Char Dham Yatra
Located in
the lofty laps of Himalayas are the holy centres of Gangotri, Yamunotri,
Badrinath and Kedarnath - collectively the Chardham or four sacred
spots. According to the scriptures of Hinduism, these are the most
sacred of all pilgrimages, and undertaking a journey to them will not
just wash away one's sins but ensure release from the cycle of birth and
death. For centuries, saints and pilgrims, in their search for the
divine, have walked these mystical vales known in ancient Hindu
scriptures as 'Kedarkhand'. Thus these four sites are revered.
The holy River Ganga, rises from the glacier at Gangotri, the River
Yamuna from Yamunotri and the Mandakini and Alaknanda flow past
Kedarnath and Badrinath respectively. All these four holy locations are
situated in the North Indian state of Uttaranchal, which is known
throughout the world for its breathtaking beauty and religious
ambience.According to Hindu legends, Uttaranchal is known as Devbhoomi
or land of the Gods. Pilgrims from across India and the world journey to
Uttaranchal to undertake the Char Dham yatra.
Yamunotri
The main temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. The present temple was
built by Maharani Guleria of Jaipur in the late nineteenth century. Once
destroyed by an earthquake, it has been rebuilt. A holy dip in the
nearby tank filled by hot springs and cooking rice in its water are
common rituals performed by the devotees.
Gangotri
Along the right back of Bhagirathi stands the shrine of Gangotri
dedicated to the Goddess. Perched at a height of 3042 mts., it was
constructed in the early 18th century by a Gorkha Commander, Amar Singh
Thapa. Every year, lakhs of pilgrims throng the sacred temple between
May and October. By November, Gangotri is covered by snow. It is
believed that the Goddess retreats to Mukhba, her winter abode (12 kms
downstream).
Kedarnath
One of the twelve "Jyotirlingas" of Lord Shiva, Kedarnath is
amongst the premier pilgrimage centres in the country. Situated at and
altitude of 3,581 mts. above sea level, against the backdrop of the
awe-inspring Kedarnath range , the temple of Sri Kedarnath is visited by
hundreds of devotees every year.
Badrinath
Badrinath (10,350 ft.) is in a wide valley at the headwaters of the
Alakananda River, the largest tributary of the Ganges. The road through
the hills in the background leads to the Mana Pass and Tibet. The
presiding deity at Badrinath is a form of the god Vishnu
