Joshimath
Joshimath is one of the four ‘maths’ created by Adi Shankaracharya. It is situated at an elevation of 1,890 m above sea level. The Joshimath is the winter seat of Lord Badri Narayan whose idol is brought down from Badrinath temple to Narsingh Temple (4th incarnation of Lord Vishnu). It is the also the gateway to Auli which is connected with the highest cable car of Asia and the Valley of Flowers.
Joshimath is the best option to stay at night because from here you can cover 3 different directions like Badrinath Temple, Auli Hill Station and the famous Valley of Flowers.
Places nearby to Joshimath:
There are many places like Badrinath Temple, Vashudhara Waterfall, Vyas Gufa, Hot springs, Satopanth Lake, Bhim Pul, Saraswati Temple etc.
Badrinath Temple
Badrinath Temple or Badrinarayan Temple is a beautiful temple, dedicated to Lord Badri, a manifestation of Lord Vishnu. It is one of the most revered pilgrimage destinations because it is included in Chardham Yatra. Singh Dwara is the main entrance and major attraction of the temple. In 8th century, famous Hindu Saint Adi Shankaracharya constructed this temple on the banks of the Alaknanda River, this sacred town lies between Nar and Narayana mountain ranges.
Badrinath Temple is located about 4 km from the village. The villagers are culturally associated with the activities of Badrinath temple and annual fair of Mata Murti Temple. This Devi Temple is dedicated to the Mata Murti, the mother of Nar and Narayan i.e., Lord Badrinath. It is situated on the right bank of Alaknanda river.
Badrinath is 223 KM from Gaurikund (base camp of Kedarnath) that can be covered in 8-10 Hours depend on the route you chose and how much you enjoy the route as well. Start early from Guarikund, take a break in Rudraprayag, a place is one of the Panch Prayag located at the place of confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers.
Hot water springs
This sacred hot water spring is located near to the Badrinath Temple. The Kund is believed to hold medicinal values which cure the ailments like skin diseases and others. The temperature of the water of the Kund always ranges around 45 degree Celsius.
Vyas Gufa
This small cave is believed to be of Maharishi Vyas who composed Vedas, Puranas and also the biggest epic Mahabharatha. Ganesh Gufa is another cave in Mana village.
Vasudhara Falls
If you want to go for breathtaking, mesmerizing Vasudhara waterfall and want to see panoramic view of the valley, trek 5 km from Mana village to the waterfall. The mountain cliff is about 140 m tall from where the water falls. The entire inclined walkway is tough at some points but it is very scenic & beautiful with snowy mountains, green meadows and thick forests. It is a perfect blend of natural splendor, adventure and spirituality.
Trek can be covered in 2 hours but you have extra 2-3 hours to enjoy the scenic beauty photography of nearby mountains are Chaukhamba, Nilkantha and Balakun etc. Balkun peak is believed to be the home of wealth deity Kuber in Hindu mythology. Satopanth glacier rolls down towards the bottom of Vasudhara region.
You can also go beyond the Vasudhara waterfall upto Laxmi van/ forest which is 4 km ahead from it. Satopanth lake is 17 km away from the waterfall. Camping utilities and cooking equipments are required to stay in this forest during night.
There are no food or water utilities along the route.
Mana Village, Uttarakhand:
Mana is a beautiful village located in the district of Chamoli in Uttarakhand. It is located at an altitude of 3,219 meters or 10,500 feet above sea level. It is the first village on the National Highway 58 from the Mana Pass and is about 26 KMs from Indo– Tibetan border. With quaint houses, where members of the Bhotiya tribe knitting woolen garments, the village offers serene natural beauty. Enjoy a moderate trek of around 5 km from Badrinath to experience the simple joys of rural life. Earlier, the villagers used to trade with Tibet.
This is the place where Lord Hyagriva first appeared to the world who is considered to be an avatara of the god Vishnu. He is worshipped as the god of knowledge and wisdom. This is also the place where Sage Veda Vyasa divided the vedas into four Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda. Mana village is believed to be a temporary stay point of legendary Pandavas, during their exile.
Hemkunt Sahib
Hemkund Sahib is a well-known Sikh shrine located about a distance of 19 km from Govind Ghat on the Rishikesh – Badrinath Highway. Situated near Valley of Flowers, Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib is dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru who meditated here for a long time. This is the world’s highest gurudwara situated at an altitude of 4329 m from the sea level.
