BADRINATH KEDARNATH near Place

> DELHI to HARIDWAR (230 KMS / 6 HRS)
On arrival at Delhi Railway Station, you will be met & assisted by our representative. Then you will proceed to Haridwar and check-in to your hotel. In the evening, visit Har-ki-Pauri for Ganga Aarti. Back to your hotel, Overnight stay at Haridwar.

HARIDWAR: Haridwar stands for Dwar of Hari or Gateway to God, 'Hari' meaning god and 'dwar' meaning gate. Suryavanshi Prince Bhagirath performed penance here to salvage the souls of his ancestors who had perished due to the curse of sage Kapila, a tradition continued by thousands of devout Hindus, who bring the ashes of their departed family members, in hope of their salvation. The evening Aarti – a prayer offered to Goddess Ganga at Har-Ki-Pauri is an experience of a lifetime. After the ceremony, pilgrims float diyas (floating lamps) and incense on the river, remembering their deceased ancestors.

TEMPLES and SIGHTSEEING – Har-ki-Pauri, Chandi Devi & Mansa Devi Temple, Daksha Mahadev Temple, Bilkeshwar Mahadev, Anandmai Ashram, Pawan Dham, Bhooma Niketan, Vaishno Devi Temple, Doodhadhari Temple & Bharat Mata Mandir.

DAY 2: HARIDWAR - RUDRAPRAYAG (160 KMS / 5 HRS)
In the morning, proceed for local sightseeing at Haridwar. Later drive to Rudraprayag, enroute visit Deoprayag. Overnight stay at Rudraprayag.

TEMPLES: Rudranath and Chamunda Devi, Koteshwar Temple (3 kms)

RUDRAPRAYAG: It,s confluence of river Mandakini and river Alaknanda.


DAY 3: RUDRAPRAYAG - KEDARNATH (75 KMS BY ROAD & 14 KMS TREK)
Morning drive to Gaurikund, trek starts from Gaurikund to Kedarnath (3584 mts) on foot or on by pony / Doli. Check-in to your hotel at Kedarnath. Later visit Kedarnath Temple. Overnight stay at Kedarnath.

GAURIKUND: At a distance of 5 kms 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 remaining 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 Panch Kedar.

>KEDARNATH to RUDRAPRAYAG (14 KMS DOWN TREK & 75 KMS / 3 HRS BY ROAD)
Early morning, after Temple Darshan trek down to Gaurikund. Later, drive to Rudraprayag via Guptkashi. Check-in to your hotel at Rudraprayag. Overnight stay at Rudraprayag.

>RUDRAPRAYAG to BADRINATH (165 KMS / 7 HRS)
Drive to Badrinath via Joshimath. Check-in to your hotel. Later in the evening, visit Badrinath Temple for Aarti. Overnight stay at Badrinath.

BADRINATH is 1 of the <Four Dhams> that 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".

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

NARAD KUND: A recess in the river, near Tapt Kund, forming a pool from where the Badrinath idol was recovered.

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

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

CHARANPADUKA: 3 kms 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 Sesh Netra 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 motorable upto Mana.

BHIM PUL: 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.

VYAS GUFA (CAVE): Near Mana Village, this is a rock-cave where Ved Vyas is believed to have composed the Mahabharata and the pauranic commentaries.

> BADRINATH - JOSHIMATH (44 KMS / 3 HRS) / KIRTINAGAR (200 KMS / 8 HRS)
Early morning, pilgrims after bathing in the Taptkund can go for the Darshan of Badrivishal. Brahamakapal is significant for Pinddan Shraddh of ancestors (Pitrus). There are other interesting sight seeing spot like Mana, Vyas Gufa, Maatamoorti, Charanpaduka, Bhimkund and the "Mukh" of the Saraswati River, just within 3 kms of Badrinath jee. Later drive back to Joshimath/Kirtinagar. Check-in to your hotel. Overnight stay at Joshimath/Kirtinagar.

JOSHIMATH: It is situated on the slopes above the confluence of Alaknanda and Dhauliganga. Of the four 'Maths' established by Adi Shankaracharya, 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 Bhavishya Badri.

> JOSHIMATH - RISHIKESH (254 KMS / 8 HRS) / KIRTINAGAR – RISHIKESH (100 KMS / 3.5 HRS)
Early morning, visit the Narsingh Temple & Shankracharaya Math. Later, drive back to Rishikesh. Check-in to your hotel. Overnight stay at Rishikesh.

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 difficult penances, God appeared by the name of "Hrishikesh" and this area hence forth came to be known as Rishikesh.

TEMPLES & SIGHTSEEING – Laxman Jhulla, Ram Jhulla, Triveni Ghat, Bharat Mandir, Shivananda Ashram, Parmarth Ashram.

>RISHIKESH to DELHI an DELHI to RISHIKESH  (230 KMS / 7 HRS)
In the morning, proceed for local sightseeing at Rishikesh. Later drive back to Delhi. On arrival at Delhi, you will be transferred to the Railway Station / Airport.