Vaishnavi Sharma || CHARDHAM

Haridwar - Yamunotri - Gangotri - Kedarnath - Badrinath (EX HARIDWAR) 

DAY 1
Haridwar - Barkot
(220kms/7-8hr) HT : 1352 MTS.
Drive to Barkot via Mussoorie, enroute visit Kempty Fall (Suggestible to have
your lunch at Kempty fall as further no good restaurants are available before
Badkot). Later drive straight to Barkot, transfer to your Hotel. Overnight stay
at Barkot. Barkot is known for its scenic natural beauty. Located at the
confluence of Yamuna and tons rivers. At an elevation of over 4,000 G, apple
orchards ringed by the Himalayan range.
Barkot offers panoramic views of the snowcapped mountains of Bandar
Poonch. Barkot is an important stopover en route to Yamunotri and Gangotri,
among the four Char Dham Pilgrimages.
(Weather - Generally pleasant in summer, the temperature ranges from 25-30
degree Celsius, Winter: The Days are pleasantly cool but the nights are cold,
temp ranges from 10 deg to 05 deg)

DAY 2 
Barkot - Yamunotri - Barkot
{36 kms drive & 6 kms Trek (one side)} HT : 3235 MTS.
Early morning, Drive to Jankichatti/Phoolchatti, trek start from here to
Yamunotri (6 kms). Either by walking or by horse or by Doli at own cost. Arr.
Yamunotri, One can cook rice by packing it in a cloth and dipping it in the hot
water of the hot kund.
Pilgrims take this cooked rice home as "Prasad ''. Here near the temple
"Pooja" can be offered to DivyaShila, After taking bath in JamunabaiKund's
warm water and having "Darshan" of pious "Yamunaji" returning to
Jankichatti. Return back to Barkot, Overnight stay.
Yamunotri Temple: Maharani Gularia of Jaipur built the temple in the 19th
Century. It was destroyed twice in the present century and rebuilt again.
Surya Kund: There are a Number of thermal springs in the vicinity of the
temple, which flows into numerous pools. The most important of these is
Surya Kund.
DivyaShila: A rock pillar, worshiped before entering the Yamunotri Temple
Weather - In summer the maximum temp is 18 degrees and the minimum is
10 Degrees Celsius. The days are pleasantly cool but the nights are cold.

DAY 03 
Barkot - Uttarkashi

(100kms/4hr) HT :1352 MTS.
Drive to Uttarkashi. Check in the Hotel, Later in the evening visit Vishwanath
Temple. Night Halt. Uttarkashi is situated on the Ganges, lies next to a hill
named Varun Parvat, on confluence of two rivers Varuna and Asi, has a ghat
called Manikarnika Ghat and has a temple dedicated to Shiva
(KashiVishwanath Temple) in the center of the town. Vishwanath temple -

Vishwanath temple is one of the oldest Shiva temples in Northern India. Re-
constructed in 1857 by Maharani Khaneti Devi of Tehri State in the ancient

architectural style. It is situated at the heart of the town. A massive iron
trident, symbolic of divine mother's, is erected and worshiped from time
immemorial at the temple complex. Ganeshji, SakshiGopal, Markandeya
Rishi's small shrines are also part of the temple complex. AkhandJyoti as well
as AkhandAbhishek, special aarti at morning and evening are offered. As per
SkundaPuran, Uttarkashi is known as 'Saumya Varanasi', the abode of Lord
Shiva in Kaliyug and counted as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
Shakti temple - Right in front of the Vishwanath temple is Shakti temple. It
has a big 'Trishul' of about 6 meters in height and a circumference of 90 cm.
at bottom.
Though there are different views about the making of this, the upper part of
it seems to be made up of iron and the lower one is of copper. As per the
epics this Shakti was thrown on the devils by the Goddess Durga(Shakti),
hence it gets its name. Since then this Shakti is erected over here
(Weather - Generally hot in summer, the temperature ranges from 30-35
degree Celsius but nights are pleasant, Cold in winters).

DAY 04 
Uttarkashi - Gangotri - Uttarkashi
(100kms/3-4 each side) HT : 3048 MTS.
We proceed to Gangotri (3048 mts), enroute we enjoy picturesque
Harsil village, Bhagirathi River and the most magnificent view of the
Himalayas. After Gangotri Darshan we return to Uttarkashi Overnight stay at
Uttarkashi. Gangotri Temple: The temple, constructed by the Gorkha General
Amar Singh Thapa in the 18th Century, is situated on the right bank of
Bhagirathi.
Submerged Shivling: Submerged in the river, this natural rock Shivling is the
place where, according to mythology Lord Shiva sat when he received the
Ganga in his matted lock. It is visible in winter months when water level
decreases.
Kedar Ganga Sangam: Around 100 Yards from the Ganga Temple flows the
river Kedar Ganga. Starting from the Kedar Valley, this river meets the
Bhagirathi.

DAY 05 

Uttarkashi - Guptkashi
(220 kms/8-9hr) HT : 1319 MTS.
Drive straight to Guptkashi via Moolgarh & Lambgaon. Enroute you can see
the beautiful river Mandakini at Tilwara. The Mandakiniriver comes from
Kedarnath,
drive alongside the river to reach Guptkashi. On arrival Check In at the Hotel,
evening visit ArdhNarishwar Temple.
Overnight stay at the Hotel. The name Guptkashi means "Hidden Benares.
Mythology describes how when the Pandava brothers were searching for a
glimpse of Shiva, Shivji first concealed himself at Guptkashi, but later fled
from them further up the valley to Kedarnath, where the Pandavas finally got
their wish fulfilled.
There are more tangible connections as well-the Kedarnath pandas
(hereditary pilgrimage priests) live in Guptkashi during the winter months,
and after the Kedarnath temple closes for the winter, the image of Kedarnath
passes through Guptkashi on its way to Ukhimath (across the valley), where it
stays for the winter.
(Weather - Generally pleasant in summer, the temperature ranges from 25-30
degree Celsius. Cold in winters).

