Himalayan Lust : Holy Chardham Yathra : Dev Bhoomi (Uttarakhand)

These mountains are so alive with spiritual vibrations. Many known and unknown spiritual masters chose these mountains as their abode and have illuminated the place with their energies. The Himalayas are certainly an uplifting experience for all spiritual seekers. Even the rocks reach out to the heavens. No wonder beings seeking the divine, made you their abode.

Char Dham, literally ‘the four abodes’, yatra refers to the journey up the mountains to four sacred temples in the North Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is also referred to as 'Chhota Char Dham' to differentiate it from the bigger circuit of Char Dham sites. The four temples that comprise Char Dham are Yamunotri Dham, Gangotri Dham, Badrinath Dham and Kedarnath Dham. Nothing spells devotion more than a visit to the Char Dhams nestled in seclusion, among the mighty Himalayan peaks.


Uttarakhand also called as the Dev-Bhoomi, as the state is known for many religious centres like Rishikesh, one of the most revered place in the books of Hindus, Haridwar, the home of Kumbh Mela, other than the sacred Chardham Yatra. There were a couple of pilgrim places we were fortunate to visit during our Char Dham visit.

Haridwar –
In Hindi, Haridwar stands for Dwar of Hari or Gateway to God, with 'Hari' meaning god and 'dwar' meaning gate. Haridwar is regarded as one of the seven holiest places to Hindus. Evening Arti at Har ki Pauri Ghat.


· Har ki Pauri – According to the Hindu mythology, it is at ‘Har ki Pauri’ in Haridwar that king Bhagirath performed a penance to Lord Shiva in order to rescue souls of his ancestors from vicious circle of rebirth. Pleased with his prayers, Lord Shiva asked holy river Ganga to flow through his locks. Bhagirath took a dip in the holy waters of river Ganga and rescued the souls of his ancestors from their sins. Since then, thousands of devotees take a dip at ‘Har ki Pauri’ to pray for salvation of their ancestors.

· Mansa Devi Temple – The temple is perched on a hill top and can be reached through a cable car ride. It is believed that Goddess Mansa fulfils the wishes of her devotee, so, lots of pilgrims flock to the temple to have their wishes fulfilled from the Goddess. Devotees tie a thread with their wish to the branches of a sacred tree in the temple and when the wish gets fulfilled, they come back again to untie the thread from the tree.

· Chandi Devi Temple – Located on top of the Neel Parvat, the ‘Chandi Devi’ temple can be reached through a bus from Mansa Devi temple. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Chandika Devi and is considered to be one of the Siddha peethas of Haridwar where the wishes of true devotees get fulfilled.


First Dham : Yamunotri Dham:
Named after the Goddess Yamuna, is the first Dham en route the yatra. A bath in the holy waters of Yamuna river is said to cleanse one of all sins and protect from untimely death. The shrine of Yamunotri is believed to be built in 1839 by the king of Tehri, Naresh Sudarshan Shah. Besides the Yamuna Devi (goddess), the idol of Ganga Devi too is housed in the revered temple. There are many hot water springs near the temple; Surya Kund is the most important among them. Devotees boil rice and potatoes in the kund and accept it as a Prasad of the devi. Divya Shila– It is a rock pillar located near the Surya Kund. As per rituals, devotees first need to pay homage at the ‘Divya Shila’ before entering the main shrine of the ‘Yamunotri Temple’.

Champasar Glacier– Actual point of origin is the ‘Champasar Glacier’ which is further few km. above the main temple. Due to a steep climb and limited accessibility, most pilgrims pay homage in the main temple only and return.

Prakateshwar Cave– This mysterious cave falls enroute to Uttarkashi from Barkot. Famous for its limestone formation resembling the Shivlinga, this cave is visited by many pilgrims on their way to Gangotri.


LEGEND

Yamuna Goddess is believed to be Sun's daughter and twin sister of Yama (the god of death). It is said that sage Asit Muni lived here and bathed in both Ganga and Yamuna. In his old age, when he was unable to go to Gangotri, a stream of Ganga started to flow across the steam of Yamuna.


Uttarkashi -
This is an ancient holy city located on the banks of River Bhagirathi. Uttarkashi is adorned with many beautiful temples and ashrams. Pilgrims heading to Gangotri usually stop by at Uttarkashi for a day to seek blessings from the God. Here are some religious places to see in Uttarkashi.