The star shaped Gurudwara is located on the shores of the pristine Hemkund Lake. The crystal clear Lake forms mirror images of the surround peaks in it. In the vicinity, a small temple of Lakshman, brother of Lord Rama is also located.
Ghangaria
Small hamlet of Ghangaria is a popular base camp for trekkers including the Gurudwara. River Pushpawati meet with Hemganga River and then flow as Lakshman Ganga. Ghangaria is a bustling village with last human habitation on the way to the Valley of Flowers. Perched at an altitude of 3,050 m, it can be reached by an easy trek of 13 km or by pony from Govindghat. Gorgeous views, snow-capped mountains, lush greenery, sparkling streams and cascading waterfalls mesmerise you. Helicopter service has also been started between Govind Ghat and Ghangaria for the ease of travellers.
The last 5 km trek have a steep climb from Ghangharia to Hemkund Sahib. You have to start early, as overnight stay is not allowed at Hemkund Sahib, so return to your base before night falls.
From Ghangaria, you can to Valley of Flowers, which is about 3 KM from here.
Valley of Flowers
Valley of Flowers is an Indian National Park that was established in 1982. It was declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2002. When flowers are on full bloom, it resembles an artist’s canvas surrounded by snow mountain peaks and white glaciers. During August and September, variety of flowers bloom which are different from each other not only in colours but also in shapes, sizes, textures and smells. After every few steps, a new variety of flowers is present. Over 600 species like orchids, poppies, primulas, marigold, daisies etc. and sub-alpine forests birch and rhododendron cover parts of the park’s area. With a stunning backdrop of the mighty Himalayan ranges, you may have an unforgettable experience. Spread over an area of 87 sq km, it one of the two core zones of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve while the other one is Nanda Devi National Park.
Brief glimpse of Char Dham Yatra - A Religious Journey (Part-IV):
Uttarakhand is often referred to as the “Devbhumi” i.e., ‘the land of the Gods’ because to its religious significance. The State is home to numerous temples, religious sites and circuits that devotees visit throughout the year. One of the most prominent religious tour is the Char Dham Yatra (‘Char’ means ‘Four’ and ‘Dham’ means ‘religious sites’) which covers four holy sites situated in the Himalayas viz. Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. These sites open up for six months every year from April/ May to October/ November. Devotees complete this pilgrimage in clockwise direction by starting from Yamunotri to Gangotri, then Kedarnath, and finally to Badrinath. Sometimes devotees prefer two destinations only, then do pilgrimage to two shrines – Kedarnath and Badrinath.
Deities of these religious sites:
- The Yamunotri is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna and is located very close to the source of River Yamuna in Uttarkashi district. A dip in the River Yamuna is said to protect one from untimely death. The temple is located at around 3,233 m above sea level. (Part-I)
- The Gangotri is dedicated to Goddess Ganga, the most sacred of all Indian rivers. (Part-II)
- The Kedarnath is located in the Kedarnath, Rudraprayag district and the deity is Lord Shiva. (Part-III)
- The Badrinarayan Temple is located in Badrinath, Chamoli District and the deity is Lord Vishnu. (Part-IV)
Best Time To Visit
The ideal time to visit Badrinath Temple is from May to October because the temple becomes inaccessible and is closed from October/ November to April due to heavy snowfall.
By Flight
Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport. Hire a cab or get a bus to reach any of the site. Part of the journey can also be completed by helicopter service.
By Train
Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun are nearest railways stations and regular trains are available from major cities of the country, across the year. Rest of the journey can be performed by cab or bus and partly by helicopter.
By Road
Journey by road may be a good option that can take a time to reach your destination but you will enjoy the journey once you starts climbing in the mountain. From New Delhi, Yamunotri is 420 KM (10.15 Hrs), Gangotri – 501 KM (12 Hrs), Kedarnath – 448 KM (10.30 Hrs) and Badrinath 526 KM (13Hrs, approx.).
Part-I: Details of journey from Delhi to Rishikesh to Yamunotri i.e., 1st place to be visited on Char Dham Yatra, may be read at: https://www.singhontrek.in/yamunotri
Part-II: Details of journey from Yamunotri to Gangotri i.e., 2nd place to be visited on Char Dham Yatra, may be read at: https://www.singhontrek.in/gangotri
Part-III: Details of journey from Gangotri to Kedar Nath i.e., 3rd place to be visited on Char Dham Yatra, may be read at: https://www.singhontrek.in/kedarnath
