Kedarnath Badrinath Tour

DAILY FILM DOSE: A Daily Film Appreciation and Review Blog: THE LONG TAKE

2011-08-12T03:07:00.000-07:00

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2011-08-11T04:37:00.000-07:00

hello, this is very good information for me i am looking for it i have search many websites,but know i get the actual information thanks.Kashmir,glory of India, is poetry of nature. The beauty of Kashmir has always attracted travelers and emperors alike to appreciate the enchanting wonder that Kashmir is. A Kashmir Tour Packages is an experience of a lifetime, unforgettable in every way. The Kashmir holidays experience is no less splendid than a most beautiful dream, the kind of which we see with our eyes open. From the quiet sunset on Dal Lake in Srinagar to the thrilling rush of white water rafting adventure sports of Gulmarg, Kashmir has a plethora of unforgettable experiences to offer to the traveler. In fact, the beauty of Kashmir can be summarized into three distinct categories, the foothill plains of Jammu, the beautiful lakes and valleys of Kashmir (Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Pahalgam, Srinagar etc) and the magnificent mountains of Ladakh and Leh. This is the reason we offer tour packages encompassing these three distinct regions of Kashmir. Kashmir is also a holy land with pilgrims visiting the Amaranth Siva-Linga made of ice and also the Vaishno Devi temple pilgrimage. Therefore, if you are a pilgrim to Kashmir, you should choose the tour package that takes you on your pilgrimage.

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2011-08-11T03:56:00.000-07:00

cool travel guide: Mallorca’s most appealling beaches, part 2

2011-08-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

hello, this is very good information for me i am looking for it i have search many websites,but know i get the full information thanks.Kashmir,glory of India, is poetry of nature. The beauty of Kashmir has always attracted travelers and emperors alike to appreciate the enchanting wonder that Kashmir is. A Kashmir Tour Packages is an experience of a lifetime, unforgettable in every way. The Kashmir holidays experience is no less splendid than a most beautiful dream, the kind of which we see with our eyes open. From the quiet sunset on Dal Lake in Srinagar to the thrilling rush of white water rafting adventure sports of Gulmarg, Kashmir has a plethora of unforgettable experiences to offer to the traveler. In fact, the beauty of Kashmir can be summarized into three distinct categories, the foothill plains of Jammu, the beautiful lakes and valleys of Kashmir (Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Pahalgam, Srinagar etc) and the magnificent mountains of Ladakh and Leh. This is the reason we offer tour packages encompassing these three distinct regions of Kashmir. Kashmir is also a holy land with pilgrims visiting the Amaranth Siva-Linga made of ice and also the Vaishno Devi temple pilgrimage. Therefore, if you are a pilgrim to Kashmir, you should choose the tour package that takes you on your pilgrimage.

WILD LIFE: African Animals - African Lions

2011-08-10T04:54:00.000-07:00

Kashmir, the crowning glory of India, is poetry of nature. The beauty of Kashmir has always attracted travelers and emperors alike to appreciate the enchanting wonder that Kashmir is. A Kashmir Tour Packages is an experience of a lifetime, unforgettable in every way. The Kashmir holidays experience is no less splendid than a most beautiful dream, the kind of which we see with our eyes open. From the quiet sunset on Dal Lake in Srinagar to the thrilling rush of white water rafting adventure sports of Gulmarg, Kashmir has a plethora of unforgettable experiences to offer to the traveler. In fact, the beauty of Kashmir can be summarized into three distinct categories, the foothill plains of Jammu, the beautiful lakes and valleys of Kashmir (Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Pahalgam, Srinagar etc) and the magnificent mountains of Ladakh and Leh. This is the reason we offer tour packages encompassing these three distinct regions of Kashmir. Kashmir is also a holy land with pilgrims visiting the Amaranth Siva-Linga made of ice and also the Vaishno Devi temple pilgrimage. Therefore, if you are a pilgrim to Kashmir, you should choose the tour package that takes you on your pilgrimage.

Amarnath Yatra

2011-08-05T08:29:00.000-07:00

pilgrims of Amarnath

SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI: The unprecedented rush of pilgrims to Amarnath this year has contributed to the ice Shivling in the holy mountain cave completely melting away more than 10 days before the end of the yatra.

The Amarnath shrine board confirmed that the ice stalagmite, which was particularly well-formed this year and stood 15 feet high when the yatra began on June 29, had melted away.

The premature melting is being attributed to heat produced inside the cave due to the presence of a record number of pilgrims.<Amarnath Yatra>

Officials said around 6.15 lakh people have so far completed the annual pilgrimage, the highest in the yatra's history. Unofficial sources put the number at more than 7 lakh.

High temperatures in Kashmir over the past few weeks also seem to have played a part in the melting of the naturally forming stalagmite inside the cave at a height of 3,880 metres in the Great Himalayan range of west Kashmir.

"Early melting of the lingam is not unusual. In 2007, it had melted by July 2. Last year, it was gone by around July 30. This is a natural phenomenon and it will not dampen the spirit of the devotees," said Preet Pal Singh, additional chief executive officer of the Amarnath shrine board.

The lingam's disappearance was corroborated by devotees near the cave shrine. "I visited the holy cave on Monday last week. The Shivling then was just around 2 feet high. By the end of the week, we heard from visitors that Lord Shiva had left for his Kailash Mansarovar abode (meaning the lingam had disappeared)," said Sunil Kumar on phone from Panchtarni, 6km away from the shrine. Kumar is president of a Chandigarh-based organization that runs a community kitchen for pilgrims.

The shrine board authorities have been blamed for violating the recommendations of the Nitesh Sengupta committee that had proposed allowing no more than around 5,000 pilgrims each day into the cave. At the height of the yatra in the first half of July, about 25,000 yatris were visiting the shrine each day, leading to dangerous overcrowding in the high mountain paths.

According to an update released early last week, 82 people had died in less than a month of the yatra, most of them due to heart-related ailments but some also because of injuries. Last year, 68 people had died during the entire two-month period of the pilgrimage.

The yatra ends on Shravan Purnima on August 13, which coincides with the Raksha Bandhan festival.

Taj Mahal Really story

2011-06-24T00:19:00.000-07:00

This historical summary of the Taj-Mahal story must be regarded with scepticism. It is highly probable that it is somewhat inaccurate and possible that it is totally misleading. For example, a certain Professor Oak (in his book "The Taj Mahal Really Story") puts forward persuasive evidence, observations and interpretation that suggest the monument was originally a Hindu temple, palace of Tejo Mahalaya (Shiva), built long before the Shah Jahan came to power and that it was taken over by Jahan and 'developed' into, approximately, what we see today. Allegedly, Indira Gandhi's government tried to ban this book and some would say the Indian government has been politically motivated in suppressing this theory. Certainly the Taj Mahal is a great tourist money spinner with its present dramatic and romantic aura: the asset value might be greatly diminished if Oak's alternative account is correct. Furthermore, it is argued, publicising this 'true story' might alienate a substantial tranche of the electorate: the Muslims. There are chambers in the monument which, it seems, have remained unopened since Shah Jahan's time and which the professor believes could provide evidence to prove the account one way or another. Allegedly the Indian government will not allow an independent investigation within these chambers, and if that is the case it raises suspicions as to their motives. You must form your own opinion.
We are academic engineers, better at producing summaries and reports than historical research so what is offered here is a light hearted summary based on variants of the traditional story, inspired by our own encounter in 1976. It may be that we are describing a myth but it still makes a beautiful 'tale'.
The Tale:
The Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India must be one of the most magnificent and wondrous monuments created by man. We have been there and regard it as literally breathtaking, being the most beautiful, astonishing and inspiring sights that we have had the privilege of beholding. The focal point of the monument is constructed in white marble extravagantly inlaid with semi-precious stones and with calligraphed verses from the Quran (Koran). Major parts of the surrounding construction are built from sandstone, distinctively coloured red, in keeping with many other notable buildings of the district and period. The architectural style is Persian but possibly surpasses any other of similar style at any time, in any part of the world, displaying an incredible intricacy of form and decoration throughout its huge entirety. It has become quite understandably a major tourist attraction and the area caters for international sight-seeing visitors with travel facilities, accommodation and formal tours. Yet none of this commercialisation detracts from the impressive spectacle. That summarises what the Taj Mahal is, but lets move on to recount why its there and how it became so exceptional.

The Taj' had its origins, so it is said, with one of the most romantic, but tragic, love stories of all times. It is surprising that the largely Hindu population perpetuates the romantic view (our experience indicated quite strongly that they do) since the hero and heroine are Muslims, the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal. The Mughals (or Mongols) were historically ruthless conquerors and empire builders who, amongst many other radical activities, discriminated against the Hindus. It must be said, however, that while the Shah Jahan and his grandfather (Akbar) were military rulers and the lavish style of Jahan impoverished the country, there was a toleration of the Hindu kingdoms and some outstanding benefits from the Mughal culture. This period (including the reign of Akbar's son, Jahangir) was renowned for its patronage of the arts and its architectural splendour.
Shah Jahan means King of the world and Mumtaz means the chosen one.
The Shah and Mumtaz had a close and loving relationship without doubt; they fell in love at first sight when they were 15, married at 20 (10 May 1612) and in the following 19 years they were inseparable and she bore him 14 children. They were together on a military expedition south of Agra when she had their 14th child, a girl. Tragically she died soon after this birth when she was only 39. Jahan was beside himself with grief and, according to popular history, it was this event which inspired him to create this wonderful monument, the Taj Mahal, as a mausoleum in her memory. There are however other theories which, while not denying the connection with his bereavement nor changing the time-course, throw a different light on his motives. But first things first.