· Vishwanath Temple– This temple is the oldest and most sacred shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to the legends, Lord Shiva appeared here to save Rishi Markandeya from Yama, the God of death. The temple houses a ‘swayambhu lingam’, idols of Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesh and Rishi Markandeya sitting in a meditative position.

· Shakti Temple– Opposite the Vishwanath Temple is the ‘Shakti Temple’, dedicated to Goddess Durga. Pilgrims visit this temple to seek blessings from Goddess Durga and to have a look at the heavy trident which is revered here in the form of ‘Shakti’.

Gangnani
It is a small town situated enroute to Gangotri and is famous for its natural thermal water spring known as ‘Rishikund Teerth’. Pilgrims heading to Gangotri usually stop by and take the holy bath in the warm waters of the spring.

Harsil
This hidden jewel of Uttarakhand is situated on the banks of the Bhagirathi River. Unspoilt natural charm, fresh mountain air and salubrious weather makes it a perfect place to stop by for few hours enroute to Gangotri. An interesting attraction near Harsil is ‘Sattal’, a breathtakingly beautiful cluster of high altitude alpine lakes that can be reached through a 7 km. trek from Harsil.

Dharali
Located at a distance of 2km. from Harsil, Dharali is another picturesque village famous for its apple orchards. Striking views of these Apple Orchards all along the route to Gangotri seem to be embracing you with their open arms. Another famous attraction of this small town is the ancient ‘Shiva Temple’ that is flocked by many pilgrims enroute.

Mukhba Village
This pretty little village near Dharali is the home for Goddess Ganga where she is worshipped for almost 6 months owing to the closure of the main Gangotri Temple during peak winters. Small rustic wooden huts, trees of pine and rhododendrons, and vibrant coloured flowers all around; seem to have directly come out from a picture postcard. When at Mukhba Village, you can visit the ‘Ganga Temple’ where idol of Goddess Ganga is housed during winters.

Bhairon Ghati
This scenic valley lies around 10km. before Gangotri, sitting on the confluence of Bhagirathi River and Jat Ganga. Adorned with pine trees and gargling Bhagirathi gushing down the mountains, the valley is famous for its ancient ‘Bhairon Temple’ that is visited by many pilgrims on the ‘Char Dham Yatra’.


Second Dham : Gangotri Dham:
The second temple that falls on the Chota Char Dham circuit, is the birthplace of the holy river Ganga. Goddess Ganga, who is said to have descended on earth to absolve the sins of human kind. The river originates at Gaumukh from the Gangotri glacier which is some 18 km from the town of Gangotri.


Fillowing is the list of must-see places in Gangotri.

· Gangotri Temple– This is the main shrine dedicated to Goddess Ganga. Serene and tranquil settings of the temple provide you with inner peace and solitude.

· Submerged Shivlinga– This is a natural rock Shivlinga submerged under water and is visible when the water level decreases during certain time periods. As per the beliefs, the place where Shivlinga resides, Lord Shiva sat to receive River Ganga in his matted locks to minimise the devastating effect on earth from her majestic flow.

· Suryakund Waterfalls– Another most famous attraction in Gangotri is the picturesque ‘Suryakund Waterfall’ that is located half a kilometre ahead of the Gangotri Temple.

· Pandava Gufa– Walk past the Suryakund waterfall in the forest for around 2 km. to reach the Pandava Cave. It is believed that Pandavas of Mahabharata stayed in the cave during their ascent to heaven after the battle.

· Bhagirathi Shila– It is the holy rock near the banks of Bhagirathi where King Bhagirath prayed to Lord Shiva.

· Gaumukh Glacier– ‘Gaumukh Glacier’ is another must-see place in Gangotri. To visit Gaumukh, you need to trek uphill a distance of 18km. on foot from Gangotri and take special permits from the forest department office in Uttarkashi as the route is quite prone to landslides. Panoramic views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks and beautiful meadows will enamour you in the mood of spirituality.

· Tapovan and Nandanvan– From Gaumukh, few courageous people also head towards the scenic sites of Tapovan and Nandanvan from where the views of Shivling Peak are just indescribable in words. These treks are quite arduous and one needs to be mentally prepared for accidents and natural calamities.

