Chardham Yatra To Begin Today : Thousands Line Up

One of the most pious circuits for Hindu community is Chardham Yatra that constitutes of four holiest pilgrimage destinations namely - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath - Starts from today, i.e. 21st April, 2015. The Yatra will commence from the Gangotri shrine where the gates will be opened at 1201 hours. Devotees and travelers from all parts of India and across the globe particularly visit India to be a part of this Chardham Yatra.

Opening Ceremony of Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand

Although, Chardham Yatra usually expands for around 10-12 days, to save time devotees also prefer to go by helicopter, so that they can get sufficient time to worship. With this spiritual yatra, one can attain peace and power.  While one embarks on this sacred yatra on foot, one can enjoy the holy chants with other devotees.

[ If Interested, Check-out here list of Packages of Chardham Yatra ]

Chardham Yatra Details 2015

The yatra mainly commences on the day of Akshay Tritiya; the most auspicious day among Hindus and Jains, on this day one can have a good start for any important work. Chota Chardham yatra begins with its first blessed site- Gangotri shrine (located at a height up to 3048m and is the origin of river Ganga) where the gates open at 12:01pm, at Yamunotri shrine (situated at an altitude up to 3291m and is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna) the gates open at 11:55pm with Vedic chants, at Kedarnath shrine (associated with Hindu God-Lord Shiva) after a couple of days and Badrinath shrine (dedicated to Lord Vishnu).

 It is believed that darshan at all the sanctified shrines would take you to a different world of spirituality, faith and love. Come and offer sincere prayers at four different revered places of worship and rebuild your faith in almighty.

[ Don’t miss-out & have a look at Helicopter Tour Package for Chardham ]

Looking for pilgrimage tours in India? You may also find following post interesting:

1. Amarnath Cave Yatra
2. Kedarnath Temple: Chardham Yatra

3.Gangotri Temple: Chardham Yatra
4. Amarnath Yatra Planning: Travel Tips
5. Chardham Yatra

Read More

Top 5 Famous Hindu Yatra : Some Popular and Revered Places

The oldest and most common religion in India is Hinduism. There are no traces about its origin and it has moved ahead with recorded history. It is a vast religion and has countless deities, each of which is revered in different parts of India. There are several mythological stories which speak volumes about the divine incarnations, holy experiences and foundation of temples & religious shrines in different parts of the country. 

One of the most prominent aspects of Hinduism is Tirtha Yatra. It literally means a pilgrimage undertaken to visit a holy site. As per Vedic shastras, a Yatri is supposed to undertake Yatra barefoot. However, these rules are not followed by present generation. 

Here is a list of five popular Hindu pilgrim destinations which are largely visited by Hindus living in different parts of India. 

1. Amarnath Yatra :

It would not be an overstatement to say that Amarnath Yatra is a sheer test of endurance with its duration spanning between 45 to 60 days. It is one of the most popular Himalayan pilgrimages in India and is organized yearly by the government of Jammu & Kashmir between the months of June and August. Baba Amarnath, the other name of Lord Shiva, offers a great treat for eyes.

Every year, during the months of June and August, an ice lingam forms along with two other ice formations representing Mata Parvati and Shri Ganesh inside the Amarnath Cave. The registration forms for Yatra are issued by Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board. Of late, the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board has also started the facility of online forms, which can be downloaded from the official website. 

The government of Jammu and Kashmir launched Amarnath Yatra by Helicopter service in 2004 to cut down the duration of this religious trek. 

2. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra : 

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is being organized by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. The minimum age to undertake this arduous trek is above 18 years and helps pilgrim who want to undertake religious journeys for Kailash and Mansarovar trek. The Mount Kailash is a sacred place for three different religions-Hinduism, Jainism and Bon. 

Mount Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva and circumambulating Mount Kailash is a holy ritual. The pilgrim tour commence in the months of May and June. The pilgrimage takes place in several batches and one has to undergo a medical test to ensure one’s physical condition. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra by helicopter is a famous tour package, which cuts down the duration of this holy pilgrim. 

3. Rath Yatra :

Ratha Yatra (Chariot Festival) is a popular festival in Orissa. Full of drama and spectacle, the fair attracts more than 5 million people from all around the world. This festival is celebrated in the honor of Lord Jagannath, another name of Lord Krishna. It is an ancient festival which is considered as the gateway to heaven by many devotees. 

A day before the ceremony, the three deities, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, are given holy bath (Snana Vedi). The chariot of Lord Jagannath is called Nandighosa, which has 18 wheels and is 23 cubits high. The chariot of Balabhadra is called Taladhvaja, which has 16 wheels and is 22 cubits high. At last, there is Devadalana, the chariot of Subhadra has 14 wheels and is 21 cubits high.

