Badrinath & Kedarnath

One of the most important of four pilgrimage sites in India’s Char Dham Pilgrimage, Badrinath temple is highly revered by Hindus. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple is visited by lakhs of devotees every year. At a massive altitude f 10, 279 feet, the temple is enveloped by lofty mountain ranges which are under the snow blanket for al least six months in a year.

Vashundhara Falls ascends from 400 feet high cliff making it massively tall and noisy. It is 4 km away from Badrinath and legend has it that it used to be the resting place of Pandavas. People also believe that the water falls turn away from visitors impure in thoughts and heart.

Believed to be the home of Lord Agni, Tapt Kund is a natural hot water spring at 45 degrees Celsius above the Alaknanda river bank where visitors take therapeutic baths. The water of the kund is believed to have medicinal properties.

‘Charan’ meaning feet and ‘paduka’ meaning position, the place is believed to have Lord Vishnu’s footprints on the rock atop 3380 ft which can be reached after an arduous trek. Apart from this myth, Charanpaduka is place full of enthralling beauty and tranquility.

Neelkanth is a famous mountain peak in the Himalayas that overlooks the Valley of Alaknanda River. Located at a massive altitude of 6,507 meters, the peak is covered with snow almost all year round and many trekking enthusiasts trek to this peak as token of respect for Lord Shiva.

Kund meaning pond, Narad Kund is a sacred site on the recess of river Alaknanda from where it is believed that Adi Sankaracharya recovered the idol of Lord Vishnu.The kund is considered holy to take a bath in this hot water spring. It is considered sacred to take dip into the pond before visiting temple for darshan.

Kedarnath temple in Kedarnath is the highest among the 12 jyotirlingas in India. It is believed that temple was built around 1000 years ago with enormous stone slabs over a rectangular dais. The present temple is believed to be re-built by Adi Shankaracharya. Therefore, the temple is considered highly sacred and it is bliss to visit the temple once in your lifetime.

It is a Lake at an altitude of 4,135 meters surrounded by massive snow-clad peaks and offers a view of the neighboring Chaukhamba peaks. The only way to visit this mystic Lake is through trekking via Chaturangi and Vasuki glaciers.

At the confluence of rivers Mandakini and Basuki and an altitude of 1829 meters, Sonaprayag is a beautiful tiny hamlet. It is believed that if you take a dip in the holy water of Sonaprayag, you could attain nirvana.

Chandrashila is slope of snow-covered range that provides a brilliant trekking trail and skiing tracks all year round except in December and January. The peak lies at a massive altitude of 3,679 meters.

Gaurikund is base camp site while you trek towards Kedarnath temple and is considered as holy site by Hindu devotees. It is situated at an altitude of 6,502 feet above sea level. When you trek towards revered Kedarnath temple, you will halt at Gaurikund.

Another holy site on the way to Kedarnath, Guptkashi is considered religiously important as it houses ancient temples like Vishwanath temple and Ardhanareshwar temple. It is site till where you can drive and the trek towards Kedarnath commences.