Friday 2 December 2011

Haridwar

Chardham Yatra

Haridwar is the gateway to the holy abode of Lord Vishnu (Hari). Located in Uttar Pradesh, this pious city is known for Kumbh Mela and the arrival of Kanwariyas in the month of monsoon. Being one of the most sacred places in India, it sees crystal clear nectar of river Ganga, who wards off all the evils of human. On the famous “Har Ki Pauri”, you will find numerous devotees taking bath in the holy Ganga water. On this Pauri lies “Brahma Kund”, where it says that Amrit carried by Garuda after Samundra Manthan fell a bit. That’s the reason; why dipping at Brahma Kund is considered as an important part of Hinduism.



In fact, Haridwar is considered as the opening to various religious places located in this side. This beautiful city is echoed by the aarti of Ganga Ji, either on the banks of Ganga or through the music shops present near the Har Ki Pauri. The most important thing to see as Har Ki Pauri is the aarti of Ganga Ji in the morning and evening. At this moment, the silver statute of Goddess Ganga is brought out on the banks to perform the puja. After the puja gets complete, the silver idol is taken back. Then,the Pundits give aarti to every individual present there.



The market near Har Ki Pauri is full of shops where you can get everything. From clothes to bangles, purses, accessories, music CD and various other decorative pieces and the stuff for puja, the markets has everything of your need. Apart from this, the market at Har Ki Pauri also takes you at the journey of Mansa Devi temple through ropeway trolley. Another attraction to check out is Chandi Devi temple and various other important temples located line wise near Har Ki Pauri. In order to make you see those temples, the autowalas take several people in one auto on a tour to them all.

Tourist Attractions in Haridwar

One of the much traveled tourist destinations in Indiafor pilgrims and vacationers alike, Haridwar offers several tourist sites to be explored. Located to the north, Hari-ki-Pairi (or Har-ki-Pairi) is taken as the city’s central point, where devotees come for a holy dip in the River Ganges. According to the legend this is actually where a drop of nectar fell as a result of the samudra manthan (churning of the oceans) – Mythically it signifies the start of the world.



Haridwar is a city of temples, monuments and forts – most of them displaying rich Hindu architectural culture. Some of them have been discussed as follows:

GAU GHAT

Of the many holy ghats, Gau Ghat is considered one of the most holy ghats. A dip at this ghat is considered holy and sins of slaughtering cows are washed off. It is also known to provide solace to those who have lost their loved ones and offerings of coconuts and rose petals are made at this ghat to provide peace to the departed soul. The ashes of Jawahar Lal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi and Indira Gandhi were immersed at this ghat.



MANSA DEVI MANDIR

Mansa Devi Mandir, situated on top of a hill towards the center of Haridwar is reached either by cable car or by a road that runs up to the hill, starting from the Railway Road. The scenic landscape around the temple is the main attraction here.



 CHANDI DEVI

The Chandi Devi Temple, situated atop the Neel Parvat, gives a panoramic view of the entire Haridwar town. The temple was built in the year 1929 by the then king of Kashmir Suchat Singh.




UDAN KHATOLA

The amazing Udan Khatola is a ropeway that is used to reach the temples on the hill. It is faster and easier way to visit the temples than by climbing the rugged terrain. It starts in the area close to Chandi Devi mandir and one can enjoy magnificent views of the low lying regions.



BHARAT MATA TEMPLE

The Bharat Mata Temple is a massive eight-storey structure consecrated in 1983. Each floor of the temple houses statues of different mythological and historical legends, religious deities, leaders and heroes who played important role in the formation of the modernIndia. The temple was founded by Swami Satyamitranand Giri.

SHANTI KUNJ

Shanti Kunj is another place to visit in Haridwar. It is the most important centre for the Gayatri followers all over India. The temple here houses 24 images of Gayatri. Shanti Kunj is also famous for yoga practices.

HAR-KI-PAURI

Har-Ki-Pauri is regarded as one of the major attractions of Haridwar. It is a sacred ghat built by the then King Vikramaditya in the memory of his brother Bhartrihari. This sacred bathing ghat is also known as Brahmakund. Thousands of devotees come here to take a holy dip in the riverGanga during the Kumbh Mela.



