Shree Gangotri – Badrinath Yatra Ex Delhi

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: Delhi – Haridwar (230 kms/6-7hrs)

Arrival Delhi Airport / Railway Station, Meet & Assist further drive to Haridwar. Transfer to your Hotel. Visit Har-ki-Pauri for Ganga Aarti in evening. Back to your hotel, Night halt.

Haridwar, lying at the feet of Shiva’s hills, i.e., Shivaliks, in the Haridwar district of Uttaranchal Pradesh, is a doorway. Suryavanshi prince Bhagirath performed penance here to salvage the souls of his ancestors who had perished due to the curse of sage Kapila. The penance was answered and the river Ganga trickled forth forms Lord Shiva’s locks and its bountiful water revived the sixty thousand sons of king Sagara. In the traditional of Bhagirath, devout Hindus stand in the sacred waters here, praying for salvation of their departed elder. It is doorway to the sources of the Ganga and the Yamuna, 3000 to 4500 meters up into the snowy ranges of the central Himalayas. The ‘Aarti’ worship of the Ganga after sunset and the floating ‘dia’ (lamp) is a moving ritual.

Day 02: Haridwar – Uttarkashi (170 km/6-7 hrsapprox)

After breakfast, proceed to Uttarkashi. On arrival check-in at hotel.Evening visit to Vishwanath Temple, EkadashRudra, Bhairav, Gyaneshwar and Goddess Kuteti Devi etc.Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03: 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 04: Uttarkashi – Rudraprayag (175 km/6 hrsapprox)

After breakfast, proceed to Rudraprayag. On arrival check-in at hotel.Evening visit to Rudranath and Chamunda Devi, Koteshwar Temple (3 Kms) etc.Overnight stay at hotel.

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

Day 05: Rudraprayag – Badrinath (165kms/7hr)

Drive to Badrinath via Joshimath. Check in Hotel. Later at evening visit Badrinath Temple for Aarti. 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 MurtyTemple : Devoted to the mother of Sri Badrinathji. Other important temples include SeshNetra Temple, Urvashi Temple and Charanpaduka.

ManaVillage : 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. fromBadrinath out of which 2 kms. ismotorableuptoMana.

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 06: 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). 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. 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 neighboringNiti Valley at BhavishyaBadri. Joshimath is connected by regular bus service to Rishikesh, Haridwar, Badrinath and many other centres in the region.

Day 07: Joshimath – Rishikesh (255kms/8-9hr) / Pipalkoti – Rishikesh (210kms/7-8hr) / Kirtinagar – Rishikesh (105kms/3-4hr)

Drive to 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.

Check in Hotel. Later visit Rishikesh Temples & Sight Seeing – LaxmanJhulla, Ram Jhulla, TriveniGhat, Bharat Mandir, Shivananda Ashram, Parmarth Ashram. Overnight stay.

Day 08: Rishikesh – Hardwar – Delhi (250kms/7-8hr)

Drive back to Delhi. On Arr. Delhi, transfer to Railway Station / Airport. Tour Terminate.