home of the deity of Kedarnath temple. On way to Kedarnath, Agastyamuni comes immediately after Rudraprayag. The temple of sage Agastya muni is here. Twenty-five km from Guptkashi is Madmaheshwar, one of the Panch Kedars. The road is motorable only up to Kalimath. The site is at a height of 3,289 mts. At Kalimath temple there is Har Gauri statue. Trekking from here one comes to the confluence of Madmaheshwar Ganga and Markanda Ganga. At Madmaheshwar, Lord Shiva's belly is worshiped.
Tungnath represents the arms of Lord Shiva. It is at an altitude of 3,680 mts. It is easy to reach there from Chopta on Ukhimath-Chamoli road. The road is motorable. The face of lord Shiva is worshiped at Rudranath temple. It is at an altitude of 2,286mts. It is 23 km from Gopeshwar out of which only first 5 km is motorable. Peaks like Nanda Devi can be sighted from here. Rudranath has holy places like Suryakund, Chandrakund, Tarakund etc. A little diversion from near Kedar is Anusuya Devi temple. At Kalpeshwar lies the locks of Lord Shiva. It is at an altitude of 2,134 mts, in Urgam Valley. The temple is 10 km trek from Rudranath on way to Helong a point on Rishikesh-Badrinath route.