LEGEND
King Sagar undertook an Ashwamedha Yagna and sent his 60,000 sons along with the horse. The horse was lost; tracing the horse to the Sage Kapila's ashram, the 60,000 sons stormed the ashram and disturbed sage who was in deep meditation. Enraged Kapila opened his fiery eyes that turned all 60,000 sons into ashes. Later, on Kapila's advice, Anshuman (Sagar's grandson) started praying to Goddess Ganga, requesting her to come down to earth to cleanse the ashes of his relatives and grant salvation to them. Anshuman failed in his aim; it was his grandson Bhagirath whose rigorous meditation made Ganga to come down to earth. Lord Shiva tied Ganga and distributed its water in a number of streams to save the earth from its mighty force.

After the divine darshans of Gangaji at Gangotri, the journey to the third Char Dham of Kedarnath begins. Two routes to Kedarnath can be taken from Uttarkashi. First route takes you through Srinagar – Rudraprayag – Augustmuni – Ukhimath – Guptkashi – Sonprayag – Gaurikund.

The second route takes you through- Gangotri – Uttarkashi – Tehri – Mayali – Ghanshali – Ukhimath – Guptkashi – Sonprayag – Kedarnath.

Ukhimath
This is a little village where deities of Lord Kedarnath and Lord Madhyamaheshwar are worshipped during winters when the main temples of Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar remain closed. Here are few main attractions of Ukhimath.

· Omkareshwar Temple– Shrine where deities of Lord Kedarnath and Lord Madhyamaheshwar are worshipped.

· Madhyamaheshwar Temple– Another holy temple of the ‘Panch Kedar’ group, the temple is located at the place where the belly part of Lord Shiva fell during his run from the Pandavas.

· Kali Math Temple– Considered to be one of the 108 divine Shakti Peeths, the ‘Kalimath Temple’ is dedicated to Goddess Kali. It is believed that Goddess Kali here, killed the demon, Raktabeej. Thousands of pilgrims visit this temple every year.

Gupt Kashi

Gupt Kashi is a picturesque town situated on the banks of River Mandakini and snuggled between the Chaukhamba peaks of Garhwal Himalayan range. As per mythological legends, Gupt Kashi is the place where Lord Shiva proposed Goddess Parvati for their marriage. A second legend behind Gupt Kashi goes back to the days of Mahabharata when Pandavas, after the battle, prayed to Lord Shiva to relieve them from the agony of fratricide. Lord Shiva avoided meeting them and hid himself in Gupt Kashi in the form of Nandi bull. When Pandavas reached Gupt Kashi, they recognized Shiva in the form of bull and tried to hold him by its tail and hind legs. That very moment, Lord Shiva disappeared from Gupt Kashi. As Lord Shiva secretly hid himself here, the town has got the prefix of ‘Gupt’ to its name.

Following are the main attractions in Gupt Kashi:

· Vishwanath Temple– As mentioned above, the ‘Vishwanath Temple’ is home to the original Shivlinga of Lord Shiva that is believed to have been brought from the Vishwanath Temple in Kashi when the temple was attacked by the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb. Many pilgrims gather here is huge numbers to seek blessings of the God.

· Ardhanarishwar Temple– The ‘Ardhanarishwar Temple’, located near the main Vishwanath Temple, houses the deity of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in the form of half man and half woman.

· Manikarnika Kund– Manikarnika Kund also holds a great religious significance as the Shivlinga residing in the centre of the kund is bathed by waters of two springs representing Ganga and Yamuna.

Sonprayag
It is another small enchanting town situated on the confluence of holy rivers Basuki and Mandakini. The ‘Triyuginarayan Temple’ in the village of Triyugi near Sonprayag is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. As per the puranic legends, this is the place where Lord Shiva married to Goddess Parvati in front of Lord Vishnu.

Gaurikund
This place is located 15km. ahead of Gupt Kashi and is the base site from where the trek of around 20 km. needs to be commenced to reach Kedarnath. Pilgrims first take bath in the hot waters of the Gaurikund and pay homage in the ‘Gauri Temple’ before proceeding with their journey to Kedarnath. As per mythological beliefs, Gaurikund is the place where Goddess Parvati meditated to attain Lord Shiva as her husband. According to a second belief, Lord Shiva blessed Lord Ganesha with the elephant head at this sacred site of Gaurikund.

