Gangotri – Kedarnath – Badrinath Ex-Haridwar

Destination : Kalimpong | Gangtok

NEAREST AIRPORT	NEAREST RAIaLWAY STATION	DEPARTS	ARRIVES	DURATION
Bagdogra Airport	New Jal Paiguri	Everyday	Everyday	04N/05D

Kalimpong is a hill station in the Mahabharat Range in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located at an average elevation of 1250 metres(4101ft). The town is the headquarters of the Kalimpong subdivision, a part of the district of Darjeeling.

Gangtok - The precise meaning of the name Gangtok is unclear, though the most popular meaning is “hill top”.Today, Gangtok is a centre of Tibetan Buddhist culture and learning, with the presence of several monasteries, religious educational institutions, and centres for Tibetology.

Day 01: Haridwar – Uttarkashi (190kms/6hr)

Pickup from Haridwar Railway Station / Doiwala Airport, later drive to Uttarkashi. Check in Hotel, Later visit Vishwanath Temple. Night Halt.

Uttarkashi: Situated at the bank of river Bhagirathi. The temple of Lord Vishwanath is located here where a massive iron trident is erected.

Day 02: Uttarkashi – Gangotri – Uttarkashi (100kms/3-4 each side)

We proceed to Gangotri (3048 mts), enroute we enjoy picturesque Harsil village, Bhagirathi River and the most magnificent view of the Himalayas. After GangotriDarshan we return to Uttarkashi. Oernight stay at Uttarkashi.

Gangotri Temple: The temple, constructed by the Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa in the 18th Century, is situated on the right bank of Bhagirathi.

Submerged Shivling: Submerged in the river, this natural rock Shivling is the place where, according to mythology Lord Shiva sat when he received the Ganga in his matted lock. It is visible in winter months when water level decreases.

Kedar Ganga Sangam: Around 100 Yards from the Ganga Temple flows the river Kedar Ganga. Starting from the Kedar Valle, this river meets the Bhagirathi on its left bank..

Day 03: Uttarkashi – Guptkashi (220kms/8-9hr)

Early morning, drive straight to Guptkashi. Check in Hotel, night halt.

Day 04: Guptkashi – Kedarnath (30kms by road & 14kms Trek)

Morning drive to Gaurikund, Trek start from Gaurikund to Kedarnath (3584 mts) on foot or on by pony / Doli. Tour members should carry personal medicines, heavy woolen, toiletries and clothes for an overnight halt at Kedarnath. Check in Hotel. Later visit Kedarnath Temple. Night halt. 

Gaurikund: At a distance of 5kms from Sonprayag and at an altitude of 1982 meters., one can take bath in the hot water pond here and visit the Gauri Temple. This is the place where Goddess Parvathi meditated to attain Lord Shiva. It is the base for a trek to Kedarnath.

Kedarnath: The Kedarnath shrine, one of the 12 jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, is a scenic spot situated, against the backdrop of the majestic Kedarnath range. Kedar is another name of Lord Shiva, the protector and the destroyer. According to legend, the Pandavas after having won over the Kaurava in the Kurukshetra war, felt guilty of having killed their own brothers and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. He eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being followed he dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface. The r! emaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four other places and are worshipped there as his manifestations. The arms appeared at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at Madhmaheshwar and his locks (hair) with head at Kalpeshwar. Kedarnath and the four above-mentioned shrines are treated as PanchKedar.

Day 05: Kedarnath – Rudraprayag (14Kms Down Trek & 75kms/3hr by Road)

Early morning, after Temple Darshan trek down to Gaurikund. Later, drive to Rudraprayag via Guptkashi. Check in Hotel at Rudraprayag. Night Halt.

Rudraprayag: It is the confluence of river Mandakini and river Alaknanda.

Day 06: Rudraprayag – Badrinath (165kms/7hr)

Drive to Badrinath via Joshimath. Check in Hotel. Later visit Badrinath Temple, There are other interesting sight seeing spot like Mana, VyasGufa, Maatamoorti, Charanpaduka, Bhimkund and the “Mukh” of the Saraswati River. Just within the three kms of Badrinathjee. Overnight stay.

Badrinath one of the ‘Four Dhams’ is one of the most celebrated pilgrimage spots of the country and is situated at an elevation of 3,133 meters, guarded on either side by the two mountain ranges known as Nar & Narayan with the towering Neelkanth Peak providing a splendid backdrop. This revered spot was once carpeted with wild berries. Thus the place got the name “Badri van”, meaning “forest of berries”.

TaptKund : Natural thermal springs on the bank of the river Alaknanda, where it is customary to bathe before entering the Badrinath temple.

NaradKund : A recess in the river, near TaptKund, forming a pool from where the Badrinath idol was recovered.

BrahamaKapal : A flat platform on the bank of river Alaknanda. Hindus perform proppitiating rites for their deceased ancestors.

Sheshnetra : 1.5kms. away is a boulder having an impression of the legendary serpent, better known as the Sheshnag’s eye.

Charanpaduka : 3kms. away is a beautiful meadow where the footprint of Lord Vishnu is seen on a boulder.

Mata Murty Temple : Devoted to the mother of Sri Badrinathji. Other important temples include SeshNetra Temple, Urvashi Temple and Charanpaduka.

Mana Village : Inhabited by an Indo-Mongolian tribe, it is the last Indian village before Tibet.

Vasundhara : As the name suggests, vasundhara is a magnificent water fall. This place is 5 kms. from Badrinath out of which 2 kms. is motorableuptoMana.

BhimPul : On the other side of Mana village, a massive rock forming a natural bridge, lies over the roaring Saraswati river. It presents a spectacular view of water thundering down through the narrow passage under the rock and is believed to have been placed there by Bhim, the second eldest among the five Pandava brothers.

VyasGufa (cave) : Near Mana Village, this is a rock-cave where VedVyas is believed to have composed the Mahabharata and the pauranic commentaries.

Day 07: Badrinath – Joshimath (44kms/3hr) / Pipalkoti (85kms/4hr) / Kirtinagar (200kms/7-8hr) 

Early morning, pilgrims after having a bath in the Taptkund have the Darshan of Badrivishal. Brahamakapal is significant for PinddanShraddh of ancestors (Pitrus). Later drive back to Joshimath / Pipalkoti / Kirtinagar. Check in Hotel. Overnight stay.

Joshimath is situated on the slopes above the confluence of Alaknanda and Dhauliganga. Of the four ‘Maths’ established by AdiShankaracharya, Joshimath is in the Badrinath to Joshimath and installed in the temple for people to worship. There are many temples in the township most important is the temple of Nir Singh in commotion of Lord Vishnu. The left arm of this deity is with time and the popular belief holds that the day the the arm completely withers Badrinath valley will cease to exist and the Gods will transfer the residence into the neighboring Niti Valley at BhavishyaBadri. Joshimath is connected by regular bus service to Rishikesh, Haridwar, Badrinath and many other centres in the region.

Day 08: Joshimath – Haridwar (276kms/8-9hr) / Pipalkoti – Haridwar (235kms/7-8hr) / Kirtinagar – Haridwar (135kms/4hr)

Drive to Haridwarenroute visit Rishikesh Sight Seeing. Later transfer to Haridwar Railway Station. Tour End

Rishikesh, the ‘place of sages’ is a celebrated spiritual town on the bank of Ganga  and is surrounded by Shivalik range of the Himalayas on three sides. It is said that when Raibhya Rishi did hard penances, God appeared by the name of ” Hrishikesh ” and this area hence firth came to be known as Rishikesh.