DAY 06 

Guptkashi - Kedarnath

After breakfast, proceed to Sonprayag, Trek starts from Sonprayag to
Kedarnath (3584 mts) by pony / Doli. Tour members should carry personal
medicines, heavy woolen, toiletries and clothes for an overnight halt at
Kedarnath. Visit Kedarnath Temple. Overnight stay.
Kedarnath: The Kedarnath shrine, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, is
a scenic spot situated, against the backdrop of the majestic Kedarnath range.
Kedar is another name of Lord Shiva, the protector and the destroyer.
According to legend, the Pandavas after having won over the Kaurava in the
Kurukshetra war, felt guilty of having killed their own brothers and sought the
blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption.
He eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the
form of a bull. On being followed he dived into the ground, leaving his hump
on the surface. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four other
places and are worshiped there as his manifestations.
The arms appeared at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at
Madmaheshwar and his locks (hair) with head at Kalpeshwar.
Kedarnath and the four above-mentioned shrines are treated as PanchKedar.

DAY 07 
Kedarnath - Guptkashi
(19 Kms Down Trek & 30kms/1hr by Road)
Early morning, after Temple Darshan trek down to Sonprayag. Further drive
to Guptkashi. Check in Hotel. Night Halt.

DAY 08 
Guptkashi - Badrinath
Guptkashi - Badrinath (215 kms/7hr) HT: 3133 MTS.
Drive to Badrinath via Joshimath. Check in Hotel. Later in the evening visit
Badrinath Temple for Aarti. Overnight stay. Badrinath one of the 'Four Dhams'
is one of the most celebrated pilgrimage spots of the country and is situated at
an elevation of 3,133 meters, guarded on either side by the two mountain
ranges known as Nar & Narayan with the towering Neelkanth Peak providing a
splendid backdrop.
Tapt Kund/Narad Kund: Natural thermal springs on the bank of the river
Alaknanda, where it is customary to bathe before entering the Badrinath
temple.
Brahma Kapal: A flat platform on the bank of river Alaknanda. Hindus perform
propitiating rites for their deceased ancestors.
Charan Paduka: 3kms. away is a beautiful meadow where the footprint of Lord
Vishnu is seen on a boulder.
Mana Village: Inhabited by an Indo-Mongolian tribe, it is the last Indian village
before Tibet.
Vasundhara: As the name suggests, Vasundhara is a magnificent waterfall. This
place is 5kms. from Badrinath out of which 2kms. is motorable uptill Mana.
Bhim Pul: On the other side of Mana village, a massive rock forming a natural
bridge, lies over the roaring Saraswati river. It presents a spectacular view of
water thundering down through the narrow passage under the rock and is
believed to have been placed there by Bhim, the second eldest among the five
Pandava brothers.
Vyas Gufa (cave): Near Mana Village, this is a rock-cave where Ved Vyas is
believed to have composed the Mahabharata and the pauranic commentaries.

DAY 09
Badrinath - Pipalkoti

Badrinath - Pipalkoti (80kms) / Rudraprayag (160 kms) /
Kirti Nagar (200 kms)

Early morning, pilgrims after having a bath in the Tapt Kund have the Darshan
of Badrivishal.
Brahamakapal is significant for Pinddan Shraddh of ancestors (Pitras). There
are other interesting sightseeing spots like Mana, VyasGufa, Maatamoorti,
Charan Paduka, Bhimkund and the "Mukh '' of the Saraswati River. Just
within the three kms of Badrinath Ji. Later drive back to Pipalkoti /
Rudraprayag / Kirti Nagar via Joshimath.
Check in Hotel. Overnight stay.
Joshimath is situated on the slopes above the confluence of the rivers
Alaknanda and Dhauliganga. Of the four 'Mathas' established by
AdiShankaracharya, Joshimath is the winter seat of Badrinath. The idol is
brought down to Joshimath and installed in the temple for people to
worship. There are many other temples in the township. The most important
is the temple of NirSingh with the idol of Lord Vishnu.
The left arm of this deity is getting destroyed with time and the popular
belief holds that the day the arm completely withers Badrinath valley will
cease to exist and the Gods will transfer the residence into the neighboring
Niti Valley at BhavishyaBadri.

DAY 10 
 

Pipalkoti - Rishikesh
Pipalkoti - Rishikesh (220 kms/7-8hr) /Rudraprayag -
Rishikesh (140 kms/4-5hr) / Kirti Nagar - Haridwar (135 kms/3-4hr)

Drive to Rishikesh, the 'place of sages' is a celebrated spiritual town on the
bank of Ganga and is surrounded by Shivalik range of the Himalayas on three
sides.
It is said that when Raibhya Rishi did hard penances, God appeared by the
name of “Hrishikesh” and this area henceforth came to be known as
Rishikesh.
Visit Rishikesh, Laxman Jhoola, Ram Jhoola, Bharat Mata Mandir and evening
drop at Haridwar Railway station.