From Gaurikund, either pilgrims can choose to trek on foot or hire ponies and palanquin services to reach the town of Kedarnath, perched at a height of 11,700 ft. above sea level. Many private helicopter services also operate at Gaurikund enabling pilgrims to take helicopter rides up to Kedarnath.


Third Dham: Kedarnath:
Known as the land of Lord Shiva, has the highest located jyotirling. Situated on the banks of Mandakini River, the view of this temple against its snowy backdrop is resplendent. Situated in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, Kedarnath is the most remote pilgrimage spot in the yatra. It is believed that originally the temple of Kedarnath was built by Pandavas. And Adi Shankaracharya got the present structure constructed in the 8th century adjacent to the old temple site. The grey stone structure is an architectural marvel because of its imposing design and its ability to survive for so many centuries in such a harsh terrain. Following are main tourist attractions of Kedarnath.

· Kedarnath Temple– It is the main shrine of Kedarnath, considered to be the home to one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Also, revered as one of the ‘Panch Kedars’, the temple is visited by thousands of pilgrims all across the world. Perched on the head of River Mandakini and flanked by the breath-taking vistas of the Kedar and Swargarohini peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas, a visit to the Kedarnath Temple fills hearts of all devotees with divinity and spirituality.

· Vasuki Tal– This is a sacred lake where Lord Vishnu is believed to have bathed in ancient times. The Tal can be reached through an 8 km. challenging trek from the Kedarnath Temple.

· Bhairav Temple– Dedicated to Lord Bhairavnath, who is believed to be the guardian deity of Kedarnath town and temple while everything is covered under snow during winters, this temple can be reached through a 1 km. hike from the Kedarnath Temple. Views of the Kedarnath valley from the Bhairavnath Temple are indescribable in words.

LEGEND
Pandavas were searching for Lord Shiva to absolve themselves from their sins committed at the battlefield of Mahabharata. Lord Shiva was in no mood to forgive them so easily, so he converted himself into a bull and went to Garhwal side of Uttarakhand. On being found by the Pandavas, he dived into the ground. Different parts of the Lord came up at different parts - hump at Kedarnath, arms at Tunganath, navel at Madhya-Maheshwar, face at Rudranath and hair emerged at Kalpeshwar. Taken together, these five sites are known as Panch-kedar. Pandavas got temples made at each of the five places.


From Kedarnath, two routes can be taken for Badrinath, the last Dham amongst the Char Dhams. First route takes you through Ukhimath – Chopta – Gopeshwar – Chamoli – Joshimath -Vishnuprayag. Second route to Badrinath from Kedarnath is via Rudraprayag – Karnaprayag – Nandprayag – Chamoli – Joshimath –Vishnuprayag, skipping Ukhimath and Chopta. The two routes merge at Chamoli. Following are some places to see enroute to Badrinath via these routes.


Nandprayag
One of the ‘Panch Prayags’, the Nandprayag lies at the confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Nandakini in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. As per puranic stories, it is at this place where King Nand (husband of Yashoda who brought up Krishna) worshipped Lord Vishnu to grant him the boon of Lord himself to be born as son to him and Yashoda. A small temple at this place is visited by many pilgrims heading towards Badrinath.

Joshimath
It is an important stopover enroute to Badrinath from where buses, cars and taxis move in convoys till Badrinath and the roads remain closed at night. Captivating vistas of Himalayan peaks along the route, makes you appreciate the striking craftsmanship of nature and God. It is also the major destination enroute to Auli, the skiing paradise for adventure sports lovers in winters. A 3km. cable car ride from Joshimath can be taken to reach Auli. Joshimath also acts as the base site for treks to ‘Valley of Flowers’ and ‘Hemkund Sahib’. Main attractions in Joshimath include the following.

· Narsingh Temple– This is the winter home for Lord Badri who is shifted here when main temple of Badrinath remains closed from the time of Diwali to Akshay Tritiya. The deity of Lord Vishnu in the form of Narsingh (half human and half lion) is revered in this temple.

· Shankaracharya Math– Believed to be established by the Hindu Guru, Adi Shankaracharya, it is a sacred place housing the temples of Lord Badri and Rajrajeshwari Devi.

