EXPLORE INDIA - 04
Haridwar Tour (9Days/8Nights)
Day 01
Moving to Barkot via Dehradun & Mussoorie.
Kempty Falls
Kempty Falls is a waterfall in Ram Gaon and at the south of Kempty, in the Tehri Garhwal District of Uttarakhand, India. It is 13 kilometres (8 mi) from Mussoorie on the Chakrata Road, and 45 kilometres (28 mi) from Dehradun. It is nearly 1364 meters above sea level, at 78°-02’East longitude and 30° -29’North latitude. The Kempty Falls, and the area around is surrounded by high mountain ranges at an altitude of 4500 feet.
Stay night in Barkot.
Day 02
Yamunotri Temple
Yamunotri Temple is situated in the western region of Garhwal Himalayas at an altitude of 3,291 metres (10,797 ft) in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. It's Just 129 km from Uttarkashi, the main district headquarter. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna and has a black marble idol of the goddess. The hike from Hanuman Chatti to Yamunotri takes in views of a number of waterfalls. There are two trekking routes from Hanuman Chatti to Yamunotri, the one along the right bank proceeds via the Markandeya Tirth, where the sage Markandeya wrote the Markandeya Purana, the other route which lies on the left bank of the river goes via Kharsali, from where Yamunotri is a five or six hours climb away.
Surajkund hot spring
Surajkund hot spring (also called Surya Kund) is a natural hot spring in Belkapi gram panchayat of Barkatha CD block in Barhi subdivision of Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. Surajkund hot spring is claimed to be the hottest spring in India. Surajkund hot spring has a surface temperature of 87 °C (189 °F) and an average subsurface temperature of 165 °C (329 °F).
Stay Night in Barkot
Day 03
Moving to Uttarkashi.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in Vishwanath Gali of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh in India. The temple stands on the western bank of the holy river Ganga, and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest of Shiva temples.
Stat night in Uttarakashi.
Day 04
Gangotri
Gangotri is a town and a Nagar Panchayat (municipality) in Uttarkashi district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is 99 km from Uttarkashi, the main district headquarter. It is a Hindu pilgrim town on the banks of the river Bhagirathi – the origin of the river Ganges. The town is located on the Greater Himalayan Range, at a height of 3,100 metres (10,200 ft). According to popular Hindu legend, Goddess Ganga descended here when Lord Shiva released the mighty river from the locks of his hair.
Places to visit near the Gangotri Temple
· Bhagirath Shila is believed to be the holy rock where King Bhagirath prayed to Lord Shiva.
· Pandava Gufa, located 1.5 km from Gangotri, is the place where the Pandavas are believed to have meditated and rested en route Kailash. Pilgrims will have to trek up to the Pandava Gufa.
Submerged Shivling river, this natural rock Shivling is the place where, according to mythology Lord Shiva sat when he received the Ganga in his matted lock. It is visible in winter months when water level decreases.
Kedar Ganga Sangam
Kedartal (also known as Shiva's lake) is a glacial lake situated at an altitude of 4,750 metres (15,580 ft) in the Garhwal region of the Himalayas in India. The lake is fed by the snowfall over Thalay Sagar (6,904 m), Meru (6,672 m), Bhrigupanth (6,772 m) and other surrounding peaks, and is the source of Kedar Ganga, which in Hindu mythology is considered to be Shiva's contribution to Bhagirathi (a source-stream of the Ganges).
Kedartal, at a distance of 17 km from Gangotri, is a popular trekking destination. Starting from Gangotri the route involves a steep rocky climb along the narrow Kedar Ganga gorge en route to Bhojkharak, 8 km away. From there it is 4 km to the next available camping site of Kedarkharak, and a further 5 km to Kedartal. The route passes through scenic Himalayan birch forests, but is made hazardous in places by falling rocks, high altitude and segments of steep ascent.
Stay night in Uttarakeshi
Day 05
Moving to Guptkashi
Kedarnath
Kedarnath is a town in Rudraprayag district in the state of Uttarakhand in India and has gained importance because of the Kedarnath Temple. Other than the Kedarnath Temple, on the eastern side of the town is Bhairavnath Temple, and the deity of this temple, Bhairavnath, is believed to protect the town during the winter months. About 6 km upstream from the town, lies Chorabari Tal, a lake cum glacier also called Gandhi Sarovar. Near Kedarnath, there is a cliff called Bhairav Jhamp. Other places of interest include the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi, and Rudra meditation cave.
Stay night in Guptkashi.
Day 06
Gauri Kund
Gauri Kund is a Hindu pilgrimage site and base camp for trek to Kedarnath Temple, in Uttarakhand, India. It is situated at an altitude of 6502 feet above mean sea level in the Garhwal Himalayas.
Stay night in Gaurikund
Day 07
Badrinath or Badrinarayana Temple
Badrinath or Badrinarayana Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu which is situated in the town of Badrinath in Uttarakhand, India. The temple is also one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Badrinath—holy shrines for Vaishnavites. It is open for six months every year (between the end of April and the beginning of November), because of extreme weather conditions in the Himalayan region. The temple is located in Garhwal hill tracks in Chamoli district along the banks of Alaknanda River.
Narad Kund is the river near Tapt Kund, forming a pool from where the Badrinath idol was recovered.
Mana Village Mana is a village in the district of Chamoli in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, located at an altitude of 3,200 meters. It is located on the northern terminus of National Highway 7 (new numbering system). The villagers of this village are culturally associated with activities of Badrinath temple and annual fair of Matha murthi They used to trade with Tibet in earlier days. There is a small cave in Mana, named Vyas Gufa and it is believed that Maharshi Vyas composed Mahabharatha in this cave. Nearby places include Vasudhara Falls, Satopanth Lake, Bhim Pul, Saraswati Temple etc One more cave is called Ganesh Gufa and tourists visit both caves regularly.
Vasundhara Falls
Uttarakhand is surrounded by waterfalls. Vasudhara waterfall is set in the background of a 145 m cliff. The three-hour trek starts from Mana village. After passing Saraswati Mandir, the trek becomes very steep, allowing views of Vasudhara river valley.The route is stony with some grass and shrubs in the sides. Even on a bright sunny day, the weather is mildly cool and breezy (during June to August). Sometime misty and fog may appear. A light jacket is advised for late evening hours.
Stay Night in Uttarakeshi
Day 08
Shankaracharya Math
This is the math established by Adi Shankaracharya in North India. The math has temples of Badrinarayan and Rajrajeshwari Devi. It has a sacred cave where Adi Shankaracharya supposedly undertook tapasya.
Narsingh Temple
This is an ancient temple of Lord Vishnu in Narsingh Avtar and main temple of Joshimath. It has an idol of Lord Narsingh, which is considered established by Shankaracharya. As per local belief, the right hand of this idol has become as thin as hair. On the day when it will break, the mountains Jay-Vijay (which are situated on a way to Badrinath) shall join and become one and Lord Badrinath of Badrinath temple will disappear from the present temple and re-appear as black stone (Shaligram) at new place called Bhavishya Badri, which is situated at a distance of 10 km from Joshimath. During the period when Badrinath temple remains closed during winter every year, an idol of Lord Badri is brought to Narsinh temple and worshiped for six months.
Ropeway
A ropeway to Auli is popular among tourists and one of the longest ropeways in Asia. It is open only during the winter season (November to March) and costs Rs 1000 for two way journey. The ropeway is the fastest means for tourists to go to Auli.
Stay Night in Uttatakeshi
Day 09
Moving back to Rishikesh.