KUSHAVARTA GHAT

The Kushavarta Ghat was built by Queen Ahilya Bai Holkar, the Maratha Queen to perform ‘Shraddha’ of loved ones. Legends link this ghat to Dattatreya, a renowned saint, who came to the ghat to meditate. It was on this ghat that he stood on one foot in penance for 1000 years. It is about 500 meters from Har Ki Pauri and is crowded all through the year.

MAYA DEVI TEMPLE

The Maya Devi Temple holds great religious importance for the follower of Hindu religion. The temple is also regarded as one of the Siddhapethas dedicated to the Adhisthatri Devi of Haridwar.

BABA RAMDEV'S PATANJALI YOGPEETH

Patanjali Yog Vidhyapeeth is setup on approximate  35 acers of land and has been planned as multi-service unit where Yoga Science Residential campus and Medical inventions is been held in the holy presence of Swamiji. More than 5000 participants been accommodated at a time with dining facilities.



BAZAARS

Haridwar is also famous for its local bazaars or markets. The main Haridwar bazaar is a long, winding street, probably the oldest part of the town, free of all vehicular traffic.




        

Badrinath

Chardham Yatra

Badrinath History

Badrinath, the seat of the god Vishnu in his aspect of Badrinarayan, is the most important of the four sites inIndia's Char Dham pilgrimage. 

Badrinath Temple, one of the most sacred pilgrimages in India, is devoted to lord Vishnu. It forms a division of the divine Char Dham Yatra. The sacred temple is situated at 3155 Mts above sea level. The name Badrinath has been consequential from Badri, a kind of wild berries liked by Goddess Laxmi, and found in abundance here. The beautiful temple is narrowed structured, 15 m tall and has little cupola of a gilt bull and spire. There are 15 idols in the temple compound, each sculpted in black stone. The principal idol symbolizes Vishnu in a thoughtful posture and is edged by Nara-Narayan.
The temple and its idol of Vishnu are supposed to be older than Vedic times. The temple is supposed to be the place where Vishnu performed absolution and Laxmi became a Badri tree to guard Vishnu from any difficulties. As per another saga, river Ganga was coming with adequate strength to demolish earth. Lord Shiva defragmented the river into 12 parts, one of which cut down in Badrinath. The stunning temple is tapering structured, 15 mt tall and has small cupola of a gild bull and spire. There are 15 idols in the temple multifaceted and each sculpted in black stone.

Famous Attractions

Badrinath is one of the sacred towns of the Hindus located at Chamoli district of Uttrakhand in India. Well-known attractions near Badrinath are:

Tapt Kund

These are normal thermal springs on the bank of Alakananda River where pilgrims revive before going to the temple. Supposed to be infused with medicinal properties, Tapt Kund is also measured to be holy experience.

Brahma Kapal

This is a smooth platform on the bank of riverGanga where devotees perform rites of their departed intimates.

Sheshnetra

Sheshnaga is a renowned personality in the Hindu mythological heroic and tales of Lord Krishna. The place has a stone on which an impression is believed to be of the eye of this mighty serpent, as netra in Hindi means eye.

Charanpaduka

It is a stunning pasture on which footprints of Lord Vishnu are observable.

Neelkanth

These are the pyramid wrought snow capped peaks which form the stunning background to the temple of Badrinath.

Religious Places near Badrinath (Famous Attractions)


The sanctified city of Badrinathis surrounded by various religious places, excursions, treks and scenic ponds that enable people to visit this place again and again.

Joshimath


It is a famous hill station as well as a spiritual place and also the winter seat of lord Badrinath. Auli, 6 km from Joshimath can be enjoyed for skiing and other winter sports during winters.

RudranathTemple


Devoted to Lord Shiva, this temple was built in 8th Century A.D and is positioned 23 km from Gopeshwar.

GorakhnathTemple


It is an antique pilgrimage destination and is devoted to Guru Gorakhnath

Bagnath Temple

Bageshwar gets its name form this very old temple of Lord Shiva placed in the heart of the town. According to popular legend, sage Markandey stayed here and this holy place was visited by the Hindu deity Lord Shiva in the camouflage of a tiger.

