Places to See
The four shrines of Char Dham located in Uttarakhand in the Garhwal Himalayas, make it an ideal destination for pilgrimage in North India. A visit to the Char Dham, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, is strongly believed to bring tranquility and peace of mind to one’s spirit. It is also believed that pilgrims, who complete their journey of Char Dham, attain salvation and are freed from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Not only in India, but devotees come from all over the world to seek spiritual bliss through the Char Dham Yatra.
The route to Char Dham usually starts from Haridwar and proceeds through Rishikesh, Dehradun, Mussoorie and so on. Apart from the four shrines of Char Dham, there are several other religious and other spots to visit en route to Char Dham. The entire avenue to the sacred journey covers a lot of sightseeing spots in Uttarakhand.
Sightseeing at Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun and Mussoorie
1. Har ki Pauri - The ghat is most popular in Haridwar for the majestic evening Ganga Arti. Thousands of devotees take a dip in the holy river of Ganga to wash away their sins and attain salvation.
2. Mansa Devi Temple - The temple can be reached by a cable car ride, as it is perched atop a hill. The shrine is the abode of Goddess Mansa, who is believed to fulfill every wish of the devotees.
3. Chandi Devi Temple - The temple is located on the top of Neel Parvat, and is revered to Goddess Chandika Devi.
4. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple - In this temple, Lord Shiva is prayed in the form of Neelkanth. Lord Shiva is believed to have consumed the poison that emerged from Samudra Manthan at this place, after which his throat turned blue. Hence, the temple is named Neelkanth.
5. Trimbakeshwar Temple - the unique and magnificent 13-storeyed temple building houses several Hindu gods and goddesses on its every floor. Reaching the temple includes a walk through the famous Lakshman Jhula.
6. Triveni Ghat - Triveni Ghat is located on the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. The maha arti in the evening with hundreds of oil lamps and the spiritual aura from the incense sticks takes the soul on a heavenly journey. Devotees take a dip in the holy water to wash away their sins.
7. Sahashtradhara - It is a water spring that is believed to have medicinal properties. The scenic beauty of the place rejuvenates the mind and soul.
8. Robber’s Cave - Also popular as Guchhupani, robbers used to hide in the caves in the old times, and therefore the name Robber’s Cave. A cold water spring flows through the cave and is a spot of tourist interest.
9. Kempty Falls - It is the ideal picnic spot in Mussoorie. Taking a bath in the cold waters of Kempty Falls is quite popular among tourists to have fun. On the way to Yamunotri, visitors do stop at this spot to admire the beauty of the waterfall.
Sightseeing in Yamunotri
1. Yamunotri Temple - The temple is the commencement point of the Char Dham Yatra and as the name suggests the shrine is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. The Yamunotri Dham is reached by trekking 7 km from Janki Chatti.
2. Surya Kund - Surya Kund is a hot water spring and the River Yamuna flows beside it. The hot water of Surya Kund is used to boil the rice and potato for prasad.
3. Saptarshi Kund - Located about 10 km from Yamunotri Dham Temple, Saptarshi Kund is a high-altitude lake and is a trekking destination from Janki Chatti via Yamunotri Temple. It is one of the most challenging treks in Uttarakhand with unpaved paths covered with snow.
4. Divya Shila - It is a sacred stone, also known as the ‘slab of divine light’ and is located outside the temple of Yamuntori. The prasad cooked in the Surya Kund is first offered at Divya Shila before the Yamunotri shrine.
Sightseeing in Gangotri
1. Gangotri Temple - The highly revered Gangotri shrine is dedicated to Goddess Ganga, located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The sacred shrine is surrounded by mesmerising scenic beauty, further enhanced by the gorgeous River Ganga. The temple is said to have been built by Amar Singh Thapa, a Nepalese General, in reverence to the Goddess.
2. Pandav Gufa - it is a natural cave and reaching the cave involves a trek for 1.5 km from Gangotri temple. According to legends, the Pandav brothers have meditated inside this cave before proceeding to Mount Kailash.
3. Gauri Kund and Surya Kund - Both the Gauri Kund and Surya Kund are located on either side of the iron bridge located 500 metres from the Gangotri Temple. Surya Kund is popular for its cascading waterfall.
4. Gaumukh - The Bhagirathi River originates from Gaumukh, the second largest glacier in India. The end of the Gangotri glacier is in the shape of a cow’s mouth and hence the name Gaumukh. Gaumukh is located 18 km away from Gangotri, and the trek route from Tapovan to Gangotri is quite popular among the people visiting there.
5. Vishwanath Temple - The temple is the abode of Shiva Linga and is believed to have been built by Lord Parashuram.
Sightseeing in Kedarnath
1. Kedarnath Temple - Kedarnath Shrine is one among the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva. A trek route from Gaurikund takes the pilgrims to the sacred spot of Kedarnath Temple in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand.
2. Gaurikund - Gautikund in Guptakashi is the starting point of the Kedarnath Dham yatra trek. The River Mandakini flows right beside Gaurikund. Both Gaurikund temple and Gauri Lake are significant landmarks in Kedarnath.
3. Chandrashila - Chandrashila is the endpoint of the famous Chopta Chandrashila trek, which starts from Tunganath village. One of the easiest treks in Uttarakhand, the trek route is commonly recommended for beginners.
4. Sonprayag - It is a tiny hamlet located on the confluence of River Basuki and River Mandakini. Enclosed by snow-clad mountains, Sonprayag is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati got married to each other.
5. Vasuki Tal - It is a high-altitude lake, amid the snow-covered peaks and offers an amazing view of the neighbouring Chaukhamba Peak. The picturesque beauty of Vasuki Tal is one of the most priceless treasures at Kedarnath.
6. Agastyamuni - An ancient temple with breathtaking architecture and interiors and walls adorned with beautiful wall art is built in reverence to Saint Agastya Muni’s one-year rigorous meditation.
Sightseeing in Badrinath
1. Badrinath Temple - The Badrinath Temple is the common Dham for both the bigger Char Dham as well as the Chota Char Dham. Perched on the lap of the Nar and Narayan Mountains near the Mandakini River, Badrinath is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Mata Murti ka Mela and Badri Kedar are the two eminent festivals celebrated in the Badrinath temple. A hot sulfur spring, named Tapt Kund is just beside the temple and is believed to possess medicinal properties.
2. Vasudhara Falls - The origin of the 400 feet waterfall is from the Nar and Narayan mountains and is located in Mana Village. The waterfall mixes with the Alaknanada River and is believed to have been the resting place of the Pandava brothers.
3. Joshimath - Joshimath is of high significance in Badrinath as it is the winter abode of the idol of the Badrinath shrine. Narsingh temple and Kalpabriksha temple are the popular shrines in Joshimath. Another attraction is the cable car ride that connects Auli to Joshimath.
4. Valley of Flowers - Valley of Flowers is a national park located in the west Himalayas. Presently it is a world heritage site and a 16 km trek from Govinghat ends at Valley of Flowers.
5. Hemkund - Literally means ‘Lake of Snow’, Guru Govind Singh ji meditated at Hemkund for several years. There is a star-shaped Gurudwara located near the lake is visited by thousands of devotees.
