How to plan your trip to Badrinath and Kedarnath
Kedarnath and Badrinath are two of the most popular Hindu pilgrimage destinations and are also well-known for their spiritualism and mythological beliefs. Everybody wants to go there and live the moment at least once in their lifetime.
Before going to the Do-Dham or Char-Dham yatra, it is very important to follow proper directions and have knowledge of these places because they are in a high altitude area. You'll be able to travel more easily and comfortably thanks to this comprehensive guide.
Char Dham, which is located in Uttarakhand and is perched atop the captivating Indian Himalayas, is the centre of religious activities for Hindus across India.
Hindus in India believe that the Char Dham yatra is the key to salvation because it washes away all of their sins forever. In Hindu mythologies, these four shrines hold incredibly significant significance. This myth says that Shri Adi Shankaracharya got a chance when he rose in the Shri Badrinath Dham. Yamunotri is where the Yatra begins.
The famous Gangotri holy site is our next objective. The explorer must then go to Shri Kedarnath Dham, then Shri Badrinath Dham. In the Vedas, the four goals of life—Kama, Artha, Dharma, and Moksha—are depicted. This yatra is a way to work toward the fourth goal, Moksha.
The History of Kedarnath and Tungnath
According to legend, the word "Kedar" means "Lord Shiva," and India is home to five Kedar Dham out of a total of twelve Jyotirlingas. The highest of the twelve Jyotirlingas is Kedarnath. It is believed that Vyas Dev advised the Pandavas that they could only be forgiven for their sin of killing their own cousins the Kauravas during the war of Kurukshetra in the Mahabharata if they would worship Lord Shiva. They continued to search for Lord Shiva, who was attempting to hide from the Pandavas because they were convinced of their guilt, following his words.
All together, Ruler Shiva went to Guptkashi and disguised himself as a bull. Despite this, the Pandavas were able to capture him, and the bull-shaped body parts of Lord Shiva resurfaced at five different locations, becoming known as Panch Kedar, the site where the Pandavas constructed the temple of Lord Shiva. The Pandavas are said to have constructed Kedarnath, the ancient temple of Kedareshwar Jyotirlinga and the first panch Kedar. The location of the hump was Kedarnath.
The Panch Kedar temples, which were constructed by the Pandavas, are actually connected to the third Kedar, Tungnath temple. The hands had been discovered in Tungnath! The facts also stated that Lord Rama, the protagonist of the Ramayana, meditated on the Chandrashila peak near Tungnath. Also, it is thought that Lord Shiva was punished by Lanka King Ravana when he lived there.
The History of Badrinath
It is believed that Adi Shankara was the first person to build the temple in the 9th century. He is said to have enshrined an idol of Lord Badrinath near Tapt Kund after finding it in the Alaknanda River.
Best Time to Visit
Between May and June and September and October are the best times to visit Kedar Badri and Badrinath. Kedarnath and Badrinath experience significant precipitation and a drop in temperature at the start of the monsoon season.
The Badrinath and Kedarnath temples are only open for six months each year and remain closed the rest of the year due to severe weather. The Lord Badri idol moves to Narasimha Temple in Joshimath during the winter, and the Shiva idol moves to Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath from Kedarnath Temple. On the off chance that you wish, you can offer petitions at these sanctuaries in Uttarakhand in winter.
Things to Do in Haridwar and Rishikesh
Hindus flock to Haridwar to observe evening aarti at the Har Ki Pauri ghat and take a dip in the holy Ganga water. In addition, numerous temples, including Mansa Devi Temple, Kalika Devi Temple, Vishnu Ghat, Ram Ghat, and Kankhal, are worth visiting.
Rishikesh, which is located a little bit higher up the Ganges than Haridwar, is thought to have started yoga in India. It is well-known for the many ashrams it has. In addition, every night in Rishikesh, a Ganga Aarti is performed at the Parmarth Niketan ashram. Rishikesh also has a number of Hindu temples.
Details for Kedarnath:
Kedarnath is a sacred site that is near the Mandakini river and 3583 metres from Rishikesh. It is a temple devoted to Lord Shiva. The temple is open to the public for six months and can be reached either by 22-kilometre hike or by helicopter. Throughout the trek, pony and manchan services are available. The trek begins in Gaurikund.
Details of Tungnath:
It is one of the world's highest Shiva temples and the highest of the Panch Kedar temples. It is in the Tungnath district of Uttarakhand. The path leading to Tungnath is the shortest of the Panch Kedar treks: The 5 km route, which begins at Chopta and can be completed in between 4 and 5 hours, Even though there is a steep climb, this is one of the easiest treks. The path is paved with stone and has benches scattered along the way.
Details of Badrinath:
The temple is in the town, so you can just drive there. There are numerous hotels available for the disciples to stay in. Because of climate issues Badrinath additionally opens for a considerable length of time in the year. The main attractions are Taptkund, Mana Village, Vyas Cave, Ganesh Cave, Swargorohini, and Bheem Pool.
Important Tips
Bring enough cash with you because there won't be many ATMs after Rishikesh.
Be aware of the numerous con artists promising you the best darshan.
Bring appropriate raincoats and winter jackets with you because the weather there is extremely unpredictable.
Take good shoes with you because the roads in the mountains are hard to walk on.
Carry medicines and a quick-relief kit, such as paracetamol, AMS medicine, and medications for stomach upset, vomiting, headache, and other conditions.
Carry original copy ID proofs in case they are needed.
There is no electricity at Chopta; the solar power there is limited to four hours at night.
Don't try to understand everything with logic because you might encounter a lot of things that don't make sense.