The Taj-Mahal Main Entrance
To understand how Jahan would have been able to carry out this project one has to realise that the Mughals were not only all powerful but seriously rich. Jahan had become Emperor on his father's death in 1627 and the list of his possessions is unbelievable in terms of gold, silver, and precious gems. The making of the Taj' involved an awful lot of skilled workers brought from all parts of the Mughal Empire. The beautiful white marble brought 200 miles from the west is inset with intricately cut gemstones such as Turquoise, Carnelian, Green Jade, Sapphire, Agate, Amethyst and other gems gathered from all over the world. In a remarkably short time the plinth was laid and in 1632 Mumtaz was laid to rest in what would become the centre of the main building. The site was completed c. 1653 and the name is possibly derived from a corruption of Mumtaz ('taz, hence Taj) together with Mahal which means abode (but Professor Oak has an alternative explanation stemming from Shiva's alternate name; Tejo Mahalaya, see the preface above). Next we can look at the evidence of his persona.
Jahan was born in the 1000th year of Islam which he considered to be a significant date. Together with this and because he was the King of the largest empire in the world with virtually infinite riches and power he regarded himself almost as divine. At this time his palace was the Red Fort in Delhi and his vanity and arrogance seem to be generally accepted by historians. He had a fetish for thrones including perhaps one of the most famous, the Peacock Throne which was encrusted with jewels including the Koh-i-noor diamond [The British Queen has that now; its been with our Royal family for 150 years or so]. Other evidence of his self importance were the titles he gave himself. These included "Lord of the Age", "Shadow of God", "August Representative of God on Earth" and these are considered to be very important by modern researchers in analysing his motives for the particular construction of the Taj Mahal. He was indeed vainglorious and it is now believed he saw himself as the perfect man. At least he seemed to think he was God's representative on earth and it has even been suggested that he viewed himself as a rival to God. Now for a bit of speculation.

Taj Mahal and Water
Having interred Mumtaz in the Taj Mahal mausoleum, there is some evidence that he planned a mirror image of the white Taj across the other side of the river Jumna but one which would be built with black marble. It has been suggested that he had this in mind for his own mausoleum, but to us this begs the question as to why he should have constructed the 'white' Taj with so much attention to its heavenly detail if it was not intended for himself as well as 'taz (the next paragraph explains the reasoning behind our scepticism). Current research has unearthed foundations and an outline of a planned garden exactly where this 'black 'Taj might have been, which could conceivably support this theory but further investigations have thrown doubt on this speculation. For example, Monty Don ('Around the World in 80 Gardens', BBC 2, 10 February 2008) argued that this site was simply a garden from which the 'Taj could be observed. So let us get back to the story.The symbol of love .
Leaving aside the unsubstantiated hypothesis of the Black Mahal, the design of the actual Taj Mahal site and the inscriptions which adorn its structures are now considered to be quite significant in the context of his vainglory. Unlike previous mausoleums where the body was laid in the centre of the gardens the Taj Mahal focus is located at the far point of the site. An Islamic academic treatise existed in his time which laid out the predicted plan of the assembly on The Day of Judgement. Comparison of this plan with the layout of the Taj Mahal gardens shows remarkable similarities, so it has been argued. The sites display, amongst other things, four rivers, a tank of abundance and the Throne of God in very similar layouts. The inscriptions adorning the Mahal contain more than twenty different passages and more than ten complete chapters from the Koran starting with a very significant one around the main gate and culminating in the burial chamber. Putting these indicators together certainly seems to suggest that he was creating at least a replica of heaven. Whatever the truth, a second tragedy was about to befall him and this one was particularly horrible because it was vicious and premeditated.
It seems that The Shah and 'taz had four sons and several years after the completion of the Taj Mahal, Jahan fell ill. The four sons entered into conflict and 3 of these sons were killed leaving only Aurangzeb who took advantage and deposed his dad c. 1658. The Shah Jahan was imprisoned in the Agra Fort until his death. We have heard two versions of this phase of the Shah's life. According to the Hindu youngster who recounted the story to us in 1976 Jahan was incarcerated in a cell where he was able to view his great creation, the Taj, only through a mirror on the wall. The BBC/Time Life account however describes what could better be called house arrest. The Agra Fort would have been a pleasant place to be restrained and he was allowed all his wives and concubines. He shared this retreat with one of his daughters and could view the Taj without difficulty, albeit from some distance. When he was 74 he died but apparently this was from a massive overdose of aphrodisiac [unfortunately history does not identify the substance which seems to have been particularly effective]. Certainly, if the BBC/Time Life account is to be believed, there are worse ways to spend the last 8 years of ones life. The story then rounds off by stating that his daughter spirited his body away across the river Jumna and laid him to rest in the Taj Mahal alongside 'taz [frankly, it is difficult to believe that this was a secret happening and presumably it was blessed by Aurangzeb but then we couldn't know].

Summary
The Shah Jahan despite a traumatic bereavement was exceedingly rich, extremely powerful, infinitely vainglorious and appears to have had unlimited sexual satisfaction. To top this he created one of the greatest existing unofficial wonders of the world. What a memorable life!
Epilogue:
Aurangzeb imposed stricter Muslim rules at the court and gave himself the grand title of Alamgir (Conqueror of the World) and became perhaps the most expansionist emperor of the sequence. He created a period of great wealth, however, his particular brand of expansion led to over extension of his power base and constant rebellions and the empire crumbled after his death in 1707.

Taj Mahal in India

2011-06-21T00:21:00.000-07:00

Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world, and some Western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed. The Taj is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals, the Muslim rulers of India. Taj Mahal is built entirely of white marble. Its stunning architectural beauty is beyond adequate description, particularly at dawn and sunset. The Taj seems to glow in the light of the full moon. On a foggy morning, the visitors experience the Taj as if suspended when viewed from across the Jamuna river. <Taj Mahal in India> Symbols of love
Taj Mahal was built by a Muslim, Emperor Shah Jahan (died 1666 C.E.) in the memory of his dear wife and queen Mumtaz Mahal at Agra, India. It is an "elegy in marble" or some say an expression of a "dream." Taj Mahal (meaning Crown Palace) is a Mausoleum that houses the grave of queen Mumtaz Mahal at the lower chamber. The grave of Shah Jahan was added to it later. The queen’s real name was Arjumand Banu. In the tradition of the Mughals, important ladies of the royal family were given another name at their marriage or at some other significant event in their lives, and that new name was commonly used by the public. Shah Jahan's real name was Shahab-ud-din, and he was known as Prince Khurram before ascending to the throne in 1628.
Taj Mahal was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty thousand workers. It was completed in 1648 C.E. at a cost of 32 Million Rupees. The construction documents show that its master architect was Ustad ‘Isa, the renowned Islamic architect of his time. The documents contain names of those employed and the inventory of construction materials and their origin. Expert craftsmen from Delhi, Qannauj, Lahore, and Multan were employed. In addition, many renowned Muslim craftsmen from Baghdad, Shiraz and Bukhara worked on many specialized tasks.
The Taj stands on a raised, square platform (186 x 186 feet) with its four corners truncated, forming an unequal octagon. The architectural design uses the interlocking arabesque concept, in which each element stands on its own and perfectly integrates with the main structure. It uses the principles of self-replicating geometry and a symmetry of architectural elements.
Its central dome is fifty-eight feet in diameter and rises to a height of 213 feet. It is flanked by four subsidiary domed chambers. The four graceful, slender minarets are 162.5 feet each. The entire mausoleum (inside as well as outside) is decorated with inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy using precious gems such as agate and jasper. The main archways, chiseled with passages from the Holy Qur’an and the bold scroll work of flowery pattern, give a captivating charm to its beauty. The central domed chamber and four adjoining chambers include many walls and panels of Islamic decoration.
The mausoleum is a part of a vast complex comprising of a main gateway, an elaborate garden, a mosque (to the left), a guest house (to the right), and several other palatial buildings. The Taj is at the farthest end of this complex, with the river Jamuna behind it. The large garden contains four reflecting pools dividing it at the center. Each of these four sections is further subdivided into four sections and then each into yet another four sections. Like the Taj, the garden elements serve like Arabesque, standing on their own and also constituting the whole.