Vishnuprayag
Another sacred prayags of the ‘Panch Prayag’ group, the Vishnuprayag lies at the confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Dhauliganga in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is believed that sage Narad worshipped Lord Vishnu at this holy confluence. Lots of pilgrims take a holy dip in the waters of the ‘Vishnu Kund’ and visit the ‘Vishnu Temple’ dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Hanuman Chatti
The place enroute to Badrinath is famous for its ancient temple of Lord Hanuman. According to legends, this is the place where Lord Hanuman crumpled the ego of Bheema, second of five Pandava brothers of Mahabharata. A true devotee praying to Lord Hanuman in this temple is granted with all his wishes.

Pandukeshwar
The place is famous for its ancient ‘Yog Dhyan Badri Temple’ which as old as the main Badrinath Temple. The temple is dedicated to lord Vishnu who is worshipped in a dhyan mudra or meditative posture. This temple is also considered to be one of ‘Sapt Badris’ or the seven abodes of Lord Vishnu.



Fourth Dham: Badrinath:

Named after Lord Badri(Vishnu), is located along the banks of Alaknanda River. ‘Badri’ means berry in local language. Also part of the bigger Char Dham circuit, it stands beautifully on Garhwal Hill, rearing its golden head and fluttering its red flags with Godly presence. One of the 108 Divya Desams, Badrinath temple is part of both Char Dham and Chota Char Dham. Adi Shankaracharya found the idol of Lord Badri in Alaknanda River and put it up in a cave near the Tapt Kund. In 16th century, a Garhwal King got the temple erected, which has been renovated many times as a result of natural calamities. Sandwiched between Nar and Narayan peaks, the beauty of Badrinath Dham is further enhanced with the glorious background of Neelkanth peak.

· Tapt Kund– A natural hot water spring believed to contain medicinal properties. Before entering the main shine, pilgrims need to take a holy dip in the hot waters of this kund.

· Narad Kund– This is another holy kund near Tapt Kund. It is believed that Narad Muni authored ‘Narada Bhakti Sutra’ at this place. Also, this is the place from where Guru Adi Sankaracharya discovered the idol of Lord Vishnu and erected it in the Badrinath Temple.

· Mana Village– It is the last Indian village before Tibet and is home to the ‘Vyas Cave’ and ‘Ganesh Temple’. It is believed that great sage Vyas while composing the Mahabharata took the help of Lord Ganesh to write it in a great speed. Vyas Cave and Ganesh Temple are associated with this legend.

· Bheem Pul– It is a natural rock bridge which according to mythology, is believed to have been constructed by Bheema by laying a huge rock on the Saraswati River, while their ascent to heaven.

· Saraswati River– The Saraswati River holds a great religious significance as it is believed that Rigveda was composed at the banks of this holy river. Also known as the ‘Lost River’ because the river dried away many thousands of years ago, a small stretch of river flowing from the mountains near the Mana Village, merging in the Alaknanda River just a km. ahead, is believed to be the lost Saraswati River.

· Vasudhara Falls– These beautiful falls can be reached through a 6 km. trek from the Mana Village. Captivating views of snow clad Himalayas and glaciers feeding the Alaknanda River are just a sight to behold at the Vasudhara Falls.



LEGEND
As per one of the legends, the indulgent lifestyle of Lord Vishnu was criticised by a sage, after which Vishnu went to meditate as an act of penance, over here. Goddess Laxmi (his wife) became a berry tree to shade him from the sun and other harsh elements of nature. Another divine tale states that Badrinath used to be the realm of Shiva. Vishnu tricked Shiva into leaving the site and established himself instead.



After the darshans of Lord Badri at Badrinath, pilgrims make their way back to Rishikesh-Haridwar. Following are some additional places that can be seen enroute to return journey.

Karnprayag
It is situated on the confluence of Alaknanda River and Pindar River. According to the puranas, it is at this place where Karna worshipped the Sun God. According to a second story, Lord Krishna cremated Karna at this place and hence the name ‘Karnaprayag’. Ancient ‘Karna Temple’ and ‘Uma Devi Temple’ are the main attractions of this place.

Rudrayprayag is a major stopover enroute to Badrinath. It is a religious town located on the confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Mandakini. It is believed that Lord Shiva appeared here in his Rudra avatar to bless rishi Narad. Bountiful beauty of the town with its shimmering rivers, majestic Himalayas, gushing waterfalls and salubrious weather, makes this place a hotspot for tourists throughout the year. Must visit places in Rudraprayag are listed below.

