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Char Dham (Chardham)
Pilgrimage, Religious Yatra in the Himalayas - Gangotri, Yamunotri
The Char Dham Yatra
of the Himalayan region is made up of Badrinath,
Kedarnath, Gangotri
& Yamunotri.
Holding special significance
for Hindus, these 4 pilgrimage sites are frequently visited by people
of all ages and castes. Here's a look at two of them -
Gangotri:
At a height of 3042 metres, lies Gangotri,
the source of River Ganges (Ganga). It is situated in the Garhwal
mountains in the state of Uttaranchal, India and is located on the
right bank of the river Bhagirathi.
The Gangotri Temple here dates back
to the 18th century and is dedicated to Goddess Ganga. It is believed
that Hindu pilgrims all over the world try to visit this ancient
temple, atleast once in their lifetime. Legend
has it that this is the same spot where King Bhagirath worshipped
Lord Shiva and where Ganga came down and touched earth. The
temple stands tall at 20 ft and the structure of the temple is made
of beautiful white granite. It is believed that the Gangotri Temple
was first built by Mr. Amar Thapa, the Gorkha General and later
rebuilt by the Maharaja of Jaipur.
Getting Here:
By Air - Jolly Grant Airport (225 kms), By Rail - Railhead Rishikesh
(260 kms), By Road - Rishikesh, Delhi(470 kms), Yamunotri.
Places
to See in and around Gangotri
Nandanvan:
At the base of the Bhagirathi peak is the picturesque
and scenic Nandanvan which offers a terrific view of the Shivling
peak that sorrounds this region. To reach Nandanvan and enjoy its
beauty, travellers are willing to go through a difficult trek along
the Gangotri glacier.
The Submerged Shivling:
If you visit Gangotri in the winter months, you will be able to
catch a glimpse of the very beautiful and much talked about shiva
ling, submerged in the river, which is visible when the water goes
down. It is believed that it is here that Lord Shiva sat to receive
the Ganga in his jata.
Kedar Tal:
If you hire a local guide, it will be easy for you to reach Kedar
Tal, which is a serene and beautiful lake, located 4425 metres above
sea level, about 18 kms from Gangotri. The Thalayasagar peak is
visible from here in all its glory.
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The Bhairon
Ghati: Located at
a distance of 9 kms from Gangotri is the Bhairon Ghati, famous
for the Bhairav Devta temple situated here. What is enchanting
about this region is that it is surrounded by thick forests,
a great attraction for adventure lovers.
Sat Tal: As
is evident from its name, Sat Tal refers to the 7 lakes located
close to Harsil. Nature and water lovers will absolutely enjoy
the experience here.
Uttarkashi:
This is a must-visit for all devout pilgrims. At a height
of 1158 metres, Uttarkashi is home to many pilgrim sites including
the Gyaneshwar Temple, Ekadash Rudra Temple, Vishwanath Temple
and the Goddess Kuleti Devi Temple.
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Besides these,
other attractions include Harsil, Gaumukh Trek etc.
Yamunotri:
Yamunotri
is well known as the source of the river Yamuna, one of the most
important tributaries of the river Ganga. Located among the Himalayas
at 3235 metres above sea level, Yamunotri is also believed to be
the home of Asit Muni. Pilgrims visit Yamunotri to perform several
rituals as well as to visit the famous Yamunotri Temple which
is home to an idol of Goddess Yamuna, made of black marble. Due
to adverse climatic conditions, the temple has been destroyed a
couple of times and rebuilt.
Getting Here:
By Air - Jolly Grant Airport (195 kms), By Rail - Railhead Rishikesh
(212 kms), By Road - Rishikesh & Dehradun.
Places
to See in and around Yamunotri
Surya
Kund: Surya
Kund is a high temperature thermal spring which is located close
to the Yamunotri Temple.
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Lakhamandal:
This is believed
to be the spot where Kauravas from the Mahabharata made their
cottages and lived while they conspired against the Pandavas.
Hanumanchatti:
This refers to the point where the Hanuman Ganga river and
the Yamuna river coincide. It is about 14 kms from Yamunotri.
You can hire ponies to reach this spot. Porters are also available
for the convenience of visitors and pilgrims.
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Other places to visit
include Jankichatti, Sayanachatti and Chamba, etc.
If you are planning
your char dham yatra, make sure to prepare well in advance and check
out the weather conditions. If it is your first trip, it may be
suitable to hire a Govt. approved guide for convenience.
Contributed
By: Team of Travel Writers, contentwriter.in
contact@contentwriter.in
Other Holy sites in India - Bodh
Gaya, Bihar | Siddheshwar
Temple, Solapur Maharashtra | Discover
Indian Pilgrimage - Lake Mansarovar & Kailash Parbat
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