Yatra of Kedarnath

2011-06-20T01:24:00.000-07:00

Kedarnath is a holy town of the Hindus and is located in Uttarakhand. It is a nagar panchayat located in the Rudraprayag district. It's also the remotest of all the char dham sites, located at 3,584 metres above sea level. The Kedarnath temple was built back in the 8th century AD by Adi Shankaracharya and it stands side by side to the temple that was built by the Pandavas. Yatra of Kedarnath

It is surrounded by some of the most beautiful snow capped mountains. Kedarnath attracts tourists from all over the country and abroad and is a very popular destination. The famed Jyotilirlingam is located here amidst the beautiful mountains and the majestic beauty of the Kedarnath. During the winter season, the Kedarnath shrine is submerged in snow and hence, remains closed. There is a 14 kms. long stretch after which the visitor reaches Kedarnath.

According to legends, after the Pandavas won over the Kauravas in the war of Kurukshetra, they felt guilty of having kiled their own brothers. They went on and wanted the blessings of Lord Shiva as redemption. However, Lord Shiva kept eluding them and went on and took refuge in Kedarnath in the form of a bull. But, since he was followed, he dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface. It is said that the remaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four other places and are worshipped as manifestations.

Lord Shiva manifested in the form of Jyotirlingam or the cosmic light. Kedarnath is highest among the 12 Jyotirlingas. This ancient and magnificient temple is located in the Rudra Himalaya range. This temple, over a thousand years old is built of massive stone slabs over a large rectangular platform. Ascending through the large gray steps leading to the holy sanctums we find inscriptions in Pali on the steps. This temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya.The inner walls of the temple sanctum are adorned with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. The origin of the revered temple can be found in the great epic - Mahabharata. According to legends, the Pandavas sought the blessings of lord Shiva to atone their sin after the battle of Mahabharata. Lord Shiva eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being followed, he dived into ground leaving behind his hump on the surface. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form. The temple, believed to be very ancient, has been continually renovated over the centuries. It is situated at an altitude of 3,581 mt. It is a 14 km trek from Gaurikund.

Yatra of Vrindavan, Mathura

2011-06-17T21:54:00.000-07:00

Mathura-Vrindavan

The famous city of Uttar Pradesh, India, Mathura, is an abode of much revered shrines. The temple tour in Mahura is surely to fill one with spirituality and harmony. The beautiful temples are not only haven for the pilgrims but have a long trail of history associated with them. The Padma Purana also maintains that by residing one day in Mathura, devotees can attain Hari bhakti.

There are quite a few legends associated with Mathura and Vrindavan. According to one, Mathura was founded in the Treta Yuga by Shatrughna, the younger brother of Lord Rama. The other legend associates Mathura with the King Kans (in the Mahabharata era), the maternal uncle of Lord Krishna. According to Hindu mythology, Kans heard a divine prophecy saying that he would be killed by his sister Devki's eighth son. Hence, he imprisoned his sister Devki and her husband Vasudeva and kept on killing their children one after another.

During the birth of Lord Krishna, miraculously all guards went to sleep, prison gates opened and Vasudeva was able to carry his son to Gokul crossing the wild river Yamuna in the mid night. The divine prophecy came true and Krishna killed tyrant Kans and ruled Mathura for a long time. Vrindavan is the place where Lord Krishna spent his childhood leaving a number of myths and legends of love and friendship behind.

A lot of people from different countries, who believe in Hinduism, also visit Mathura Vrindavan. The atmosphere of both Mathura and Vrindavan is very divine. Sounds like “Hare Rama, Hare Krishna” can be heard numerous times from different corners in Mathura and Vrindavan. Madan Mohan temple, Banke Bihari temple, Shah ji temple, Jaipur temple and Radha Vallabh temple are some of the most famous temples present in Vrindavan. Kans tila, Krishnajanambhoomi, Durvasa rishi Ashram and Dwarikadhesh temple are some of the tourist attractions of Mathura. Winters months are considered best to visit both Mathura and Vrindavan.

Mathura and Vrindavan are closely associated with the birth and childhood of Lord Krishna, the guide, philosopher, lover and supreme. Also known as Braj Bhumi, Mathura and Vrindavan are still alive with the Krishna legend. Mathura, a non-descript village on the bank of the Yamuna, was transformed into a place of light and pilgrimage after Krishna was born here. Vrindavan, some 15 km away from Mathura is the place where Krishna spent most of his childhood, serenading gopis and showing miracles one moment, and killing demons the next.

Delhi to Mathura

In the morning drive to Mathura – city associated with the most revered of Hindu Gods – Lord Krishna , which is sacred being the birth place of Lord Krishna. The surroundings ‘ Braj Bhoomi ’ is where Lord Krishna is supposed to have grown up. On arrival , check in at hotel. In the afternoon visit in Vrindavan, Govind Dev Temple, Rangaji Temple – Vrindavan’s longest temple constructed in 1851 with a 50 feet tall ‘ Dhwaja St ambha ’ believed to be gold – plated. Continue to Madan Mohan Temple situated near Kali Ghat , Glass Temple and the Bankey Bihari Temple – one of the oldest temples built in 1921. In the evening back to hotel. Overnight at hotel..

The great Taj Mahal in Agra

2011-06-15T02:53:00.000-07:00

The great Taj Mahal in Agra

Agra, is one of the beautiful city is situated on the banks of holy river Yamuna. Agra is the third largest city in the state of Utter Pradesh in India and a prominent tourist destination in the country. Millions of tourists visit Agra from all across the world every year to see the beauty of majestic Taj Mahal and other historical monument lying every where in the city. Agra is primarily witness of Mughal architectural excellence and their love for structural designs. Agra is also a prime center of rich cultural heritage and art in India. No trip to India can be considered as complete without visiting to Agra.

Agra hosts the beautiful wonder of the world the great Taj Mahal. This is a mausoleum of the King Shah Jahan’s beloved wife Mumtaj Mahal. The construction of Taj Mahal was begun in 1630 and took
23 years to complete in the year 1653. Made up of white marble, Taj Mahal Agra changes its shades through out the day with the sun light. Taj Mahal in Agra is a symbol of a man’s ever lasting love for his wife. Now after three centuries since its construction, Taj Mahal has been seen by millions of people from all across the globe and it is still the most attractive monument in the world.

Apart from Taj Mahal, Agra has two other world heritage sites one of them is Red Fort and other is Fatehpur Sikri. The Red Fort Agra is also located on the other side of the river Yamuna and the top of the Fort presents a beautiful view of Taj Mahal. The Red Fort was constructed by the great Mughal King Akbar between 1565 and 1574 but most of the beautification work was done by his son Shah Jahan. Today a major part of the Fort is occupied by the armed forces and is closed for public. Etmad-Ud-Daulah and Sikandra are other two important sites to be visited in Agra.

The culture of Agra can be seen at its best in Agra’s festivals. If you are visiting Agra in the month of February then you must see the grand festival of Taj Mahotsav. This ten day long festival is being organized by Tourism Department every year at Shilpgram near to Taj Mahal. You will see the real culture of Agra in this festival along with exhibitions of art and craft.

After the sight seeing, you should also visit major market in Agra. There are many things available in big markets of tourist interests like marble replica to Taj Mahal. Agra in India has a big handicraft industry and you will find wide variety of handicrafts, carpets and leather items made by traditional craftsmen. Agra does have a well known leather industry in the world and supplies leather goods to the entire world.

If you are visiting Agra India for the first time then tourist offices and authorized travel agencies are good place to gather some basic information about the city to make your Agra Travel comfortable. There are many un-authorized Agra Travel Guide and touts in Agra especially in Taj Mahal area who will try to misguide you. Even auto rickshaw driver are also involved in this and they will try to take you to some specific shops. Hindi is the language of the mass in Agra but Urdu and English are also common. Majority of people in Agra are Hindu but Muslim, Christians and Jains are other minorities.

The general mode of city transport in Agra is by Auto Rickshaw and Cycle Rickshaw which are available very frequently from most of the places in the city. However recently UP Roadways has started city bus service in Agra that covers many public areas. Taxis are also widely available in the city but most of them can be hired from the railway stations and bust stands. The surrounding area of Taj Mahal is motor vehicle free to reduce the pollution so after parking your vehicle in parking area either you can walk to Taj Mahal or take a rickshaw.

Kedarnath tour by helicopter

2011-06-14T02:30:00.000-07:00

Kedarnath Yatra :- pilgrimage tour that takes the pilgrims to the serenity of its temples which are worshipped by the Hindus. This serene and holy destination is located in the gigantic and captivating mountain ranges of Himalayas in Uttarakhand. The pilgrims who visit the holy shrine of Kedarnath strongly believe that it washes away all the sins of human beings and add peace and tranquility in their lives.
The pilgrims from all the nook and corner of the world, desire to visit the holy destination of Kedarnath to fulfill their religious desires on the land of God. The Kedarnath tour by helicopter is the easiest way to explore its natural beauty and religious significance.
The Kedarnath yatra by Helicopter service is accessible for the pilgrims from the holy place of Agastya Muni, which is about 20 Kms away from the Rudraprayag to the shrine of Kedarnath temple. The complete helicopter tour gives the most magnificent and cherishing experience to the tourists.
The visitors that are making a religious visit to the land of Hindu Gods can easily afford and avail its service from Agastya Muni to Kedarnath which hardly takes 45 minutes in the complete travel across the places.
The pilgrims who wish to complete the Yatra but are unable to do so due to their inabilities to travel in trains or walk the complete journey the Kedarnath Yatra by helicopter is at their complete rescue. The pilgrims are officially granted half hour at Kedarnath and those who wish to spend a night in the spirituality and serenity of Kedarnath can stay at some hotel and catch the helicopter next day.
The detailed information on the tranquil and the sacred destination of Kedarnath is as follows:
Kedarnath: The place is believed to be the abode of the great Hindu God- the Lord Shiva. The Kedarnath temple is a beautiful place with the ultimate beauty of its own. The magnificent carvings and simple stones on the walls of temple give a splendid look to the temple and a delightful experience for the pilgrims.
The opening date for the Char Dham Yatra is decided by priests in Ukhimath in the month of May. The best of facilities are provided to the pilgrims to facilitate the Kedarnath Yatra by helicopter. The Kedarnath Dham Yatra by helicopter is the easiest, comfortable and the most privileged service for the visitors as the complete Yatra saves ample time of the tourists.