ChandikaTemple


This beautiful shrine of Goddess Chandika attracts large number of devotees during the holy Navratras.

ShriHaruTemple


This chief shrine lies at a distance of 5 kilometers from Bagheswar in Uttaranchal in North India.

Gauri Udiyar


This holy site is one place that you should visit throughout your temple tours to Uttaranchal in North India. This temple is situated at a distance of 8 kilometers from Bageshwar and is popular for a huge cave that enshrines idols of the Hindu deity Lord Shiva.

Significance of Badrinath

At Badrinath, Lord Maha Vishnu is supposed to have completed his sacrament. Seeing the Lord doing his penance in the untie, Goddess Mahalaxmi is thought to have indefinite form of Badari tree to give him protection for facing the onslaught of the unpleasant weather conditions, therefore the name Badari Narayan. It is alleged that Lord Vishnu exposed to Narad rishi that Nar and Naryans forms were his own. It is also believed that Narad rishi, who also did his reparation here, is even now worshipping the supreme God with Ashtakshara mantras.

The picture of Badari Narayan here is shaped out of Saligramam. Badari Narayan is seen under the Badari tree, edged by Kuber and Garuda, Narad, Narayan and Nar. Mahalakshmi has a sanctum outside in the parikrama. There is also a shrine to Adi Sankara at Badrinath.

Following the temple of Lord Badari Narayan is the Lakshmi Narsimh mandir, with shrine to Desikacharya and Ramanujachary. At Badrinath Tours, one can be the spectator to wonders of natural world in the Hot water springs of Tapt kund on the banks of ice freezing river Alakananda. The temperature of the water in the Kund is 55 degree centigrade, whereas the regular temperature in this region for most of the years remains at 9-10 degree centigrade to sub-zero levels. Before visiting the temple, pilgrims take a holy bath in the Tapt kund.




        

Kedarnath Ji

Chardham Yatra

History of Sri Kedarnath Ji

Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the devout Hindu,located in the Uttaranchal state ofIndia.

A famous holy town dedicated to Lord Shiva, Sri Kedarnath Ji is located in the magical surroundings of Himalayan mountain ranges. It is mounted at a height of 3583 meters above the sea level on a marshy plain. Kedar is one more name of Lord Shiva, who is the protector and the destroyer. The Lord Shiva is considered the personification of all kinds of passions – love, fear, hatred, death and mysticism – articulated through his various forms. As per the story goes by, Nara and Narayana – two incarnations of Vishnu – performed severe sacrament in Badrikashraya of Bharat Khand, in front of a Shivalingam that came out of earth. Contented with their devotion, Lord Shiva appeared in front of them and asked them for a Vardaan. Then, both the incarnations of Lord Vishnu requested Shiva to take up an enduring dwelling as a Jyotirlingam at Kedarnath, so that all people worshipping Shiva shall be freed from their desolations.

In the Chamoli district, there are more than 200 shrines devoted to Lord Shiva and the most important one is Sri Kedarnath Ji. According to stories, the Pandavas felt guilty over their win on Kaurvas, as the Kurukshetra battle resulted in the loss of their cousin brothers. In order to ward off that guilt, they sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. He avoided them constantly and took refuge at Sri Kedarnath Ji in the form of a bull while fleeing. On being chased after, he dived into the ground, parting his hump on the surface. The other portions of Lord Shiva became visible at four other places and are worshipped there as his demonstration. The arms appeared at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at Madmaheshwar and his hair with head at Kalpeshwar

Famous Attractions-Kedarnath
The temple at Kedarnath preserving the Jyotirlingam of Shiva stays opens only 6 months in a year (April to November) for general public, when the sun enters the zodiac sign of Aries and it is closed when the sun enters Scorpio. After the closure of this temple, the priests go off to Ukhimath, where the worship of Kedareshwara is continued during the winter season.

Gaurikund
A distant place amidst the snow caped peaks of the Himalayas, Gaurikund has much religious significance. This is one among the famous pilgrim centers falling on the route to Kedarnath shrine that lies at an altitude of 1982 meters. This holy place has an ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Parvati.

