Activities

Get to know more about Kedarnath and Badrinath before booking your tour packages

Kedarnath is a place situated in district of Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand. Kedarnath is 86km from Rudraprayag that is in Uttarakhand. In Kedarnath there is a Hindu temple that is purely dedicated to Hindu Lord Shiva, so this temple is situated on Garhwal near river Mandakini. Machan service and Pony is available to reach the temple. Believers says that this temple was built by Pandavas and is considered as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The temple is at an elevation of 3,583 meters and at 223km from Rishikesh. The term Kedarnath term means the lord of the field. A conical rock is worshipped as Lord Shiva inside the temple. Behind the temple there is Kedarnath peak, Himalayan Peak and Kedar dome.

Kedarnath has historical name called Kedar Khand people say Pandavas from Mahabharata defeated the Kauravas and felt guilty to kill so many people so they sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for their Salvation. Kedarnath is considered as one of the four main sites in India. Kedarnath is covered by the snow peaks most importantly Kedarnath mountain. Gaurikund is the nearest road at Kedarnath which is 16km .  As per the information Kedarnath has experienced flash floods in June 2013 in Uttarakhand.

It is believed that Bhairo nath Temple which is at less distance from Kedarnath is said to protect and acts as a guardian of Kedarnath ny keeping away the devil while the temple is closed. Kedarnath temple is believed to be 1000 year ancient it is said to blessing the Himalayas and the devotees visiting it. Raval is the head priest of Kedarnath Temple who carries out all the instructions.

The Geography and Seasons

If you visit Kedarnath keep a check on the geographical and climatic pattern of this region. Kedarnath is a sacred town located in Uttarakhand its elevation is 3,583m. Kedarnath Dham temple offers some beautiful views. From olden time the temple is close to glacier of Chorabari which is the head of Mandakini river. The trekking routes here will go through hair pin bends and winding paths which will cut through the mountains.  The valley here is covered by rolling hills with jagged features which has gushing water of Mandakini making the way to valley.

Mandakini river which is the tributary river of Kedarnath stretches for length of 72km is the holiest tributaries of Uttarakhand and is fed by river of Vasuki Ganga which is in Sonprayag. These snow capped peaks are visited by the devotees, mountaineers and by trekking enthusiasts. These peaks are located at the back of Kedarnath temple which is at 15km towards south end of Gaumukh. Kedar dome considered to be as the third highest peak.

The temple in Kedarnath is closed during the winters due to the snow from November to April then in Utsava Murti of kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar temple is taken to Omkareshwar. Kedarnath temple is influenced by monsoon subarctic climate. So the best time to visit this region is from the month of May to October rest is closed due to snowfall in winters.

The Culture

Hindi is spoken widely apart from Pahari. As pahari is a language which has many dialects some of the common dialects here are Jaunsari, Sailani and the Jadhi. People over here stick to their tradition, religion and customs. If we talk about the Festivals so in the month of May and June is kept for Kedar-Badri Utsav that is a cultural festival basically of arts and music, it goes for a period of eight days where various artists from the country visit to Kedarnath. Some popular dishes here are Ras, Chainsoo, Kafuli,Jholi and chapattis.

The Experience

Kedarnath is the oldest temple that is dedicated to Lord Shiva and it mainly offers idealistic tourist spots . In a nutshell Kedarnath is a serene and peaceful place and is related with Pandavas that holds a great history from the past. The devotees visiting Kedarnath temple firmly believe that visiting this temple will wash away all your sins and you will be granted the paradise. Visiting the temple you will experience the fresh air and see the snow capped mountains all around you . The temple is one of the four corner stone of chardhaam yatra. You can also see Chattis which is small shops through your way to Kedarnath. At last you will see the heart captivating views uphill there as you will enjoy the beauty of the heaven. The temple around adds five star to the beauty and gives each one soothing feeling and enlightens everyone. Kedarnath has the eternal beauty which lasts forever.

The Highlights

• Kedarnath Temple – it is the temple which is constructed by the Pandavas who were seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva. Pandavas were to please Shiva by doing penance in Kedarnath.
• Gandhi Sarovar- that is amall lake which holds crystal clear water inside. It is also called as Chorabari Tal due to its location which is situated on the mouth  of Chorabari Bamak Glacier.
• Phata- it is a minute village situated in route to Kedarnath. It is popular for having helipad used by the devotees visiting Kedarnath Dham.
• Sonpyayag- is in route to Kedarnath and is a religious place. prayag means the convergence and sonprayag lies at  joining of the two rivers which is Basuki and Mandakini.
• Gaurikund Temple- it is dedicated to Goddess Parvati, there is hot water spring that is one of the sacred sites for the Hindus, it is believed that taking a dip in the water will purify.
• Vasuki Tal Lake- which is high glacier lake located at an height of 14,200 ft above sea level. It is a famous spot for the trekkers and is a tourist attraction and consist of stunning views.
• Shankaracharya Samadhi – Shankaracharya at the age of 32 came here to kedarnath and byuilt one of his four Mathas. Shankaracharya created hot water spring and is visited by his disciples.