There are various Helicopter service operators for Kedarnath pilgrimage in Uttrakhand, India. Their packages depends number of persons for the tour. Sri Kedarnath temple is surrounded by the grand mountain getaway of Himalaya to the Kedarnath temple and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Kedar or Lord Shiva. The legend says that, the great Pandavas after having won over the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra war felt accountable of having killed their own brothers and sought the consent of Lord Shiva for salvation. Shri Kedarnath temple is situated at an altitude of 3583 m on the head of river Mandakini. If you are planning for a pilgrimage tour to Shri Kedarnathji, we would like to suggest you something about the Helicopter Service to you. You can purchase one way ticket or round trip ticket and is subject to availability of seats. Agastya Muni (distt. Rudraprayag) is the place where from you can take avail this Helicopter service. There is a limitation of one hand baggage on one flight for the passengers. The passengers are required to follow the security rules and regulation, for the security purpose passengers are not to carry any prohibited items in their baggage. Due to Shri Kedarnath temple is located at on high altitude few passengers my need Oxygen for them and this facility is available at Kedarnath.
For more information about Chardham Yatra browse
The Kedarnath Yatra is a bit difficult Yatra due to complex routes and time consumption. It can be simplified by the helicopter tour. Take the advantage and make your Yatra the most cherishing experience of life.

Shri Badrinath Dham

2011-06-08T21:08:00.000-07:00

---Shri Badrinath Dham

Badrinath, the seat of the god Vishnu in his aspect of Badrinarayan, is the most important of the four sites in India's Char Dham pilgrimage.Situtaed in the hills of Himalaya, at the height of 10,248 feet above sea level. The route to Badrinath is one of the most arduous one due to the lofty hilly terrain, curves and cliffs amidst the most scenically beautiful place on the earth.
The Temple :
The temple's was built by the Kings of Garhwal about two centuries ago.The temple has three sections - Garbhagriha (Sanctum), The Darshan Mandap, and Sabha Mandap. The Garbhagriha (Sanctum) houses Lord Badri Narayan, Kuber (God of wealth), Narad Rishi, Uthavar, Nar & Narayan.
Lord Badri Narayan (also know as Badri Vishal) is armed with Shankh (Conch) and Chakra in two arms in a lifted posture and two arms rested on the lap in Yogamudra.The principal image is of black stone and it represents Vishnu seated in meditative pose. The temple also houses Garuda (Vahana - vehicle of Lord Narayan) and Goddess Mahalaxmi. Also here are the idols of Adi Shankar, Swami Desikan and Shri Ramanujan Guru-Shisya parampara is supposed to have its roots here.The principal image is of black stone and it represents Vishnu seated in meditative pose. The temple also houses Garuda (Vahana - vehicle of Lord Narayan) and Goddess Mahalaxmi.
Places to see in Badrinath:
The pilgrimage centre boasts of two natural hot water springs - Tapt Kund and Surya Kund. The sulphurous waters have a temperature of 54 oC. A bath in these springs is believed to purify the body and soul and is done before visiting the temple.

kllloPanch Badris :
Vishal Badri : Refers to the main Shri Badri Narayan Temple and is considered to be the most sacred.
Yogathyan Badri : Located at a distance of 24 kms from Badri Nath and at 20 kms from Joshimath. This is also the place where Maharaj Pandu (father of the Pandava princes) prayed to Pandukeshwar.
Bhavishya Badri : This is located at 17 kms from Joshimath and is a small village.
Preetha Badri: -Located at 17 kms from Joshimath at a place called Animath. Adi Shankar is believed to have worshipped Lord Badrinath here for some time.
Adi Badri : -This is located at a distance of 16 kms from Karnaprayag. Several temples constructed during Gupt Dynasty are here of which Mana Narayanan temple is considered to be the most popular one.

Village Mana > Vyas Gufa :
This village, located at a distance of 3 kms from Badri is the last Indian Village situated in the Indo-China Border and has gained historical importance on account of Vyas Caves. This village, located on the banks of River Saraswati (only place where this river can be seen) is very beautiful. Vyas Maharishi (Sage), author of Mahabharat is believed to have lived in the caves. These are named after him. It was in these caves, Vyas Maharishi composed the Mahabharata. This was done at the orders of his mentor Kalpatru Maharishi who appeared in his dream. Mahabharata depicts the history of Pandavs, Kauravs including Kurukshetra War and most importantly Bhagawad Gita authored by Krishna (reincarnation of Vishnu). Shri Badrinath DhamGanesh, the son of Shiv & Parvati, is said to have helped Vyas Maharishi in putting this epic in the written form, the beginning of education in written form. In addition to Mahabharat, Vyas Maharishi composed 18 puranas (legendary stories), Brahma Sutras and classified the Hindu Vedas into 4 parts - Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. It is only in this cave that Adi Shankara is believed to have met Vyas Maharishi and discussed his Bhashyam for Brahma Sutras.
Rock formation inside the Vyas Gufa appears to resemble the orderly stacking of palm leave manuscripts - oldest writing material and is worshipped as Vyas Pusthak. Vyas Maharishi is also considered, by some, as reincarnation of Vishnu.
Shri Badrinath Dham Another Cave called as Ganesh Guha (cave) is also located in this village

Rishikesh to Haridwar

2011-06-07T03:29:00.000-07:00

Kedarnath Tour Package

Kedarnath is the seat of Lord Shiva. It is one of the twelve "Jyotirlingas" of Lord Shiva. Lying at an altitude of 3584 m at the head of river Mandakini, the shrine of Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimage for the Hindus. It is no wonder that Adi Guru Shankaracharya - a great scholar & saint, chose to enshrine Lord Shiva in this land, where the unholy becomes oly and the holy becomes holier. It is the place where Lord Shiva absolved Pandavas from the sin of killing their own cousins Kauravas in the battle of Kurukshetra. The origin of the revered temple can be found in the great epic Mahabharat.

At Kedarnath there are several Kunds (pools, tanks) that are known for their religious significans - shivkund, Retkund, hanskund, Udakkund, Rudhirkund are the most important. A little away from Kedarnath is a temple dedicated to Bhaironathji who is ceremoniously worshipped at the opening & closing of Kedarnath. The belief is that Bhairavnathji protects this land from evil during the time when temple of Kedarnath is closed. Besides its affiliation with Shiva, Kedarnath is also believed to be the site of Shankaracharya's samadhi (achievement of beatified afterlife). The actual temple is an impressive stone edifice of unknown date. No specific family of pujaris supervises rituals at Kedarnath, which focus around veneration of the stone lingam that rests in the inner sanctum of the temple.

Kedarnath Temple: An imposing sight, standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by lofty snow covered peaks. The present temple, built in 8th century A.D. by Adi Shankaracharya, stands adjacent to the site of an earlier temple built by the Pandavas. The inner walls of the assembly hall are decorated with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the exquisitely architecture Kedarnath temple is considered to be more than 1000 years old. Built of extremely large, heavy and evenly cut gray slabs of stones, it evokes wonder as to how these heavy slabs had been handled in the earlier days. The temple has a "Garbha Griha" for worship and a Mandap, apt for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form.
Start from Gaurikund, there is a cement road to walk on and there is a small shop for every 200 meters where you can get some tea, chocolates, biscuits etc., After 7kms , you reach a place called Rambara. There are couple of guest houses here to stay. Mostly pilgrims, take a break here and eat some food and then resume the journey towards kedarnath.
The View is fantastic while moving towards temple but the dung of mules make u feel uncomfortable because of so many mules. Even though there are some people, who constantly clean the path, it still spells little bad. But surely the spectacles around would deviate your mind.
The ‘Garbh Grah’ (the basement) and the ‘Mandap’(gathering hall), the inner walls decorated with scenes from the mythology and a mighty Nandi at the entrance are some features of the temple. But what one marvels at the most is the extremely large, heavy and evenly cut grey slabs of stones used to build the temple. One can only wonder at how construction of such grand scale was carried out in that period and in such a tough geographical setting. The temple is accessible by road till GauriKund and a 14 km uphill walk from there completes the journey to Kedarnath temple. The temple opens the gate three days before Badrinath temple opens during the last week of April and remains accessible till snowfall commences in winter.

