| If you are one of those who want to go for a | | | | General. You can see the impressive aarti ceremony |
| pilgrimage tour to India, what better choice than a | | | | of this temple which is held on the banks of the |
| chardham yatra? Considered to be one of the most | | | | gushing Ganga River. You can rest in one of the few |
| religious tours of the Hindus, the Chardham Yatra | | | | guesthouses and restaurants located here. In case you |
| comprises of four pilgrim sites namely Kedarnath, | | | | have time you can also opt to make an overnight 17 |
| Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Nestled in the | | | | Km trip to the real source of Ganga River, i.e. the |
| mighty Himalayas, your journey to these holy sites will | | | | Gaumukh. Your Chardham in India will remain |
| be both challenging and soul stirring. With the | | | | incomplete if you do not take time out to visit this |
| picturesque surrounding and devotees chanting names | | | | place. |
| of their god together; the atmosphere of this place | | | | Moving ahead to Kedarnath from Gaurikund after a 13 |
| becomes one that of divineness having all the qualities | | | | Km long journey, you can spend the night at |
| of cleansing the malice of your soul. Thus the | | | | Garurchatti from where you can easily watch the |
| Chardham tour will surely provide you great peace in | | | | magnificent temple of Kedarnath. With the dazzling |
| mind. | | | | background of gigantic white dome wrapped with |
| Your journey for the Chardham Yatra would begin | | | | snow, this temple is a captivating beauty. Besides being |
| from the holy city of Haridwar. You should head for | | | | the seat of Lord Shiva, Kedarnath is also the site of |
| Yamunotri from here via Rishikesh. You need to start | | | | saint Adi Shankar's samadhi. |
| in early morning from Haridwar since Yamunotri is an | | | | Your last halt on this Chardham Yatra would be |
| entire day's journey from here. Yamunotri is the seat | | | | Badrinath which is at a two day journey from |
| of goddess Yamuna and the source of Yamuna | | | | Kedarnath. Badrinath is the most venerated site of all |
| River. It is situated at the western flank of the snow | | | | the four sites and is the seat of Lord Vishnu. The |
| covered Bandarpoonch Peak and is famous for | | | | Badrinath Temple, built by Adi Shankar in the 9th |
| thermal springs like the Surya Kund. You will find that | | | | century, is the place where you should be reaching this |
| these thermal springs, which are a tank full of boiling | | | | place. Out of the numerous murtis present in this |
| water, are used to cook rice and potatoes for prasad. | | | | temple, the most important one is that of Lord Vishnu |
| The actual temple of Yamunotri is a 6 Km walk from | | | | carved of black stone. The temple is simply |
| the town of Hanuman Chatt and houses the idol of | | | | magnificent in its style and architecture. You will find a |
| goddess Yamuna, which is made up of black stone. | | | | large statue of the Nandi Bull built out of heavy, large |
| After touching the soil of the origin of Yamuna River, | | | | and evenly cut grey slab outside this temple door. |
| you need to move towards the source of the Ganga | | | | There is something markedly spiritual about these four |
| River, the most respected river amongst all other Indian | | | | places. The loftiness of the mountains, the vastness of |
| rivers. Gangotri is at a two day's journey from | | | | the rising hills, the deepness of the ravines, the |
| Yamunotri and is believed to be the seat of the | | | | gentleness of the wafting wind and a continual sense |
| goddess Ganga. The temple in Gangotri was built in | | | | of being – all these will surely touch your heart and |
| the 18th century by Amar Singh Thapa, a Gurkha | | | | the mind. |