Badrinath

Considered as the holiest of the four important shrines of Hindus, Shri Badrinath ji is situated in the Garhwal region at the confluence of the Rishi Ganga and Alaknanda rivers and at an altitude of 3110 M above the sea level.

A great religious importance has been attached to Badrinath Puri, which was once surrounded by wild berries or "Badri" and so it was named "Badrivan". This land has been worshipped by saints and sages and has been the abode of yogies, and great hermits over the ages.

Shri Badrinath is guarded by the twin mountain ranges of Nar and Narayan range near the towering Neelkanth Peak. The other hot water tanks are "Narad Kund" & "Surya Kund" in which pilgrims take the holy bath. Badrinath stands first in the pilgrimage programs since it bears the supreme degree of faith and devotion towards God.

At the backside of Badrinath temple, a valley opens to Nilkanth peak, which embodies all the divinity of this sacred land. The pujaris of Shri Badri Nath Temple are known as the Rawal, who are generally the Namboodri Brahmin of Kerala, as part of a tradition. Adiguru Shankracharya was also

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Kedarnath

Kedarnath, the famous holy town of Lord Shiva has been situated at the height of 3583 m above sea-level on a marshy plain, on the slope of Himalyas. Kedarnath is the place where Lord Shiva Lingam has been installed in the beautiful temple where the perpetual snow clad exists on the Himalayas and down to the flower-decked Mandakini Valley.

The ancient temple of Kedamath was constructed by Pandavas. This is one among Dwadasha Jyotirlinga. In outer area of temple, the statues of Godess Parvati, Pandva, Godess Lakshmi etc are situated. Hanskund is situated near to Kedarnth temple where Shradha-Tarpan is use to perform for Moksha of Pitra (the ancestors). Amritkund is situated behind the Kedarnath temple and Retas kund is situated at little distance from temple. The lake of cold water (ice) is located very near to temple which is the origin of river Mandakini. Uddandkund is situated at a few distances from temple which has a great importance in history.

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Gangotri

The place of origination of shri Bhagirathi is situated from a distance of 28 K.M. The temple of Bhagirathi is situated at Gangotri. In this temple statues of Shri Ganga ji, Yamuna ji, Saraswati ji, Lakshmi ji, Parwati ji and Annapurna ji are situated. All articles of Pooja are made up of Gold only. A dense forest of deodar is also located here. The temple of Ganga is situated on the right bank of the Bhagirathi (Ganga) and its journey can be seen in various moods deep and silent in the lower plains, but at Gangotri, Bhagirathi is gurgling, tossing, frothing and singing an ecslatic melody. Bhagirthi is quite different from Alaknanda, Saraswati and Yamuna, so the water ofGangotri is carried to Rameshwaram in south India and offered to Lord Shiva. There are also a few Ashrams and Dharamshalas on the left bank of Bhagirathi.

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Yamunotri

The Temple of Yamuna ji is the main temple of worship. Near this temple there are a few hot water springs where the water rushes out of the mountain cavities at boiling point. Surya-Kund is the most important kund. A pinch of rice or potatoes, tied loosely in a cloth, are dipped in it and after a few minutes when taken out completely cooked. These are taken home as prasad. Near the Surya Kund there is a shila called Divya-Shila which is worshipped before puja is offered to Yamunaji.

Nearby is the Jamuna Bai Kund-built about 75 years ago-which is used for a holy bath. The water is pleasantly warm and relaxing.

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Road to Yamunotri

Yamunotri, at an altitude of 3235 metres in the Garhwal Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand, India, is the birthplace of the second sacred-most river in India, the Yamuna or Jamuna. Running 1370 km through Delhi, Vrindavan, Mathura & Agra the river Yamuna finally ends by joining the river Ganga or Ganges at Allahabad in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Through the ages Hindus from all over the world regard a journey to the birthplaces of these two sacred rivers a highly rewarding pilgrimage.
The journey to Yamunotri starts at Haridwar at the base of the Himalayas. Yamunotri is about 220 km from Haridwar. Motorable road runs through beautiful mountains & valleys upto Janki Chatti(2595 metres). From there the pilgrims trek (or take ponies or pallanquins) for the rest 7 km of the mountainous track to Yamunotri. The trek is a bit tough, but the beauty of the mountains & the young river Yamuna is simply breathtaking.
At Yaminotri there are 3 hot springs, one of which named Surya Kund is very hot (190 degrees Farenheit). Pilgrims take a holy dip in the other (less hot!) hot spring & then worship the DIVYA SHILA, a small rock from the cracks of which water comes bubbling out (considered a source of the river). The actual origin of the river is from the Champasar glacier about 2 km from this place high up in the mountain Bandarpunch.
There is also a temple of the goddess Yamuna, considered to be the spiritual image of the river named after this goddess.
In Hindu mythology, Yamuna is the daughter of Surya the Sungod, & the sister of Yama, the god of death. A dip in this holy river is said to be capable of freeing a person from thye tormenting fear of death.