Kedarnath Temple

It is a temple that is believed to be built by Shankracharya and is located at the Garhwal region ofHimalayaswith great religious significance. The Kedarnath temple demands a tough trek for worshipping the deity. Winter in this region is so cold that the temple remains closed during those months. It is one of the twelve Jyothirlingas present inIndia.

Chandrashila
Chandrashila is placed at an elevation of 3679 meter and is known as the most picturesque location surrounding Kedarnath Ji. This place is easily accessible, which makes it a much preferred trekking spot in the locality. Except in December to January, this peak is suitable for trekking and associated activities. Chandrashila trek is categorized as a moderate level trek that may take a complete week.

Deoria Tal

The Garhwal ranges of Himalayasare a home to the treasured abodes of scenic excellencies that are bestowed with unparallel beauty. Deoria Tal is one among such splendors that can captivate anybody with its charismatic appeal. At a height of 3200 meters, Deoria Tal’s crystalline water offers a spellbound image of its beautiful surroundings. It is believed that this was the place from where the powerful Pandavas were asked queries by Yaksha.

Religious Places near Kedarnath Ji
Augustyamuni

Augustyamuni is known worldwide for the temple that is dedicated in the name of sage Agastya. According to the popular belief, the sage had meditated here for almost one year. This sacred shrine at the Rudraprayag district of Uttrakhand is crowded by thousands of devotees during Baisakhi celebrations.

Shankracharya Samadhi

The Hindu philosopher Sri Shankracharya is considered to be the renovator of the Kedarnath shrine. As per the historical significance goes, in order to proliferate his Adwaita Philosophy, he had made relentless journeys. It is believed that this great researcher came to Kedarnath and established this holy shrine. Along with that he also established one of his four Mathas in 8th century. He also believed that he had attained the nirvana here at the tender age of 32.

Triyuginarayan

A five-kilometer trek from Son Prayag leads to Triyuginarayan, which is a charming village in Rudraprayag. Well known for the old temple in the name of Vishnu, this is an often visited place by the devotees. This temple resembles the Kedarnath shrine in architecture and design. Bordered by plentiful of flora, the temple at Triyuginarayan gives a picture of the civilization and customs ofIndia. This place has mythological important, which lays in the fact that Lord Shiva tied the nuptial knot with his wife Goddess Parvati.

Ukshimath

Celebrated as the winter abode of the controlling deity of Kedarnath shrine, Ukhimath in Rudraprayag is a busy pilgrimage. During winter, due to excessively cold climatic conditions, Kedarnath shrine remain closed and the daily pujas or adoration is performed at theOmkareshwarTemple at Ukshimath.

Significance of Kedarnath Ji

The Kedarnath Ji is a holy place that is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Its temple is a magnificence building made from fine stone. Kedarnath is one of the most excellent known Shivasthalams in India and is seen as the most sacred pilgrimage centers of the country. The implication of the place lies in the fact that after praying to Lord Kedareshwar, a person can get all his wishes fulfilled. Its value can be further signified from the beliefs that Upamanyu used to pray to Lord Shiva at this place in Satayuga; while in Dwapar, the Pandavas worshipped Lord Shiva here. Apart from this, the spiritual leader Adi Shankracharya is also closely associated with Kedarnath Yatra.

It is because of all these pujas and religious atmosphere prevailing in the town that has made the place sound like a heavenly abode with bells ringing to the tunes of spiritual hymns. One feels that, at Kedarnath Ji, the soul meets his owner (the God).




        

Gangotri

Chardham Yatra

History of Gangotri

Gangotri, (Ganga' + 'Uttari' which means descended) the picturesque pilgrimage in the hinterlands of the Himalayas is the most sacred spot .

Gangotri is significant pilgrim and tourist place. Gangotri is situated at 3,048 m above sea level. The Gangotri glacier is the unique source of river Ganga.

The pictorial beauty of Gangotri’s history calls it back to times, when Goddess Ganga (daughter of heaven) descended herself in the form of a river to pardon the sins of king Bhagirath’s predecessors followed by their penance of 5500 years. In order to control the flow of holy river Ganga and minimize its impact, Lord Shiva took her in his locks. Along with being called Ganga, she was also known as Bhagirathi as it came down for the purpose of Bhagirath’s penance.