4. Chota Char Dham Yatra : 

One of the most celebrated pilgrim expeditions in India, Chota Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand covers four famous destinations - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. It is one of the most sought after expeditions to win a lifetime experience. 

[ Check-out here some Chardham Yatra Tour Packages ]

The foundation stone of these four pilgrim sites was laid by Adi Shankaracharya. With Chardham Yatra 2014 tour package, you can feel the religious pulsation and unshakable trust of pilgrims visiting these four destinations. 

The duration of Chardham Yatra destinations has been shortened with the commencement of helicopter service. With the introduction of Chardham Yatra by Helicopter service, pilgrims can explore these four religious sites within 2 to 3 days.

5. Kashi Yatra :

One of the oldest inhabited cities in India, Varanasi is once in a lifetime destination for many Hindu devotees. The purpose of Kashi Yatra for many people is the performance of Vedic rites for their ancestors. It is customary for all Hindu pilgrims to undergo Kashi Yatra on foot. 

The journey starts with Saikatha Pooja at Rameshwaram followed by visit to Triveni Sangamam at Allahabad where Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati meet. Following Kashi Vishwanath Darshan, Ganga water is collected to do Ganga Abhishek of Lord Shiva at Rameshwaram. Pilgrims also visit Gaya to do Gaya Shraddha to their ancestors.

Devotees who partake in these religious treks come with an unshakable trust and faith in the presence of almighty and its miracles. These pilgrim sites exhibit the dedication and endurance level of Hindu devotees. 

You may also check-out here about Top 10 Temples in India

Read More

Gangotri : Chardham Yatra

Gangotri is one of the sacred pilgrim centers in India and a part of the famous Chardham Yatra. The place has great significance in the Hindu mythology and is considered holy as the river Ganges, known to be the stream of Life, came on earth for the first time.

The natural setting of the place also mesmerize the devotees and experience the heavily bliss. One can also enjoy the mystic view of Indo-Tibetan border.

Gangotri is situated at the banks of river Bhagirathi, at a height of 3100 meters on the Himalayan range.

Temple at Gangotri

History of Gangotri
The temple of Gangotri was said to be constructed in the early years of the 18th century by a Gorkha Commander. Later, the kings of Jaipur, rebuilt it.

At Gaumukh is the origin of the sacred river that sets in 19 km trek from Gangotri, known as the Gangotri Glacier.

Mythology
The Hindu mythology states that King Bhagirath - the grandson of King Sagar - did self-punishment for almost 5500 years. This penance was to purify the ashes of the King Sagar’s 60,000 sons.

Pleased by this, Lord Shiva sent Goddess Ganga to shrive the sins of ancestors of King Bhagirath. As Goddess Ganga was sent in the form of river, Lord Shiva caught her in his matted locks to put a control over her force.

Therefore, at the source, the river is called Bhagirathi and later from Devprayag, where it meets Alaknanda, obtains the name Ganga. The pilgrims offer water collected at Gangotri to Lord Shiva.

Places of interest near Gangotri:
Gangotri has bountiful attractions for the tourists and devotees to enjoy. Nature lovers can visit Dodi Tal, Ganges Glacier, and Kedar Tal by undertaking treks ranging from moderate to difficult levels.

Pilgrims also enjoy the mystical ambiance at Gangotri Temple and Vishwanath Temple. Apart from this, Harsil, Maneri, Tapovan, and Uttarkashi are also some of the popular tourist attractions of near Gangotri.

Best time to visit Gangotri:
Best time to pay holy visit to the sacred city of Gangotri is from April to June and September to November.

• The summer months from April to May are very pleasing as the temperature does not cross 30°C (max) and can drop to very lower point making nights very cold.

• Monsoon months from late July to August make sojourn to the temple difficult due to heavy rainfall in the area. 

• The winter months from November to March are not advisable for visit to the temple due to heavy snowfall and freezing cold.

How to reach Gangotri:
The city of Gangotri could be reached by various modes, say air, rail and road.

• By Air: Jolly Grant airport, Dehradun, is the nearest airport. It is at a distance of 162 km from Gangotri.

• By Rail: Rishikesh is the nearest railhead that is 145 km from Gangotri.

• By Road: From Rishikesh, Uttarkashi, Tehri, Haridwar, and other nearby places, there are regular buses that provide service till Gangotri. For road traveol, private taxies could also be hired.

