Pilgrimage uttaranchal

About Badrinath Temple :Badrinath Temple(Mandir) was originally built by the Kings of Garhwal about two centuries ago. Much later in 8th century, well-known Hindu reformist Adi Shankaracharya re-enshrined the temple. The Mandir architecture puts a fabulous semblance for the eyes of the on looker. It is divided into three segments namely the 'Garbha Griha' or the sanctum sanctorum, the 'Darshan Mandap' the Ritual Hall and the 'Sabha Mandap' or the Devotees Assembly Hall. The whole temple complex has 15-idols, of which the statue of Lord Badri or Vishnu, subtly chiseled from Black stone, simply catches the imagination by awe and reverence.

Tourism and Places to visit in Badrinath :In this pilgrimage centre there are two natural hot water springs. Surya Kund and Tapt Kund. The stifling waters temperature is 50oC. Peoples bath in these springs to distil the body and soul before visit the Mandir.

Vishal Badri : It denotes the main temple of Shri Badri Narayan Temple and is believed to be the most sanctified.

Bhavishya Badri : This temple is situated in a small village 18 kms far from Joshimath.

Yogathyan Badri : This temple is placed at 25 kms far from mainBadri Nath Dham. This is exactly the place where Maharaj Pandu prayedto Pandukeshwar.

Preetha Badri : This place is famous because Adi Shankarachary worshipped Badrivishal god here for some time. It is 19 kms far from Joshimath.

Adi Badri Vishal: This temple is situated at 16 kms. farKarnaprayag. This is one of the famous temple of bhagwan Badri.

About Shri Kedarnath Dham: The Kedarnath Temple(Mandir) is ranked amongst the most revered places amongst Hindus, and is one of the twelve "Jyotirlingas" of Lord Shiva. This holiest pilgrimage place is located in Uttaranchal. Situated at an altitude of 3584 meters and river Mandakini lying towards the head, Shri Kedarnath Dham is the place where the scholarly Adi Guru Shankaracharya enshrined Lord Shiva. Kedarnath temple, over 100 years old, has a conical lingam, which serves as the main idol, a statue of Nandi or the celestial bull, 'Garbha Griha' which is a worship place and 'Mandap' for the pilgrims s to offer prayers. Mythology describes Kedarnath Dham as the prominent holy place where Lord Shiva purged Pandavas of their sins for killing their own cousins Kauravas in Kurukshetra battlefield. There is a belief that any pilgrim who dies here enters into communion with Lord Shiva. The best time to visit Shri Kedarnath Mandir is between May and October, and can be reached through trekking 14 kms. from Gaurikund, , which is connected by road from Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun and other important hill stations of the Garhwal and Kumaon regions in Uttaranchal. Famous Places to see in Kedarnath : Gaurikund : This place is used as a base camp from where the trek to Kedarnath starts. There is a famous hot water spring and a temple dedicated to Maa Gauri.It is a famous destination for tourism in Uttaranchal. Vasuki Tal : On the way 6 km. trek at 4135 mtr. above sea level, you will found this lake. It is surrounded by high snow cladding mountains. Gandhi Sarovar : This small lake is famous because mythology describes on this place Yudhishthir, the eldest of the Pandavas, is said to have deceased to heaven. Sonprayag : This holy place you will find on the meeting point of Son Ganga and Mandakini Rivers, where there is a diversion for Triyuginarayan, mythological place where the wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati was solemnized. Guptkashi : This place is 49 kms far from the main and very famous for the temples of Ardhnarishwar and Vishwanathji. Chopta: Chopta is one of the beautiful place in the entire Garhwal region. Beautiful lake Deoria Tal is there which is surrounded by grate Himalaya peaks. It is famous place for angling and birdwatching. Panch Kedar : As the name defined Panch, there are five most important temples of Lord Shiva. Those are Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madmaheshwar, Kalpeshwer . Nearest Railway Station : Rishikesh. Airport : Dehradun.