As per the legends speaks, King Sagar, after assassinating the demons on earth, performed an Aswamedh Yagna to declare his supremacy. The King's 60,000 sons born of Queen Sumati and one son Asamanjas of Queen Kesani were to accompany the horse. At this, Lord Indra feared the defeat of his supremacy and stole the horse. Then, he tied it to the ashram of ancient “rishi” Kapil, who was had been into deep meditation. While searching for the horse, those 60,000 sons stormed the ashram of Kapil. Just before the attack on him, the sage Kapil opened his eyes and abridged all the 60,000 sons of King Sagar except Asamanjas to ashes.

King Sagar's grandson Anshuman was triumphant in recovering the horse from Kapil and was told that those 60,000 burnt will achieve heavenly adobe, if Ganga is brought down from heaven and their ashes will be sleaned by its water. Anshuman failed in bringingGanga to earth and so did his son Dilip also; but his grandson Bhagirath succeeded in bringing Goddess Ganga to earth from its heavenly abode.

The intense meditation made Ganga to descend from heaven. After Lord Shiva collected her in his hairs, he released it into seven streams on getting happy with the King Bhagirath. And finally, the ashes of those 60,000 sons were touched by riverGanga and they got their peaceful abode in heaven.

Famous Attractions-Gangotri

Gangotri is the place of Goddess Ganga and have an extreme touch of serenity in the environment. The famous attractions in this region are:

Gaumukh Glacier

The Gangotri Glacier is one of the sacred glaciers of Uttaranchal having special importance in the history of India and Hinduism. It is quite eminent for being the birth source of the River Ganga. A tour to the Gangotri Glacier is known as an important form of pilgrimage, not just for Hindus, also for all religions. Considered as a trekker’s paradise, the Gangotri Glacier is an important tourist attraction in Uttaranchal.


Nestled in the Garhwal region of Himalayas, Uttarkashi, the Gangotri Glacier is a group of a number of glaciers that are fed into the main glacier and end up forming a huge mass of ice. These glaciers include), Kirti Stambh (6285), Hrigupanth (6772m), Sumeru Parvat (6380) respectively and Chaturangi Bamak, Ratavana Bamak and Swachand Bamak.

Gangotri Temple


The Gangotri temple is the holy abode of Goddess Ganga, from where it comes as a refreshing stream of sacredness. The temple of Gangotri stays open from May 1st week to the 3rd week of October. After closing of the temple, goddess Ganga is taken to a place situated at a lower height than the Gangotri as these areas witness heavy snow fall during winters. From this temple, visitors can take away the holy water of Ganga in small cans.


This temple is built near a sacred stone, called Bhagiratha Shila. Immediately after the aarti to the deities in the temple, an aarti is carried out to the holyGangesRiver.

Submerged Shivling:

There is a natural rock Shivling, which is submerged in the river and has an amazing sight strengthening the power of celestial. According to the folklore, Lord Shiva sat here to receive the Ganga in his entwined locks. This shivling is seen in the early winters, when the water level goes down. The striking pilgrimage in the hinterlands of the Himalayas is the most sacred spot where Ganga, the stream of life, touches earth for the first time.

Religious Places near Gangotri


The holy city of Gangotri is surrounded by various religious places, excursions, treks and scenic ponds that enable people to visit this place again and again.

Nandanvan Tapovan

A difficult trek along the Gangotri Glacier, it leads to picturesque Nandanvan - the foundation camp for the Bhagirathi peaks offering a panoramic view of the contiguous Shivaling peak. Another trek across the muzzle of the Gangotri Glacier leads to Tapovan, which is known for its gorgeous meadows that surrounds the base of the Shivling Peak.

Uttarkashi

It is an imperative pilgrimage centre, situated at an elevation of 1,150 meters above sea level on the bank of river Bhagirathi. Some of the vital temples worth paying the visit are - Vishwanath temple, Gyaneshwar temple, Ekadash Rudra temple and Kuteti Devi Temple.

Kedar Tal

This is an enchanting lake located at a height of 4425 meters above sea level against the fabulous milieu of mighty Thalaiyasagar peak. It is accessible through a rough mountain trail and is the base camp for trekking to surrounding peaks.