Day 01 : Delhi to Haridwar-Rishikesh (225 kms)

Leaves Delhi at 7.00 a.m. Halt enroute for breakfast, arrive Rishikesh by 2.00 p.m. Evening free for sight seeing, overnight stay in Rishikesh.

Day 02 : Rishikesh to Gaurikund ( 220 kms)

Leave Rishikesh at 7.00 a.m. Halt enroute for breakfast & lunch. Arrive Gaurikund by evening, overnight stay in Gaurikund.

Day 03 : Gaurikund to Kedarnath (14 kms. Trek)

Leave Gaurikund early morning, arrive Kedarnath by lunch. Evening free for darshan. Overnight stay at Kedarnath. Leave Gaurikund early morning, arrive Kedarnath by lunch. Evening free for darshan. Overnight stay at Kedarnath

Day 04 : Kedarnath to Gaurikund - Nandprayag (150 kms)

Leave Kedarnath after early breakfast, arrive Gaurikund by 12.00 Noon (14 kms. Trek). Leave Gaurikund after lunch, arrive in the evening and overnight stay at Nandprayag.

Day 05 : Nandprayag to Badrinath (80 kms.)

Leave at 7.00 a.m, halt enroute for breakfast Arrive Badrinath by lunch. Evening free for darshan, overnight stay at Badrinath.

Day 06 : Badrinath to Nandprayag (80 kms)

First half free. Leave Badrinath after lunch, arrive Nandprayag by 6.00 p.m., overnight stay at Nandprayag.

Day 07 : Nandprayag to Rishikesh (200 kms)

Leave after breakfast. Halt enroute for lunch, arrive Rishikesh by evening, overnight stay at Rishikesh.

Day 08 : Rishikesh to Haridwar - Delhi ( 225 kms)

Architecture of the Taj Mahal

2011-06-06T03:23:00.000-07:00

Origins and architecture of the Taj Mahal

In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of greatest prosperity, was grief-stricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the birth of their 14th child, Gauhara Begum.Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632.The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrate the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal. The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648 and the surrounding buildings and garden were finished five years later. Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj in these words:

Shah Jahan, who commissioned the Taj Mahal -"Shah jahan on a globe" from the Smithsonian Institution

Artistic depiction of Mumtaz Mahal

Should guilty seek asylum here,

Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.

Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,

All his past sins are to be washed away.

The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;

And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.

In this world this edifice has been made;

To display thereby the creator's glory.

The Taj Mahal incorporates and expands on design traditions of Persian architecture and earlier Mughal architecture. Specific inspiration came from successful Timurid and Mughal buildings including; the Gur-e Amir (the tomb of Timur, progenitor of the Mughal dynasty, in Samarkand),[15] Humayun's Tomb, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb (sometimes called the Baby Taj), and Shah Jahan's own Jama Masjid in Delhi. While earlier Mughal buildings were primarily constructed of red sandstone, Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, and buildings under his patronage reached new levels of refinement

Architecture

The tomb is the central focus of the entire complex of the Taj Mahal. This large, white marble structure stands on a square plinth and consists of a symmetrical building with an iwan (an arch-shaped doorway) topped by a large dome and finial. Like most Mughal tombs, the basic elements are Persian in origin.

The main finial was originally made of gold but was replaced by a copy made of gilded bronze in the early 19th century. This feature provides a clear example of integration of traditional Persian and Hindu decorative elements. The finial is topped by a moon, a typical Islamic motif whose horns point heavenward. Because of its placement on the main spire, the horns of the moon and the finial point combine to create a trident shape, reminiscent of traditional Hindu symbols of Shiva.The marble dome that surmounts the tomb is the most spectacular feature. Its height of around 35 metres (115 ft) is about the same as the length of the base, and is accentuated as it sits on a cylindrical "drum" which is roughly 7 metres (23 ft) high. Because of its shape, the dome is often called an onion dome or amrud (guava dome). The top is decorated with a lotus design, which also serves to accentuate its height. The shape of the dome is emphasised by four smaller domed chattris (kiosks) placed at its corners, which replicate the onion shape of the main dome. Their columned bases open through the roof of the tomb and provide light to the interior. Tall decorative spires (guldastas) extend from edges of base walls, and provide visual emphasis to the height of the dome. The lotus motif is repeated on both the chattris and guldastas. The dome and chattris are topped by a gilded finial, which mixes traditional Persian and Hindustani decorative elements.The base structure is essentially a large, multi-chambered cube with chamfered corners, forming an unequal octagon that is approximately 55 metres (180 ft) on each of the four long sides. On each of these sides, a huge pishtaq, or vaulted archway, frames the iwan with two similarly shaped, arched balconies stacked on either side. This motif of stacked pishtaqs is replicated on the chamfered corner areas, making the design completely symmetrical on all sides of the building. Four minarets frame the tomb, one at each corner of the plinth facing the chamfered corners. The main chamber houses the false sarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan; the actual graves are at a lower level.

The minarets, which are each more than 40 metres (130 ft) tall, display the designer's penchant for symmetry. They were designed as working minarets — a traditional element of mosques, used by the muezzin to call the Islamic faithful to prayer. Each minaret is effectively divided into three equal parts by two working balconies that ring the tower. At the top of the tower is a final balcony surmounted by a chattri that mirrors the design of those on the tomb. The chattris all share the same decorative elements of a lotus design topped by a gilded finial. The minarets were constructed slightly outside of the plinth so that, in the event of collapse, (a typical occurrence with many tall constructions of the period) the material from the towers would tend to fall away from the tomb.

KEDARNATH TO GAURIKUND

2011-06-03T05:35:00.000-07:00

Badrinath Kedarnath Yatra

HARIDWAR TO JOSHIMATH
Leave Rishikesh>Haridwar early morning for Joshimath/Rudraprayag via Devprayag, Ruderprayag, Karanprayag and Nandprayag see those places famous for confluence of two great river and proceed to Joshimath via Chamoli and Pipalkoti. Arrived Joshimath late afternoon visit Adi guru Shankracharya seat Narshimha temple or a visit to Auli (famous winter hill resort for skiing) by lift chair car on extra cost. Night stay at Joshimath/Rudraprayag.

JOSHIMATH TO BADRINATH

Leave Joshimath/Rudraprayag early in the morning for Badrinath ji reach Badrinath at 11 am.

BADRINATH:-
Badrinath one of the four dhams of the country and situated at an elevation of 3133 mts. above sea level, guarded on either side by the two mountain ranges known as NAR & NARAYAN, with the towering NEEL KANTH PEAK providing a splendid back-drop. This revered spot was once carpeted with wild berries, which gage it the name "Badri Van" meaning forest of berries. Facing the temple at the back of Alaknanda river there is a hot water spring known as TAPT KUND.

BADRINATH TEMPLE:- Dedicated to lord Vishnu, the temple of Shri Badrinathji 15 mts. In height built in the form of a cone with a small cupola of a bull and spire. Legend dates the temple prior to the Vedic age.
Extension to Valley of Flowers and Hemkund sahib on DEMAND

BADRINATH TO GAURIKUND

After early morning Darshan at Badrinathji again start drive to Sonprayag/Gaurikund. Via Chamoli-Nandprayag- Gauchar, for Rudraprayag, famous for two rivers confluence Alaknanda and Mandakini river). Evening free to enjoy the surroundings. Overnight to stay at Sonprayag/Gaurikund

SONPRAYAG: Situated at the confluence of Soneganga and Mandakini river. The road to Trijuginarayan diverts from here.

TRIJUGINARAYAN:
According to legend, this was the place where the weeding of Lord Shiva and Parvati was solemnized. In front of the Shiva temple, is an eternal flame, which is said to be a witness to the marriage. Can be reach by 12 km drive from sonprayag.

GAURIKUND TO KEDARNATH:
Early morning departure to Gaurikund (14 km trekking) after having morning bath at hot spring "KUND" Garurukund leave for trek to Kedarnathji temple by dolly-ponny (on extra cost) (14 km) reach Kedarnathji in afternoon. Rest at bungalow visit to kedarnath ji temple for Aarti, Darshan. Overnight stay at Kedarnath

KEDARNATH TEMPLE:
An imposing sight standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by snow covered peaks. The present temple built in 18th century A.D. by Adi Shankracharya, stands adjacent to the site of earlier temple built by the Pandavas. The inner walls of the assembly hall are decorated with fixtures of various deities and scenes from mythology. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi bull stands as guard.
Dedicated to lord Shiva, the exquisitely architecture, Kedarnath temple is considered to be more than 1000 years old. Built of extremely large heavy and evenly cut gray Slabs of stones. It evokes wonder as to how these heavy Slabs had been handled in the earlier days. The temple has a "Garbha Griha" for worship and mandap appt. for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as lord Shiva in his sadashiva form.

KEDARNATH TO GAURIKUND - SONPRAYAG
Trek down from Kedarnath ji to Gaurikund and then drive towards Sonprayag or Guptkashi for night stay.