Badrinath

Badrinath is a place in Chamoli district located in Uttarakhand. It is a part of India’s chota char dham pilgrimage. The name Badri relates to Badrayana which is the name of Rishi Ved Vyas who just believed to inhabited in this region that is also known as Badarikashrama. Badrinath is a religious destination re-established by Adi shankara in the eighth century. So Badrinath temple is the main centre of attraction for the tourists. Shankaracharya founded a black stone picture of Lord Badrinarayan which is made of Shaligram stone situated in Alakananda River. Badrinath is located at a height of 3,300 m. Lord Vishnu is the deity which is worshipped inside the temple.

Many devotees visit this holy shrine as it shows some traditional architectural wooden pieces of Garhwal. Badrinath is one of the Panch Badri  and the other four Badris are Bhavishya Badri, Yogadhyan Badri, Bridha Badri and Adi Badri. The local legend says that the Pandavas went through Badrinathand the town of Mana which is 4km north of Badrinath after which they ascended to heaven. River ganga got divided into 12 holy rivers in which Alaknanda flows to the holy Badrinath temple was one of them. Lord Vishnu is worshipped which is in a black stone statue sitting in meditation pose surrounded by other statues of Gods.

Badrinath temple remains closed for 6 months due to the snowfall in winters so during that period Lord Badrinath is taken to Joshimaththat is one of the Maths that is monasteries that is also established by Adi Shankaracharya. Where as Hot springs are considered as the natural wonders of Badrinath. The temple is labeled with various texts of the Hindus such as Purana, Skanda, Bhagavata, and Mahabharata. The construction of Badrinath temple was undertaken by Kings of Garhwal that is during 17th century and later it was re built by King of Jaipur. Badrinath is the most visited religious destination in India. It is the only temple that remains shut for about 6 months in winters and reopens in summer for 6 months. Also the surrounding around the temple have been mentioned in Padma Purana .

The Geography and Seasons

You have to keep a check on the geographical and climatic part of the region while you plan a trip. So Badrinath is at an elevation of 3,300m and 10,800 ft . Kedarnath lies between Narayana mountains and Nar which ranges between 9km east of Nilkantha peak which is 6,596m . Badrinath is in the Garhwal Himalayas which is on the banks of Alaknanda  River. Badrinath has a scenic view all around it.

The statue of Lord Vishnu is around 3.3 ft tall in the temple. The shrine brightly painted façade by the Buddhist Vihara. So the temple remains shut from October till March and reopenes from the month of April. The best time to visit the temple is from May till October.

The Culture

In daily life the locals over here usually they indulge themselves in worshipping, fasting, performing various rituals and visiting Badrinath temple. People living here are generally Jains and Hindus and the main religion followed here is Hinduism and Jainism. The main language spoken here are Garhwali and Hindi. Festivals celebrated in this region are Thal, Juljibi, Bageshwar, Ganga Dusshera, Basant Panchami and Batsavitri. The famous fair held annually in September is called Mata Murti. Dal and Chapatti is the main food served over here.

The Experience

Badrinath temple is dedicated to Lord Badri which is the form of Lord Shiva. The temple is divine and people can experience peace and spiritual vibes all around the temple. The temple is spic and span with facilities available there like food, guest houses and shops etc. It is a cold place with higher altitude that makes you feel like you are in paradise. Every step in Badrinath is memorable which you can’t skip. You will experience mountains covered with snow and Alaknanda river flowing by its side its totally a visual scenic view to explore. You will also have to go through hilly terrains with risky cliffs and curves to reach the temple. The views in Badrinath are exquisite everywhere. The one thing that makes Badrinath more special is that it stands between the Himalayan hills and the river flowing infront. The surrounding near to it is just amazing with the pleasant view.

The Highlights

• Tapt Kund – it is known for its therapeutic properties and it is believed that people should take a dip in this hot water before entering to the temple.
• Brahma Kapal – it is believed that people performing propitiating rites for deceased family member would free them from vicious cycle of life and death.
• Neelkanth Peak – it is called as Queen of Garhwal it is at height of 6,597 meters and is named after Shiva it is believed that the peak receives the first rays of sun at daybreak.
• Charanpaduka – it takes about 3km from Badrinath to reach here. It is a rock that is imprinted with footprints of Lord Vishnu.Charan paduka is considered as the most sacred rock.
• Sheshnetra – it is a big rock situated between the two lakes on the opposite of Alaknanda river it gives the impression of Shesh nag which belongs to Vishnu.
• Vasudhara Falls – it is a beautiful waterfall which is 122 meters high surrounded by Himalayas. It is located in Mana Village this waterfall meets Alaknanda river. It is one of the enchanting places one can visit.
• Badrinath Temple – it is a temple dedicated to Vishnu lord.
• Mana Village – it is called as the last Indian village that is close to Tibet-China border it is located at the banks of Saraswati.  It has some amazing places to explore it is the beat Badrinath attractions one can know.