Dayara Bugyal

Dayara Bugyal is a breathtakingly attractive meadow, which is positioned at a height of 3,048 meters above sea level. It is a motorable road connecting Bhatwari (27 kms. from Uttarkashi) with Raithal village, from where follows a 6 kms. long trek to Dayara. The famous Sheshnag Temple falling on the route is an attraction of the trek. From Dayara, one can also trek down to Dodi Tal (30 kms.). During winters, Dayara provides excellent ski slopes over an area of 28 sq.kms.

Nachiketa Tal

It is a pleasurable trek rolling through lush green forests and leading to this peaceful retreat. A small temple along the lake and lovely surroundings are the scenic attractions.

Significance of Gangotri


The temple was built in the early 18th century by a pious Gorkha Commander Amar Singh Thapa. After that, it was renovated and the existing temple is said to be the one made by the Jaipur dynasty. Each year, thousands of pilgrims visit the sacred shrine between May and October. The Pujaris and Brahmins present in this temple are from the village of Mukhwa. As per the worth of this places goes by, the holy water from Gangotri Destination is taken off for offering to Lord Shiva. It is generally said and believed that this type of water has nectar in it that tends to soothe the throat of Shiva as he had gulped the poison.

This temple’s significance lies in the fact that Bhagirath prayed hard to bring Ganges down on earth for the eternal peace of the souls of his predecessors. At Gangotri, the Kedar Ganga River comes together with the Bhagirathi River at Dev Ghat that lies next to the main bridge, falling on the other side of the river from the holy temple.




        

Yamunotri

Chardham Yatra

History of Yamunotri

Yamunotri, the source of theYamunaRiverand the seat of the goddess Yamuna, is one of the four sites in India's Char Dham pilgrimage.


Yamunotri is the derivation of river Yamuna. The place is as well connected with Yamaraj, God of death. A bath in the water of Yamuna at Yamunotri is supposed to alleviate a person of an excruciating death. Yamunotri is located on 3233 mt tall mountain in Uttarkashi district of Uttaranchal.
It is said that rivers in Hindu mythology have been measured comparable to mother. These rivers carry lushness to the land, and helps in expansion and development of the existing creatures on earth. Yamuna, one of the holiest rivers of Hindus, is one such greatly revered rivers of India. It is among the major rivers of India and covers a vast geographical widen in north India. Yamunotri is said to be the sister site of Gangotri, as Ganga and Yamuna are considered sisters. The temple of Yamuna was built by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur, in nineteenth century. It got shattered by a foremost quake in 1923, and was later rebuilt, before again getting damaged in 1982. The temple residue closed from November to May, due to important snowfall.


The temple is devoted to Yamuna, one of the sacred rivers of Hindus. The temple preserves a silver idol of Yamuna, bejeweled with garlands. Yamuna is daughter of Surya, the Sun, and Sangya, the Goddess of perception. Yamaraj, the god of death, is brother of Yamuna. It is therefore considered holy to take a bath in Yamuna river. According to a myth, Asit Muni, a respected sage, used to reside here.

Culture and Tradition

The holy shrine of Yamunotri, foundation of the river Yamuna, is the westernmost shrine in the Garhwal Himalayas, perched atop a border of Bandar Poonch Peak (3615 m) and located reverse to Gangotri. Yamunotri is very famous for its glaciers and this holy place is one of the most significant halt on the journey of the Hindu pilgrim. Asit Muni used to exist here according to the legends.
Yamunotri finds a particular mention in the Hindu mythology. Among the main attractions of Yamunotri are hot water springs nearby. Devotees prepare rice and potatoes to offer at the shrine, by dropping them in these hot water springs, tied in muslin cloth. The trek to Yamunotri is stunning, conquered by a panorama of rough peaks and dense forests.
From Rishikesh, a 213kms. journey by road takes one to Hanuman Chatti. From here, the remaining 13 kms. trek is covered on foot or on ponies. Palanquins and Porters are also available on hire. The rishi at Yamunotri perform various kinds of pujas and offerings to river Yamuna for pleasing her and seeking the blessings.