Yatra of Golden Temple

2011-06-01T23:55:00.000-07:00

Amritsar was founded in 1577 by Guru Ram Das, the fourth guru of Sikhs. It’s the spiritual capital of the Sikhs and gained its name, meaning "Holy Pool of Nectar", from the body of water around the Golden Temple.

Amritsar >

Golden Temple.

Amritsar's Rajasansi Airport has direct flights from Delhi, Srinagar, and Chandigarh. However, northern India (including Delhi and Amritsar) suffers from fog in winter, so flights can often be delayed during that time. A better option is to take the train. There are plenty of services from major Indian cities. From Delhi, theAmritsar Shatabdi will get you there in six hours. You can also travel by road. Regular bus services run from Delhi, and places in north Indian. Travel time from Delhi by bus is around 10 hours

Yatra of Vrindavan in India...... just 15 km from Mathura, is another major place of pilgrimage. It is noted for its numerous temples - both old and modern. The name Vrindavan evokes the playfulness and lovable characteristics of Shri Krishna. This is the wood where he frolicked with the gopis and tenderly wooed Radha.India Yatra

Vrindavan today, is noted for its numerous temples. The most important are
The Madan Mohan Temple located near the Kali Ghat which was built by Kapur Ram Das of Multan. This is the oldest existent temple in Vrindavan today. The temple is closely associated with the saint Chaitanya.
The original idol of Lord Madan Gopal was shifted from the shrine to Karauli in Rajasthan for safe keeping, during Aurangzeb's rule. Today, replica of the image is worshipped at the temple.
The Banke Bihari Temple built in 1864 is the most popular shrine at Vrindavan. The image of Banke Bihari was discovered in Nidhi Vana by Swami Haridas Ji, the great Krishna devotee, belonging to the Nimbarka sect.

The Jaipur Temple which was built by Sawai Madhav Singh, the Maharaja of Jaipur in 1917, is a richly embellished and opulent temple. The fine hand - carved sandstone is of unparalleled workmanship. The temple is dedicated to Shri Radha-Madhav.

Noted for its magnificent architecture and beautiful marble sculpture, the temple has twelve spiral columns each 15 feet high. The 'Basanti Kamra' > the darbar hall is famed for its Belgian glass chandeliers and fine paintings.

The Rangaji Temple, built in 1851, is dedicated to Lord Ranganatha or Rangaji depicted as Lord Vishnu in his Sheshashayi pose, resting on the coils of the sacred Shesha-nag. The temple built in the Dravidian style has a tall gopuram (gateway) of six storeys and a gold plated Dhwaja Stambha, 50 feet high. A water tank and a picturesque garden lie within the temple enclosure. The annual festival of Jal Vihar of the presiding deity is performed with great pomp and splendour at the tank. The temple is also famous for its 'Brahmotsav' celebration in March-April, more popularly known as the 'Rath ka Mela'. The ten day long celebrations are marked by the pulling of the rath (the chariot car) by the devotees from the temple to the adjoining gardens.

The Govind Deo Temple was once a magnificent seven storeyed structure built in the form of a Greek cross. It is said that the Emperor Akbar donated some of the red sandstone that had been brought for the Red Fort at Agra, for the construction of this temple. Built at the astronomical cost of one Crore rupees in 1590 by his general Man Singh, the temple combines western, Hindu and Muslim architectural elements in its structure.

The Shri Krishna-Balram Temple built by the International Society for Shri Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), is one the most beautiful temples in Vrindavan today. The principal deities of this temple are Shri Krishna - Balram and Shri Radha - Shyam Sundar. Adjoining the temple is the samadhi of Shri Prabhupada, the founder of the ISKCON sect, built in pure white marble.

Other places of interest include the Sriji Temple, Jugal Kishore Temple, Kesi Ghat, Lal Babu Temple, Raj Ghat, Meera Bai Temple, Imli Tal, Kaliya Ghat, Raman Reti, Varah Ghat and Chir Ghat.

Yatra of Lord Vishnu Temple

2011-05-31T03:48:00.000-07:00

Badrinath, an abode of Lord Vishnu Temple (perpetuator of life) and so a Hindu pilgrimage spot, is situated in the Garhwal hills on the banks of the Alaknanda River in the Chamoli district of the Indian state, Uttarakhand, India. Located in between the Nar and Narayana mountain ranges under the shelter of the Nilkantha peak (6,560 m), this is one of the most important ‘Four Holy Temple Cities’ or Char Dhams including Puri, Rameshwaram, and Dwaraka.(Yatra of Lord Vishnu Temple)
An old Indian proverb goes, “There are many sacred spots of pilgrimage in the heavens, earth and the nether world, but there has been none equal to Badri, nor shall there be.”
The Badrinath temple was built by Adiguru Shankaracharya in the ninth century. Badrinath is also called as the Tapobhumi, the land of contemplation and penance and Bhubaikunth, the heaven on Earth.
History/Legend
According to one of the legends, Lord Shiva requested Goddess Ganga to slide down to Earth to lend a hand to the suffering humanity. Her descend was so powerful that the Earth was not able to withstand it and so, the almighty Ganga got split into 12 holy tributaries. On of them is Alaknanda that became the home of Lord Vishnu Temple or Badrinath.Temple
According to the epic of Mahabharata, the Pandavas lost their life by climbing the slopes of the Swargarohini peak in the western Garhwal, where the peak’s name means Ascent to Heaven. A popular belief is that before reaching this peak, the Pandavas had come to this holy place of Badrinath and Mana town (4 km north of Badrinath). Another belief is that in Mana, there is a cave wherein Vyas wrote the Mahabharata.
Badrinath is also designated as the Bhu Vaikunta or home of Lord Vishnu on Earth. Several religious preachers such as Ramanujacharya, Madhawacharya and Vedanta Desika came to Badrinath and wrote sacred books such as Brahmasutras and other Upanishads.
Religious Significance
Since ancient times going back to thousands of years ago, Badrinath Temple has an important sacred place in scriptures and Hindu holy books. According to the holy Bhagavata Purana, “In Badrikashram, the Godhead (Vishnu), reincarnated in the form of sages Nara and Narayana, had been undergoing great penance since time immemorial for the welfare of all living entities.” (Bhagavata Purana 3.4.22)
The meaning of this holy place’s name is Lord of the Berry, as Badri means berry that was grown abundantly here according to the scriptures and Nath means the Lord of. In addition, Badri is a Sanskrit name given to the Indian Jujube tree, which holds a ripe berry. According to the history, it is believed that these abundantly grown berries are nothing but a form of Goddess Lakshmi who resided here to provide food to Lord Vishnu in his long penance in the Badri Van accompanied by tough Himalayan environment.
The Badrinath Temple – At a Glance
Once upon a time, Shankara found the idol of Badrinarayan in the Alaknanda River carved out of black Saligram stone. Then, he made a shrine of it in a cave that is close to the Tapt Kund, hot springs. Later in the 16th century, the King of Garhwal shifted the idol to the current temple of Badrinath Temple and in the 17th century, the succeeded royals expanded the temple.
Since its creation until date, the temple has witnessed many changes due to landslides and storms. Due to the great 1803 Himalayan earthquake, the king of Jaipur reconstructed the shrine.
Being 50 feet tall with a small cupola atop, the temple is sheltered with a roof painted with gold and the frontage (façade) with arched windows is carved out of stone. A set of staircases makes you reach to a tall arched main entrance. The carving style is similar to that of the Buddhist temples.
The moment you go inside, there is the mandapa – a huge pillared and walled hall of intricate carvings. Through this, you can go to the garbha gruha that is the main temple area.
Other Attractions
Tapt Kund
Has thermal springs of medicinal properties wherein pilgrims take a holy dip before entering the temple. This is believed to be the home of Agni, the Hindu God of fire. Some more natural springs are Narad Kund and Surya Kund.
Brahma Kapal
Is a flat base on the banks of Alaknanda where pilgrims conduct the rites to revere their mortal near ones.
Sheshnetra
Is a rock boulder that resembles Sheshnag, a mythological serpent. It also has the footprints of Lord Vishnu, known as Charanpaduka.
Mata Murti Temple
Is an important temple committed to the mother of Badrinathji.
Alka Puri
Is the origin of the Alakananda River especially for adventurous tourists. Satopanth: Is a triangular lake acting as one of the sources of the Alaknanda River and is at an altitude of 4402 m. The lake is so named behind the Hindu trinity – Lord Brahma (father of the universe), Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva.
Best Time to Visit
This is between June to September, as from October to April, the temple is closed.

Rudraprayag to Badrinath

2011-05-30T04:22:00.000-07:00

Rudraprayag to Badrinath (165 Kms / 7 Hrs)

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 "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 : 1.5kms. 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 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 believe 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 / 7 Hrs)

In morning, pilgrims after having a bath in the Taptkund have 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 the three kms of Badrinathjee. Later drive back to Joshimath / Kirtinagar. Check in Hotel. Overnight stay at Joshimath / Kirtinagar.

Joshimath 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 is connected by regular bus service to Rishikesh, Haridwar, Badrinath and many other centres in the region.

