Char Dham –Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath & Badrinath 10N/11D

Main tourist attractions in the Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath & Badrinath trip

Barkot:

Yamunotri Temple– Yamunotri is the source of the Yamuna River which is one of the major rivers of India. Yamunotri temple is one of four temples in the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. Guests also visit Janaki Chatti and Suryakund (Hot Springs) and Divya Shilla, a rock pillar as part of the pilgrimage.

Harsil:

Gangotri Temple– Gangotri (9000+ ft above sea level) is one of the four pilgrimages part of the Char Dham circuit. Gangotri is where Holy River emerges for the first time.

Uttarkashi:

Badrinath Dham– Badrinath (11000+ ft above sea level) is home to Badrinath Dham, one of the most visited Hindu pilgrimage centers. It is the most visited of the four sites in the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. The temple is surrounded by spectacular views of the mountain ranges. Access is difficult in high season and there are traffic regulations to control the movement. Temple is open between May – Oct. Exact opening and closing dates vary each year.

Tapt Kund– Tapt Kund is a set of hot sulfur springs just below the Badrinath temple. Pilgrims take a bath here before visiting the temple. The springs have a year-round temperature of 45 degrees Centigrade.

Narad Kund– Narad Kund is arranged close to Tapt Kund. It is accepted that the Badrinath icon was acquired from this Kund. Narad Kund boiling hot water spring is situated under the Garur Shila and holds a therapeutic worth. Fans take a plunge in this Kund before entering the Badrinath sanctuary for Darshan of Lord Badrinath.

Mana Village– Mana Village is an outpost, 3 Kms from Badrinath offering Himalayan views and pilgrims visit Vyas Gufa, Vasudhara Waterfalls, and Bhim Pul here.

Vyas and Ganesh Gufa– Vyas & Ganesh-Gufa cavern is situated in the Mana Village alongside numerous different caverns. It is accepted that in this cavern Ved Vyas directed his acclaimed epic of Mahabharata to Ganesh and accordingly it has been named Vyas Gufa. There is an icon of Ved Vyas indicated composition Granth (epic book) inside this hole.

Guptkashi:

Kedarnath Temple– Kedarnath Temple is one of the holiest Hindu temples and is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples. Due to extreme weather conditions, the temple is open only between May to end of Oct / Mid-Nov. Kedarnath temple is accessed on foot or pony from Guptkashi (13 Kms) or via a helicopter ride (from a base 23 Kms from Rudraprayag). Kedarnath is also one of the Panch Kedar temples in the area. There is a Samadhi Mandir dedicated to Adi Shankar behind the Kedarnath temple which is also visited along with Kedarnath.

Vishwanath Temple– Vishwanath Temple at Guptkashi is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered similar to the one in Varanasi.

Haridwar:

Har ki Pauri– Hark Ki Pauri (also known as Brahmakund) is where evening Aarti is conducted and the Aarti is nothing short of a spiritual experience for even a non-Hindu or a non-pilgrim. It’s kind of a crowded area and gets even more crowded once every 12 years when Kumbh Mela is held here.

Triveni Ghat– Evening aarti is performed at Triveni Ghat. Ashes of the dead and ceremonies related to Shradh are performed here. Triveni is also a bathing Ghat where pilgrims take a dip in the holy Ganga River.

Lakshman Jhula– Lakshman Jhula (1939) is a 450 ft hanging Rope Bridge on the river Ganges near the Tapovan area in Rishikesh. It connects guests arriving on the other side of the river to the bathing ghats area. It’s believed at this place Lakshman (Brother of Lord Rama) build a jute bridge to cross over the river and therefore the spot is also considered holy. A five-story temple is built on the other side of the bridge.