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The abode of Lord Vishnu, Badrinath, is
situated in the Himalayas (Uttarakhand) at the height of approximately 3,124
meters above sea level. It is on the left bank of the river, Alaknanda.
Meandering rivers and the mountain range add to the beauty of this Holy Land.
At one time the spot was covered with wild berries ("badris") and was famous
as the "Badri Van" (the garden of wild berries).. |
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The holy city of Kedarnath is situated
3,581meters above sea level, on the banks of the river Mandakini, amidst the
spectacular mountain ranges of the Garhwal Himalayas. The Kedarnath shrine is
dedicated to Lord Shiva, the destroyer. According to legend, this temple was
built by the Pandavas to redeem themselves of the sin of killing
their brothers during the famous Mahabharata war. |
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Gangotri is situated in Uttarakhand at the height of 3,048 meters in the magnificent Garhwal Himalayas. The 6 meters high Gangotri shrine is dressed in white granite stone and is situated on the right bank of the river, Bhagirathi. As the legend goes, this shrine was built by the Gorkha General, Amar Singh Thapa and rebuilt by the Maharaja of Jaipur. This 18th century temple is dedicated to the Goddess Ganga who is believed to have descended from heaven as the "stream of life" in response to King Bhagirath's penance. 14 kms from Gangotri is Gaumukh, where the source of the holy Ganges - the Gangotri glacier - is situated. Submerged in the water is the "shivling", the rock on which Lord Shiva supposedly sat to receive Ganga. |
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3,322 meters above sea level, Yamunotri is the source of the river Yamuna, which is the main tributary of the holy river, Ganges. As the legend goes, Yamunotri was the home of Asit Muni, a famous sage of ancient times. Built in the 19th century, the Yamunotri temple has a black marble idol of Goddess Yamuna. Recently, the temple was destroyed twice by snow and floods but has been reconstructed each time. There are numerous hot water springs near the temple in which pilgrims immerse potatoes and rice tied in pieces of cloth. The meals thus prepared are offered to the deity and then distributed among the pilgrims. The trek along the river is invigorating, especially with the view of the majestic Himalayas. |
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The route to be followed for Chardham Yatra Stage 02 Ex YAMUNOTRI/ [22kms] Stage03 Ex GANGOTRI/ [332kms] Stage 04 Ex KEDARNATH/ [208kms] Stage 05 Ex BADRIN RH/ 300kms. [35]-Rudraprayag-[35]- |
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| INTRODUCTION Char Dham, or the four pilgrimage centers, comprising of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are frequented by the religious minded as well as the others wanting for scenic holidays. The holy river, Ganges, and her tributaries flow buoyantly past the four Dhams. According to the legend, Goddess Ganga descended upon Earth in the form of a river to help the suffering humanity. As the Earth would be unable to endure the force of her descent, the holy Ganges was split into channels, each of which also came to be considered as sacred. Four of these channels flow past the four Dhams, namely Alaknanda (in Badrinath), Mandakini (in Kedarnath), Bhagirathi (in Gangotri) and Yamuna (in Yamunotri). |