About Gangotri Dham :
Gangotri Dham, situated at the height of 3140 m above sea level. Located on the right banks of sacred eternal river Bhagirathi, the shrine is a mere run of 100 kms. from Uttarkashi. A shrine dedicated to the Goddess was built the early 18th century by Amar Bahadur Thapa, the Gorkha Commander. However, the present form of the temple has been reconstruicted by the kings from Jaipur dynasty.Every year many pilgrims come for Gangotri Yatra.

As the popular mythological event associated with it runs, Goddess Ganga, the daughter of Heaven, flowed from the locked hairs of Lord Shiva to pardon the sins of king Bhagirath's ancestors, after the prince performed hard penance for a period of 5500 years. It is thence, that the pious river got the name of Bhagirathi at the source of origination. Gangotri or Ganga Uttari or Ganga descending is also the place of origination of Ganga or the Ganges as well. The water from Gangotri is offered to Lord Shiva, believing that it has Amrit (Elixir of Immortality) that would alleviate the throat of Lord Shiva who consumed poison in order to protect the world from disaster.

There is another strong mythology associated with this Holy place. It is believed that King Sagar after slaughtering the devils on earth performed the Aswamedh Yagna for announcing his supremacy. King’s 60,000 sons from Queen Sumati and one son Asamanjas born from Queen Kesani protected the horse, which formed the main center of focus of the Yagna. Fearing the loss of supremacy, Lord Indra confiscated the Horse of the Yajna and tied it outside the ashram of Saint Kapila. When 60,000 sons of King Sagar found the horse tide at Saint Kapila’s Ashram, they tried to storm the ashram, and it was at that moment that Saint opened his eyes and reduced all of them to ashes. The grandson of King Sagar, named Anshuman recovered the house from Kapila’s Ashram, and who was told by Saint Kapila that all the 60,000 sons would receive heaven, if the goddess Ganga is brought down from the heaven and washed their ashes with holy water. It as then that the arduous task of bringing Ganga to earth started and was successfully completed by King’s Grandson Bhagirath.

Best Time to Visit :

Gangotri Temple opens in the last week of April or in the initial week of May, coinciding with propitious Akshaya Tritiya. The temple is closed for the season on the occasion of Diwali by following a ceremony where oil lamps are lit in the waters of Bhagirathi.

About Yamunotri : Yamunotri, the source of revered river Yamuna, is situated on top of Bandar Poonch Peak (3615 m), almost opposite to Gangotri. The temple of Yamunotri located in the western region of Garhwal Himalayas was originally constructed by Maharaj Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal. The goddess Yamuna has been beautifully carved out from black marble and holds the esteemed value of Divine Mother at par with Goddess Ganga. Yamuna has the frivolity and the roots of this mannerism allude to the mythological event, where Yamuna’s mother didn’t have an eye contact with her husband all through her life. There is a popular legend attached to the holy place. It is believed that sage Asit Muni had its habitation at Yamunotri. He used to take daily bath in Ganga and Yamuna until his old age. It was during this time that he was unable to take holy bath in Gangotri, and seeing his condition, a rivulet of Ganga rose opposite to Yamunotri. The holy shrine has many hot water glaciers that flow through the mountain cavities. Suryakund is the popular holy bath place, lying adjacent to Divya Shila. The Shila is considered holy and is worshipped before Puja of Goddess Yamuna. The hot water springs also serve as the special place to prepare rice and potatoes, which are taken back home by the devotees as the token of Goddess Yamuna’s blessings. The priests who perform daily rituals and Puja belong to small village of Kharsali near Jankichatti. Best Time to Visit: The temple opens on last week of April, or first week of May on the eve of Akshya-Tritya. The shrine closes for the devotees on the consecrated Diwali Day with a ritual ceremony performed by senior priests of the shrine. The temple’s gates are left open the next season for the devotees on the auspicious occasion of Akshya-Tritya.