Famous Attractions-Yamunotri

Yamunotri is the religious place devoted to Goddess or River Yamuna. It is nestled in the picturesque Himalayan mountain ranges that take you to a memorable tour or scenic Yamunotri. After all, every visitor goes on a holiday for attaining the peace and soulful satisfaction.

The Temple

The temple located close to the thermal springs is devoted to Goddess Yamuna. It was built up in 1839 by Tehri Naresh Sudarshan Shah. However, since the place is extremely prone to earthquakes, the temple got damaged several times. It was built again in 19th century by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur. Even after that, the temple has been modernized and renovates pretty a few times. Inside the temple, there is a statue of Goddess Yamuna imprinted in black stone that is mainly worshipped.

Surya Kund

Close to the temple is this hot water spring called Surya Kund, Surya or Sun being the mythological father of Yamuna. People not just revive here but also formulate prasada for contribution. Some potatoes or rice with a pinch of salt are tied in a muslin cloth and curved in the spring for few minutes, from where they come out boiled. And after being available to the deity, they are taken home as prasada. The temperature of the springs is as high as 88 degrees. The attendance of a boiling water spring bounded by snow capped peaks reinforces one's faith in the divinity of the place.

Divya Shila

This is a stone that is worshipped prior to entering the temple.

Saptarishi Kund

This is the foundation of Yamuna but being a slight difficult to access; few people go there and most proffer their prayers in the temple itself. A twelve kilometer tricky trek route will take you to Saptrishi kund. A normal glacial kund, the trek up to Saptrishi kund eases out approximately the bottom of Kalinda Parvat. Dark blue waters, slate stones on the banks and a rare variety of lotus adorning the water, Saptrishi Kund is a sight to behold. The trip to Saptrishi Kund needs you to be acclimatized for at least one day at Chardham Yatra - Yamunotri and a steer to take you.

Religious places near Yamunotri

The holy shrine of Yamunotri (3,165 m) is inclusive in the ‘Char Dham circuit’ beside with Gangotri, Kedarnath Ji and Badrinath Ji. It is the place from where originates River Yamuna, one of the mainly holy rivers in the Hindu mythology. The shrine has the temple which stands in promise to goddess Yamuna.

Yamunotri Temple

Devotees come to Yamunotri to pay a visit to the Yamunotri Temple , the main throng puller at the shrine. Worshipping goddess Yamuna is supposed to sluice people of the belongings of their malevolence deeds and convey good destiny in life.

Surya Kund

Situated in the neighborhood of the Yamunotri Temple is a numeral of thermal springs. These hot springs unfilled into numerous pools. Surya Kund carries the mainly implication between all the thermal springs situated slam to the shrine.

Hanuman Chatti

The place lies at 13 km from Yamunotri shrine. Hanuman Chatti marks the point where coalesce River Ganga and River Yamuna. A large number of trekkers are noticed here. It is from Hanuman Chatti that the very scenic Dodital trek begins.

Reaching the Pilgrimage Site

The contiguous domestic airport from Yamunotri is the Jolly Grant Airport, positioned in Dehradun. If you are approaching by rail route, Rishikesh the bordering link. By road, Yamunotri remains healthy associated with places like Rishikesh, Gangotri, Chamba, Barkot and Tehri amongst others.

Significance of Yamunotri

Hovering amidst extensive Garhwal Hills, Yamunotri is one more respected pilgrim spots in the state of Uttrakhand. It is one of the Char Dham in India and holds immense spiritual significance. Yamunotri is the source of sacred river Yamuna and also the residence of goddess Yamuna. It is well-known for its thermal springs, glaciers and scenic locales. In fact, it is one of the must stopover places from travel and tourism spot of sight.

According to Hindu legends, this hilly spot was some time ago the abode of an ancient sage by the name, Asit Muni. Outstanding to its renowned meaning, thousands of devotees visit this silent yet hustling-bustling pilgrimage place. It is supposed that a sacred dip in the holy water of river Yamunotri here alleviates everyone from a sore death. This is because she is the sister of Yama, the God of Death. As a consequence, pilgrims visit the place to seek the blessings of Yamuna and put away them from the agony of death.

After all, every person wants to stay away from the reverence of death and worships Goddess Yamuna by offering various kinds of things to please her and seek the blessings.