One
Expression around which all religions base their preaching. Peace of
mind, body and soul. Since time immemorial both man and God have
just one prayer - Shanti - for the living and the Departed. The Char
Dham, also called the Deo Bhumi - The Adobe of the Gods - presents
just the ambience where the Divine & the Sublime coexist.
Once
there, the sheer magnificence and the tranquil beauty so immerses
you into a world of spirituality that you experience true peace and
humility. Nature in all its splendour, at once huge and overwhelming
and yet humble in its exquisite beauty - the pilgrimage to the Char
Dhams is the experience that will stay with you and beyond.
The
Chardham is visited from left to right, following the Hindu
tradition of parikrama or clockwise circumambulation. Pilgrims begin
their Chardham Yatra with Yamunotri, the westernmost shrine in the
Garhwal Himalayas. Dedicated to Goddess Yamuna the shrine is
situated atop the Bandar Poonch Peak at an altitude of 3,165 m above
sea level, opposite to Gangotri. The next stopover of Chardham Yatra
is the shrine of Gangotri dedicated to Goddess Ganga. The sacred
shrine is situated at an altitude of 3,043 m, on the right bank of
Bhagirathi River. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Ganga - the
daughter of heaven, came down to earth in the form of a river as a
reward for King Bhagirath's penance of several centuries.
The
third halt of Chardham Yatra is sacred shrine of Kedarnath situated
amidst the picturesque Kedarnath range at an altitude of 3.581 m.
Located on the head of river Mandakini, Kedarnath is among the most
holiest pilgrimage for the Hindus. In this shrine stands one of the
twelve ' Jyotirlingas' of Kedar or Lord Shiva. The Chardham Yatra
culminates on arrival at sacred shrine of Badrinath, situated on the
right bank of Alaknanda River at an altitude of 3,133 m. Dedicated
to Lord Vishnu, the 15 m high temple shrine is built in the form of
a cone with a small cupola of a bull and spire. The temple is
divided into three parts the 'Garbha Griha' or sanctum sanctorum,
the' Darshan Mandap' where the rituals are conducted, and the 'Sabha
Mandap' where devotees assemble. The complex has 15 idols including
the 1 m tall idol of Badrinath. Beautifully sculpted in black stone,
it represents lord Vishnu seated in a meditative pose.
Places
to see
- Badrinath
- Kedarnath
- Gangotri
- Yamnotri
How to Reach
- By Air
Jolly Grant, (317kms.)
- By Rail
Rishikesh, (300kms .) Kotdwar ,(327 kms.)
- By Road
Well connected to rishikesh , Haridwar ,
dehradun , kotdwar And other hill stations of Garhwal and kumaon
region