Kedarnath to Gaurikund yatra

2011-05-27T04:43:00.000-07:00

Morning drive Kedarnath 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, tolietteries and clothes for an overnight halt at Kedarnath. Check in Hotel. Later visit Kedarnath Temple . Night halt.

Gaurikund: 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 yatra.

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.

The Badrinath temple is main attraction in the town. According to legend Shankara discovered a black stone image of Lord Badrinarayan made of Saligram stone in the Alaknanda River. He originally enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund hot springs. In the sixteenth century, the King of Garhwal moved the murti to the present temple.

The temple has undergone several major renovations because of age and damage by avalanche. In the 17th century, the temple was expanded by the kings of Garhwal. After significant damage in the great 1803 Himalayan earthquake, it was rebuilt by the King of Jaipur.

The temple is approximately 50 ft (10 m) tall with a small cupola on top, covered with a gold gilt roof. The facade is built of stone, with arched windows. A broad stairway leads up to a tall arched gateway, which is the main entrance. The architecture resembles a Buddhist vihara (temple), with the brightly painted facade also more typical of Buddhist temples. Just inside is the mandapa, a large pillared hall that leads to the garbha grha, or main shrine area. The walls and pillars of the mandapa are covered with intricate carvings.

Taj Mahal > The Symbol of LOVE

2011-05-25T23:05:00.000-07:00

Islamic art in India includes a very good examples of painting and architecture; the best known example is the Taj Mahal , The Symbol of love a tomb built for Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of the Mogul emperor, Shah Jehan. Islamic style in India shares many features with the Islamic traditions of Persia, which are discussed elsewhere

While his grandfather Akbar is best known for developing the Mughal empire, It is Shah Jehan who is remembered the sultan who spent his time literally building it. Shah Jehan was a patron of the arts, and a lover of all things big: big mosques, big forts, big gemstones. He commissioned hundreds of paintings and engravings for his palaces, many of which survive to this day.

The most enduring of Shah Jehan's creations were his massive construction projects. Employing a mix of Persian palatial sophistication and local Hindu engineering know-how, Shah Jehan defined the architectural style recognized the world over as 'Mughal.' The Red Fort and the Jama Masjid, both in Delhi, stand out as towering achievements of both civil engineering and art. Yet above all else, we remember Shah Jehan today for the Taj Mahal, the massive white marble mausoleum constructed for his wife Mumtaz Mahal along the bank of the Jamuna River in Agra.

Mumtaz Mahal died during childbirth soon after Shah Jehan ascended to the throne. Grief-stricken, Shah Jehan decided to built the Taj Mahal as a tribute and final resting place for her. It took over a decade to build and it nearly bankrupted the empire, but Shah Jehan had his monument for the ages. He continued to spend lavishly, beginning new construction projects and revamping old ones (including the Agra Fort, first built byAkbar two generations earlier). He even commissioned the creation of a brilliant gold throne encased in hundreds of precious gems - the Peacock Throne, a symbol of Mughal royalty until it was stolen and co-opted by the Persians a century later.

But despite his successes as a patron of art and architecture, Shah Jehan was unable to gauge the discontent among his own court. A power struggle among his sons ensued, and eventually, the ruthless princeAurangzeb deposed Shah Jehan in a coup d'etat in 1658. Shah Jehan was imprisoned in the Octagonal Tower of the Agra Fort (a beautiful addition to the fort that he himself had constructed) and would remain there until his death, eight years later, in 1666. He was then buried next to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, in the Taj Mahal, two kilometers down river from the fort.

Shah Jehan's Architectural Legacy:

Anar Sagar Pavilions, Ajmer
Palaces in Agra Fort, including Anguri Bagh, Khas Mahal, Diwan-i-Khas, and Diwan-i-Am, Agra (1627-38)
Taj Mahal, Agra (1631-52)
Black Pavilion (Shalimar Bagh), Srinagar (1630)
Wazir Khan's Mosque, Lahore (1634)
Shalimar Bagh, Lahore (1637)
Shahjehanabad, Delhi (1638-48)
Red Fort and Palace, Delhi (1639-48)
Chini ka Rauza, Agra (c. 1639)
Jama Masjid, Agra (1648)
Jama Masjid, Delhi (1650-6)
Fatehpuri Masjid, Delhi (1650)
Moti Masjid (Agra Fort), Agra (1654)

Palaces in Lahore Fort, including Chati Khwabgah, Diwan-i-Am, and Mussaman Burj, Lahore

As in most traditional cultures India, visual symbols are a powerful means of relaying religious and social ideals, as well as history. Since much of the population was illiterate, visual images developed to serve as an aid to memory for orally transmitted literature and history. This use of visual aids to memory and the transmission of culture is common to all traditional, preliterate cultures. Among the most impressive examples are the intricate carvings that cover the surfaces of Hindu temples. Temple architecture in India tends to be filled with carvings of gods, heroes, and the tales of their lives, all well known to those who are immersed in the cultural traditions. The effect is again one of multiplicity unified by a visual style that reflects and expresses the life and history of India itself.

Buddhism first arose in India in the 6th c. BC as an alternative to Hinduism. It was accepted By King Asoka in the 3rd c. BC, and enjoyed a period of preeminence during the following centuries. Buddhist monuments and shrines are to be found in many parts of India. Among the most important are the stupas. A stupa is a monument which either shelters a sacred relic, or marks the site of an important event in the life of a Buddhist saint. The oldest of the stupas dates to the 3rd century BC, built by King Asoka. Another important Buddhist monument is the shrine of the Ajanta caves, a complex that dates back to 150 AD. However, Buddhism was to have its most lasting impact outside of India; therefore we will discuss the nature of Buddhism elsewhere. Early Buddhist art in India relies on the imagery and aesthetics of earlier Hindu traditions. The poses, gestures, and accompanying figures, plants, and animals seen in representations of Buddha and buddhist saints (bodisatvas) draw on Hindu images. The first use of a halo anywhere in the world to denote a holy figure is purported to have been in an Indian carving of Buddha dating from the first century.

Historical India

2011-05-24T23:45:00.000-07:00

The Indian subcontinent is site of a civilization as ancient as any in the world. City states arose in North India, along the Indus River, at about the same time as the early civilizations of the Tigris-Euphrates at Sumer and other locations. Over the centuries, India was invaded by many different peoples, all of whom left their imprint.
Hinduism in India developed out of multiplicity of local gods, goddesses, and heroes. Gradually this multiplicity was given a coherent framework, in which the individual deities were seen as manifestations of a greater unity. Nonetheless, multiplicity remained a major feature of Hinduism in India, as it is of Indian culture in general.
Local deities were identified with cyclical forces of nature, as is common in an agricultural society-- birth, death, planting; and with the fertility of land, herds, and human beings.
Gradually the belief arose that all these gods were manifestation of the One- Brahma. The physical world in all its variety was seen as a dream of Brahma; it comes into existence, ends, and is reborn in great cycles, as are human souls in the shorter cycles of human lifetimes. This cyclical idea, which reflects the cycles of seasons and fertility, repeats endlessly. The human soul, which is eternal, is reborn, or reincarnated. The actions of the individual in this life accumulate as karma, which affects the status one will achieve in the next life. The ultimate goal is maksha, or the achievement of spiritual perfection which will enable the soul to achieve release from the wheel of life, and attain oneness with Brahma.

The idea of caste system is closely associated with Hindu beliefs about spiritual progress through the accumulation of karma and reincarnation. Caste system is the division of society into rigid classes, which define one's status, occupation, and relationships. Historians believe that the caste system was introduced into India at the time of the Aryan invasions, c. 1500 B.C. as a means of separating the conquerors from the conquered. In due course, this stratification of society was sanctioned by Hinduism, in which caste came to be associated with the level of spiritual attainment.
Thus in India we find a multiplicity of ethnic groups-- hundreds of separate languages are spoken-- a multiplicity of castes within each community-- and the worship of a multiplicity of gods that vary according to locality, caste, and personal preference.
In this context, there are many paths to salvation, but one goal: to achieve release from the wheel of rebirth, to leave this world which is believed to be an illusion. The essential duty of the good Hindu can be summarized as follows:

>Live life according to your place, as you were born to it.
>Various forms of religious observance and practice are possible, depending on the individual's nature-- physical, ceremonial, or ascetic disciplines may be followed.
>The essence of all religious practice is mastery-- control over body, cravings, emotions. Therefore extremes of physical discipline are practiced by some to achieve such mastery. The varieties of physical discipline vary greatly, however. The fundamental idea is to remember that the world is an illusion; one must master the worldly flesh to escape it and reach spiritual enlightenment.

Although there are many local deities, there are certain deities that are believed to be preeminent, and are widely recognized. Four in particular are of major importance:-
Brahma-- the creator
Vishnu-- the preserver
Shiva-- the destroyer
Kali/Durga/Parvati-- the goddess in three incarnations: death and destruction, maiden, and mother.