· Rudranath Temple– The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva in his rudra avatar.

· Chamunda Devi Temple– The temple is dedicated to Goddess Chamunda who is worshipped here as wife of Lord Rudra.

· Koteshwar Temple– Situated on the banks of Alaknanda River in a cave, this is one more temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple lies at a distance of 5 km. from the main market of Rudraprayag. According to mythological beliefs, this is the place where Lord Shiva worshipped Lord Vishnu to help him kill the devil, Bhasmasur.

· Hariyali Devi Temple– Located at a distance of 35 km. from main town of Rudraprayag, the temple is dedicated to Devi Hariyali, another sacred manifestation of Mata Vaishno Devi. The temple is also one of the 58 ‘Siddha Peeths’ in India. It is believed that when Kansa threw the seventh child of Devki on ground, her body parts fell at different places on earth; with hands falling at Hariyali Devi.

· Kartik Swami Temple– Situated at one of the most scenic locations, Kartik Swami Temple is the highlight of Rudraprayag. Perched at a height of 3050m, the temple is devoted to Kartikeya, son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Paravati. Apart from its religious values, the shrine is known for offering indescribable beauty of the Himalayan Range. The temple indeed is the place of tranquility and serenity and is a must visit on Rudraprayag- Nagnath Pokhri Route in Uttarakhand

Augustmuni
This small town is situated at a distance of 18 km. from Rudraprayag and sits on the banks of Mandakini River. It is believed that sage Agastya meditated here for a long time. The ‘Agasteshwar Mahadev Temple’ in Agastyamuni is visited by many pilgrims enroute to Kedarnath. Helicopter rides for Kedarnath can also be availed from this town.

Srinagar
This beautiful town is situated on the banks of Alaknanda River and is famous for its ancient temples. Details of two of the most revered temples are listed below.

· Kamleshwar Mahadev Temple– The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva at this place with his ‘Kamalnetra’ (Lotus eye). This is the reason temple came to be referred to as ‘Kamleshwar’.

· Dhari Devi Temple– Located on the banks of Alaknanda River, the deity of Goddess Dhari in the temple is believed to change her appearance from girl to woman to old lady during the course of the day. The temple holds a great religious significance for the locals.

Devprayag
Devprayag is a small pilgrim town situated on the holy confluence of Rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda. Splendid beauty of the town also makes it popular among travel enthusiasts and nature lovers apart from pilgrims.

· Raghunath Temple– This is the oldest shrine dedicated to Lord Rama. The temple houses the carved figures of Rama, Sita and Lakshman.

· Brahma Kund and Vashisht Kund– Sacred kunds on confluence of two holy rivers. This kund is on Bhagirathi River.

· Baital Shila– A small water spring which is believed to cure various diseases, especially leprosy.

On completion of Chardham, when we were reaching Rishikesh, people in Uttarakhand district itself came to touch our feet, as it is believed to be a tough task to complete all. In fact for some it was the third trial, and they were successful only at this time.

Rishikesh

Rishikesh is also known as the gateway to the Himalayas.

Rishikesh derives its name from 'Hrsikesa', which is a name of Vishnu. It means the Lord of Senses. It is a holy city located in the foothills of the Himalayas. The place gets its name from Lord Vishnu, who appeared to Raibhya Rishi as a result of the tapasya, as Lord Hrishikesh. The River Ganga also flows through Rishikesh. It is at Rishikesh that the Ganga leaves the mountain ranges in Shivalik and flows onto the plains in northern India.

Places here are Lakshman Jhula, Triveni Ghat, Swarga Ashram, Gita Bhawan, Baba Kali Kamliwala Pachyati Kshetra, Shri Sivananda Ashram and Diving Life Society

The scenic beauty is something worth beholding and their natural charm is a must-experience in the state.

The ‘Char Dham Pilgrimage Tours embark you on a spiritual journey where you can soak your spirits in true devotion and enlightenment. Besides the spiritual bliss, the tour also takes you through a roller coaster ride of fun and adventure. One of the most hectic trip too. We were deadly tired by the end, but worth it.

On 30th August finally all were back home safe with grace after completing third trip with Punyathirthangal Team a year before the mammoth Kerala flood and Kashi visit. Thanks for making our dreams come true. Looking forward for many more. RadheShyam.