[ Don't miss-out & have a look at Chardham Yatra Tour Packages ]

Looking for pilgrimage tours in India? You may also find following post interesting:

1. Amarnath Cave Yatra
2. Kedarnath Temple: Chardham Yatra
3. Amarnath Yatra Planning: Travel Tips
4. Chardham Yatra 

Read More

Kedarnath Temple: Chardham Yatra

Kedarnath is part of the Chardham Yatra in Uttaranchal and an important Hindu pilgrimage destination. With 1000 years old architecture, Kedarnath is the pilgrim center serving the faith of devotees in lord Shiva. The area is prone to heavy snowfall in winters and therefore time between May to October are considered ideal to visit the shrine. For the rest of the year, the temple remains close. But the pilgrims also visit the place when the temple is shutdown. Dates to visit the place are confirmed via Hindu calendar.

Snow clad Kedarnath Temple

The Legend of Kedarnath
According to the mythological belief, it is said that when the Pandavas came in search of lord Shiva to seek penance for the huge war of Mahabharata. Shiva evolved himself into a bull. Bhim, being the strongest amidst the Pandavas followed Shiva, who leaped deep into the ground. The spot at which only the tail of Shiva was left in Bhim’s hand is known to be Kedarnath. The submerged body of Shiva emerged at different places in Garhwal and became popular as Tunganath, Madhyamaheshwar, Kalpeshwar and Rudranath. These pilgrim centers long with Kedarnath are worshipped as Panch Kedars.

Attractions in Kedarnath
The construction of the Kedarnath Temple dates back to 8th century A.D. The temple was built by Adi Guru Shankaracharya, just next to an ancient temple made by the Pandavas. The architecture of the temple is superlative as the figures of the deities are finely embellished. Some of the mythological scenes are also depicted on the walls. The elements of the temple include the main idol (conical lingam), the celestial bull (statue of Nandi), ‘garbha griha’ and 'mandap'.

Kedarnath is a part of the Chardham Yatra and yet another important pilgrimage is the Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir.

Shankaracharya Samadhi is also amongst the popular attractions of the place. This place is marked as the final resting place of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, who constructed the Kedarnath temple. According to the beliefs, he attained Samadhi at an age of 32 years just after establishing the four dhams in India. Apart from Mausoleum of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, attractions like Chorabari (Gandhi Sarovar), Vasuki Tal, Gaurikund, Sonprayag, Triyuginarayan, Guptkashi, Ukshimath, Agastyamuni, Chandrashila, and Deoria Tal have also attracted tourists from all across India and abroad.

How to reach Kedarnath
To reach Kedarnath, one has to go through 14km long trek from Gaurikund that is connected by roads from Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun, and other regions of Garhwal and Kumaon. During winters, no one lives in the Kedarnath region as the local people depend on Kedarnath for their living. Therefore, for devotees and tourists, there are small lodges and hotels for providing accommodation during the stay. Kedarnath becomes a buzzing place every year when the Chardham Yatra commences.

Read More

Char Dham Yatra: Pilgrimage Tours in India

Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand is a major pilgrimage in India. It is undertaken every year by thousands of devotees of almighty. Devotees trek to these char dhams (or nowadays even the holy circuit of Char Dham by helicopter is easily available to devotees who don't have the time to undertake the long perilous journey) to pay reverence to the almighty and attain salvation every year.

Char Dham Yatra is a journey to the small circuit of four holy seats of baba bholenath. Located in the Garhwal region of the State of Uttaranchal, the circuit consists of four important Hindu pilgrimage sites: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.

As per the tradition, the Chardham yatra is undertaken from the west to the east (and also from left to right). The Yatra begins from Yamunotri and then the pilgrims travel to Gangotri followed by Kedarnath. They then finally concluded at Badrinath which is considered the holiest Hindu pilgrimage site our of this quartet.

Yamunotri: Chardham Yatra Destination

Yamunotri  Temple

Yamunotri is the abode seat of the river goddess Yamuna. The shrine of Yamunotri is situated at an altitude of about 3,235 meters and located approximately 30 kilometers away from Uttarakshi.

It is a critical pilgrimage center in Garhwal Himalayas. The original temple was constructed by Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal in the 19th century. The journey to Yamunotri temple takes 1 day from Haridwar and Rishikesh.

The actual temple is situated at a distance of 6 kilometers from the town of Hanumanchatti and is easily accessible by a walk. There are 2 thermal springs named Surya Kund and Gauri Kund just outside the temple at Janki Chatti. These holy kunds are believed to have healing powers.

