Kedarnath Yatra

KEDARNATH - BADRINATH YATRA NEW DELHI - HARIDWAR - DEO PRAYAG -RAMPUR - KEDARNATH GUPTAKASI - PIPALKOTI-BADRINATH - RUDRA PRAYAG - HARIDWAR NEW DELHI. DURATION: 09 NIGHTS & TOUR COST : 16,925/Plus 4.95% Service Tax Extra

10 per

DAYS person

THE CELESTIAL JYOTIRLINGAM KEDARNATH: The Kedarnath shrine, one of the 12 jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, is a scenic spot situated, against the backdrop of the majestic Kedarnath range. At an altitude of 3,581mt it is a 14km trek from Gaurikund. Kedar is another name of Lord Shiva, the protector and the destroyer. Shiva is considered the embodiment of all passions - love, hatred, fear, death and mysticism that are expressed through his various forms. There are more than 200 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in Chamoli district itself; the most important one is Kedarnath. According to legend, the Pandavas after having won over the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra war felt guilty of having killed their own brothers and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. He eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being followed he dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four other places and is worshipped there as his manifestations. The arms appeared at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, and the belly at Madmaheshwar and his locks (hair) with head at Kalpeshwar. Kedarnath and the four above-mentioned shrines are treated as Panch Kedar. DAY 01: NEW DELHI / HARIDWAR Assemble our office at 0700 hrs in the morning and proceed towards Haridwar. On arrival transfer to Hotel Anna Puran for over night stay. Evening visit Ganga aarti at Har - Ki - Pauri. Enroute Break fast, Lunch & Dinner at Hotel Anna Purana . DAY 02: HARIDWAR / DEO PRAYAG / RAMPUR Assemble at 0430 hrs at Ayyappan temple in the early morning and proceed towards Deo Prayag for Holy Bath at Ganges. Situated at the confluence of

Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers, it is commonly believed to be the birthplace of Ganga. Break fast / Lunch enroute. Dinner at Rampur. DAY 03: RAMPUR / KEDARNATH Leave early morning to Gauri Kund to have bath and proceed towards Kedarnath, by walk / trek / dholi. Break fast will be given in packed. Lunch & Dinner on Your own. GAURIKUND (14Kms): the trekking base to Kedarnath. A temple dedicated to Gauri and thermal springs of medicinal value are noteworthy. Horse and Dholi as per Govt. of Uttaranchal. On arrival Kedarnath transfer Tourist Rest House / Dharamshalas offer a comfortable stay. In the evening visit temple of Lord Shiva. KEDARNATH TEMPLE: An imposing sight, standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by lofty snow covered peaks. The present temple, built in 08th century A. D. by Adi Shankaracharya, stands adjacent to the site of an earlier temple built by the Pandavas. The inner walls of the assembly hall are decorated with figure of various deities and scenes from mythology. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard. Dedicated of Lord Shiva, the exquisitely architecture Kedarnath temple is considered to be more than 1000 years old. Built of extremely large, heavy and evenly cut Grey slabs of stones, it evokes wonder as to how these heavy slabs had been handled in the earlier days. The temple has a "Garbha Griha" for worship and a Mandap, apt for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form. SHANKARACHARYA SAMADHI: The Samadhi of Adi Guru Shankaracharya is located just behind the Kedarnath temple. It is said that after establishing four sacred Dhams in India, he went into his Samadhi at an early age of 32 years. DAY 04: KEDARNATH / RAMPUR Early morning Darshan of Lord Shiva at Kedar and leave for Rampur at 0830 hrs. On arrival at Rampur Lunch will be given. Evening for Triyuginarayan Temple. Charge for Temple Rs. 150/- per person. (Optional tour). TRIYUGINARAYAN: It is the mythological venue of the marriage of lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. An eternal Flame, which is said to have been a witness to the marriage, burns in front of the temple even today. DAY 05: RAMPUR / GUPTAKASI / PIPALKOTI

Leave at 0630 hrs from Rampur towards Guptakasi to have bath at Temple. GUPTKASHI: Famous for the temples of Ardhnarishwar and Vishwanath. After break fast leave for Pipalkoti. Pipalkoti.

Enroute lunch will be given. Dinner at

DAY 06: PIPALKOTI - BADRI NATH Assemble at 0430 Hrs at Pipalkoti and proceed towards Joshimath. The winter home of Shri Badrinathji, Joshimath is situated on the slopes above the confluence of Alaknanda and Dhauliganga. Of the four "Maths" established by Adi Guru Shankaracharya, Joshimath is in the north. After Darshan of Lord Badrinarayan here and proceed Badrinath. On arrival at Badrinath and proceed towards Tourist Rest Houses / Dharamhshalas. And proceed towards Tapt Kund for Holy Bath. BADRINATH TEMPLE: Perched at an altitude of 3,133 Mt above sea level, in the middle of a beautiful valley, it is located on the right bank of holy river Alanknanda. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple of Shri Badrinathji is 15mt in height, built in the form of a cone with a small cupola of a gilt bull and spire. Legend dates the temple prior to the Vedicage, though the present temple is believed to have been established by Adi Shankaracharya, the 8th century AD, Hindu reformist. The temple has been renovated several times due to earlier damages by avalanches and looks modern now with a colorful "Singh Dwara" or the main entrance gate. The temple has three parts - Garbha Griha (the sanctum sanctorum), Darshan Mandap (for pujas) and Shobha Mandap (for devotees to assemble). It is believed that the image of Badrinath had been thrown into the Alaknanda River during the time of the Buddhist era and later retrieved and reinstalled by Shankaracharya during the following Hindu revival. There are 15 idols in the temple complex. Finely sculpted in black stone, the Badrinath (Vishnu) image is a meter high. Other images include those of Lame (Vishnu's consort), Garurh (Vishnu's mount), Shiva, Parvati, and Ganesh etc. With its great scenic beauty and attractive recreational spots in the vicinity, Badrinath attracts an ever-increasing number of secular visitors each year. TAPT KUND: Devotees take a holy dip in the natural thermal springs on the banks of the river Alaknanda, before entering the Badrinath Temple. The water of the Kund is believed to have medicinal properties.

After Darshan come back to room for lunch and rest. Evening visit temple for Darshan. After Darshan come back to Room for rest. DAY 07: BADRI NATH Early morning wake up call at 0430 hrs and proceed towards Temple for Neermali Darshan. And leave for Brahma Kapal. BRAHMA KAPAL: A flat platform on the bank of river Alaknanda where Hindus perform propitiating rites for their deceased ancestors. (Rs. 750/- per person). After doing pind at Brahma Kapal and proceed towards Temple. And proceed towards for Lunch. After lunch leave for Badrinath Local sight seeing (MANA VILLAGE) Rs. 150/- per person charge extra. (Optional tour). DAY 08: BARDRINATH / PIPALKOTI Afternoon departure at 1400 hrs in the afternoon proceeds towards Pipalkoti. On arrival at Pipalkoti for night stay. Dinner at Pipalkoti. DAY 09: PIPALKOTI / HARIDWAR Leave Pipalkoti at 0600 hrs towards Rudra Prayag. And leave for Bathing Ghat at 0900 hrs at Rudra Prayag. RUDRAPRAYAG: Situated at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. The road diverts to Kedarnath from here. And proceed towards Haridwar, for evening aarti at Har - ki - pauri. Night stay at Haridwar. Enroute Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. DAY 10: HARIDWAR / New Delhi Leave after lunch to New Delhi. TOUR END