Surya Kund is a hot boiling water reservoir whereas the Gauri Kund is a moderately warm water reservoir suitable for bathing. The Temple opens on Akshaya Tritiya in the month of May and closes on Yama Dwitiya on the second day of Diwali.

Gangotri: Chardham Yatra Destination

Gangotri Temple in Uttarakshi

Gangotri is the abode seat of the river goddess Ganga. The shrine of Gangotri is situated at an elevation of about 3048 meters and located at a distance of 99 kilometers.

It is an important Hindu pilgrimage situated on the banks of the river Ganga.  The temple was constructed by the Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa in the 18th century. It’s a one day journey from the towns of Rishikesh and Haridwar to reach Gangotri and two days journey from Yamunotri temple.

The temple is opened from May till the Diwali day. For Adventurous pilgrims, Gangotri serves as a starting point for an 18 kilometer trekking route to Gaumukh. It is easily accessible by bus and car which means an opportunity to explore many more pilgrims.

Want more information? Read more on Gangotri.

Kedarnath: Chardham Yatra Destination

Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath is a holy Hindu pilgrimage site situated in Rudra Prayag district in the state of Uttarakhand. In the midst of Himalayas, Kedarnath stands out as one of the twelve jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva. The shrine of Kedarnath is situated at an elevation of 3584 meters on the head of river Mandakini and is flanked by spectacular snow capped mountain peaks.

According to the popular legend, Pandavas after winning the battle over Kauravas in the war of kurukshetra felt guilty of having killed their own brothers and move to Himalayas to seek blessings of Lord Shiva.

While searching for Lord Shiva, they found a buffalo that was quite unique in looks. Bhima engaged in a tug-of-war with the buffalo and started pulling his tail due to which his face went straight to Nepal forming Pashupatinath Temple, leaving its hind part in Kedar out of which a Shiva linga formed.

In between Rudraprayag and Kedarnath, there are several pilgrimages sites which includes Agastyamuni, Ukhimath, Phauli- Pasalat Devi Maa, Bamsu (Lamgoundi) Vanasur, Kalimath, Trijugi Narayan and Kashi Vishwanath at Guptakashi.

The route to Kedarnath requires a 14 kilometer steep foot trekking from Gauri Kund. The journey to Gauri Kund is easily accessible by road from Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun.

Helicopter services are also available these days to reach Kedarnath Dham. The temple opens on Akshaya Tritiya in the month of May and closes on Bhai Duj in the November.

Interested in information on Kedarnath? Read more...

Badrinath: Chardham Yatra Destination

Badrinath Temple

Badrinath is the one of famous and most visited pilgrim spot in the Char Dham yatra. It is situated on the bank of Alaknanda River in the hill town of Badrinath. The town lies between the Nar and Narayan mountain ranges and the Neelkanth peak provides a fabulous setting to Badrinath.

It is considered to be the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. A hot water spring is just below the temple, where many visitors take bath before visiting the temple.

The legend says that Lord Vishnu came to this place earlier known as Badri Van and meditated for a very long time after Narada scolded him for being immersed into worldly pleasures. The temple is open only for six months from April to November due to severe weather and climatic conditions.

The Badrinath is one of the five shrines that are dedicated to Lord Vishnu and are referred to as ‘Panch Badri’:

• Vishal Badri: is the original Badrinath temple in Badrinath.

• Yogadhyan Badri situated in Pandukeshwar depicting the meditating image of Lord Vishnu installed by King Pandu.

• Bhavishya Badri located at subain near Tapovan. The Legend says that when evil will reach at its peak and the route to Badrinath will be inaccessible, the lord Badrinath will worshipped here in future.

• Vridh Badri situated 7 kilometers away from the jyotirmath in Animath. The legend says that Lord Badrinath used to be worshiped here before moving to the current temple.

• Adi Badri situated 17 kilometers away from karnaprayag consisting of 16 small temples with elaborate carved houses and a three stone black statue of Lord Vishnu.

Why undertake Chardham Yatra?

This pilgrimage is undertaken with objective of the attainment of salvation by the blessings of the almighty. It is believed that after undertaking this arduous spiritual reckoning and paying obeisance, the lord washes away the sins of the pilgrims which ensures their release from the cycle of birth and death.

Chardham Yatra 2014 Update: After last year's  natural disaster that struck Uttarakhand, the authorities have decided to regulate the number of pilgrims to Kedarnath. This year only 100 pilgrim will be allowed to travel to Kedarnath each day to avoid any unfortunate or large scale tragedy.

Are you ready for your spiritual reckoning? Check some travel ideas and packages for Chardham Yatra HERE!

Contributed by Nikhil Chandra

Read More