The sacred writings of Hinduism - the Baghvad Gita, the Ramayana, and others, are a mixture of mystical writings and allegorical interpretations of history. Many of the figures and events are believed to reflect actual events and individuals in ancient Indian history.
Both Buddhism and Islam were also important in the culture of the Indian subcontinent. Buddhism first arose in India in the sixth century B.C, but became more important outside of India than within it. Islam came to Northern India (now Pakistan) beginning in the eighth century AD. Since these religions were also of importance in other regions, they will be discussed elsewhere.

YAMUNOTRI , GANGOTRI DHAMS'

2011-05-24T03:14:00.000-07:00

BADRINATH temple

Badrinath Dham is one of the oldest of Hindu places of worship. On the right bank of the river Alaknanda

lies the sacred shrine perched at an altitude of 3133 m above sea level, Guarded on either side by the

two mountain peaks Nar & Narain with the towering Neelkanth peak providing a splendid back drop.

Also known as the Vishal Badri, the largest among the five Badris, it is revered by all as

the apt tribute to Lord Vishnu. Badrinath is one of the Char Dhams of the

country, also known as Vishal Badri, Vishnu Bhagwan is the other name of Lord Badri Vishal.

It is said about Badrinath that -

“There are many sacred spots of pilgrimage in the heavens, earth and the nethere world,

but there has been none equal to Badri, nor shall there be”.

KEDARNATH temple

At Yamunotri & Gangotri, the pilgrims are

cleansed body & soul and with having

achieved purity in that sense,pilgrims

to Sri Kedarnath becomes most rewarding.

It is also customary to worship

Lord Shiva with water of Ganga, which

pilgrims going from Gangotri as well take

some there to Kedarnath. Kedarnath is the

seat of Lord Shiva. It is one of the twelve

Jyotirlingas" of Lord Shiva. Lying at an

altitude of 3584 m at the head of river Mandakini,

the shrine of Kedarnath is amongst the holiest

pilgrimage for the Hindus. It is no wonder that Adi Guru

Shankaracharya - a great scholar & saint, chose to enshrine

Lord Shiva in this land, where the unholy becomes

oly and the holy becomes holier.

It is the place where Lord Shiva absolved Pandavas from the sin of

killing their own cousins Kauravas in the battle of Kurukshetra.

The origin of the revered temple can be found in the great epic Mahabharat.

At Kedarnath there are several Kunds (pools, tanks) that are known for their religious

significans - shivkund, Retkund, hanskund, Udakkund, Rudhirkund are the

most important. A little away from Kedarnath is a temple dedicated to

Bhaironathji who is ceremoniously

worshipped at the opening & closing of Kedarnath.

The belief is that Bhairavnathji protects this land from evil during the time

when temple of Kedarnath is closed.

GANGOTRI DHAMS'

An altitude of 3042 mts. The picturesque pilgrimage in

the hinterlands of the Himalayas is the most sacred

spot where Ganga, the stream of life,

touched earth for the first time.

According to mythology, Goddess Ganga, the daughter

of heaven, manifested herself in the form a river to

absolve the sins of king Bhagirath’s predecessors,

following his sever penance of 5500 years, Lord Shiva

received into his matted locks to minimize the impact of

her fall. The river itself begins at Gangotri which

literally means Ganga uttari or Ganga descending. She came to be called Bhagirathi at her

legendary source. The shrine of Gangotri situated at an elevation of 3200 m above sea level

amidst captivating surroundings along the right bank of Bhagirathi is 100 km form Uttarkashi.

En route of Gangotri, We visit Gangnani, noted for its thermal springs where one can take

a bath for relaxation & rejuvenation.Devotee take bath here before proceeding Gangotri.

YAMUNOTRI Know
An altitude of 3235mts. The first stopover the Char Dham
Yatra is the western most shrine of Yamunotri in the Garhwal Himalayas. Dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, it is perched atop
a flank of the Bandar Poonch peak and is situated at Uttarkashi district opposite to Gangotri. The actual source ,
a frozen lake of ice and glacier (Champasar glacier) located on the Kalind mountain at the height of 4421 m above sea level,
about 1 km further up, is not frequented generally as it is not accessible and hence the shrine has been located
on the foot of the hill. The tiny Yamuna has icy cold water
and its absolute innocence & the infantile purity
heightens that deep feeling of reverence,
Yamunotri for the devout.

Close to the temple are hot water spring gushing out from the mountain cavities.
Suryakund is the most important kund. Near the kund there is a shila called Dibya- Shila.
Which is worshipped before puja is offered to the deity.
Devotees prepare rice and potatoes to offer at the shrine by dipping them in these hot water springs,
tied in muslin cloth. Rice so cooked is taken back home as prasadam.

BADRINATH KEDARNATH near Place

2011-05-23T04:59:00.000-07:00

> 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.

Badrinath Kedarnath Yatra

2011-05-18T23:41:00.000-07:00

Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Yatra

Rishikesh, Har ki Pauri,Devparayag, Rudraprayag, Guptkashi, Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Ardh Narishwar Temple,

Sonprayag, Gaurikund, Kedarnath Temple, Narsingh Mandir, Beem Pul, Saraswati River, Mana Village, Nandprayag, Karanprayag.

Detail

Delhi – Hardwar (205 Kms. 06 hrs drive)

Upon arrival in Delhi meeting and assistance followed by drive to Haridwar. On arrival at Haridwar check-in at hotel. Evening Visit Mansa Devi temple & Aarti at Har Ki Peri. Overnight stay at hotel.

Haridwar : Haridwar, lying at the feet of Shiva's hills, i.e., Shivaliks, in the Haridwar district of Uttaranchal Pradesh, is a doorway. Suryavanshi prince Bhagirathi 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 Bhagirathi, 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.

Haridwar-Guptkashi 220 kms (Drive 07-08 hrs)

Morning drive to Guptkashi via Rishikesh, Devprayag and Rudraprayag. On arrival Guptkashi check in at hotel. Evening visit Kashi Vishwnath and Ardh Narishwar Mandir. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Guptakashi : is the Northern Himalayan belt within the Mandakini river valley, which has lush green forests. A number of streams and rivulets drain into the main Mandakini River. It has salubrious climate with its elevation being around 1,319 meters (4,330 ft). The snow sparkling view of the Chaukhamba peak is a lovely sight to behold in the morning hours from here. The valley has large magnolia trees (locally called Champa) that provide a sweet scented atmosphere to the place.

Guptakashi -Kedarnath (Drive 32 kms, trek 14 kms )

Drive to Gaurikund (32 kms drive-one way). On arrival Gaurikund start your journey on the tough Trek ahead. On arrival check in to the Hotel / Guest Houses. After freshening up, perform Pooja and also Darshan at Shri Kedarnathji. In the evening also visit Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi behind the Temple. Overnight stay at the Hotel or Guest Houses.

Kedarnath : is a majestic sight, standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by lofty snow covered peaks. The present temple, built in the 8th century by Adi Shankaracharya, stands adjacent to the site of an earlier temple built by the Pandavas. The inner walls of the assembly hall are decorated with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard.

Kedarnath - Pipalkoti (Trek 14 kms, drive 165 kms)

Early Morning Pooja and darshan at the Temple, Morning start trek down to Gaurikund, on arrival meet with driver and leave for Pipalkoti, on arrival Pipalkoti check in at hotel for overnight stay.

Pipalkoti : is a small and scenic town situated at an elevation of 1,260mts above sea level. It is located 17kms after Chamoli on NH58. Pipalkoti acts a relaxation point for people traveling to Badrinath, Auli, Hemkund Sahib and Valley of Flowers. It is nestled amidst lush green mountains and terraced fields. Pipalkoti provides delightful views of the snow clad mountains and green hills all around.

Pipalkoti- Badrinath (Drive 75 kms)

Morning leave for Shri Badrinath Ji. Enroute visit Narsingh Temple, and Adi Sankracharya Samadhi at Joshimath, than drive to Badrinath On arrival take the holy Darshan and spend time visiting Mana village the last village before the Tibetan border, Byas Gufa, Bheem Pul, Saraswati River, Overnight stay at hotel.

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.

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.

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- Rudraprayag (155 Kms.)

Early morning pooja at Temple. Later drive to Rudraprayag via Karanprayag. On arrival check in at Hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

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

Temples : Rudranath and Chamunda Devi, Koteshwar Temple (3 Kms).

Rudrapryag - Rishikesh (133 Kms 6 hrs)

Morning drive to Rishikesh via Srinagar Garhwal. En-route visits the Confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknada River which is called Devprayag. Than continue drive towards Rishikesh. On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Rishikesh : 24 Kms. from Hardwar. Located in the laps of lower Himalayas, and is surrounded by scenic beauty of the hills on three sides with Holy Ganga flowing through it. The whole place is considered to be sacred as it is believed that meditation at this place leads to attainment of salvation. There are many temples-some ancient, some new along the river Ganges. Rishikesh is important not only as pilgrimage centre closely associated with the Ramayana, but also as home for many important centers of Hindu religious thought and spirituality, and as a very great Yoga Centre. There are a great many ashrams and Yoga institutes here. Rishikesh is also the gateway and the start-off point for journeys to important religious places like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.

Rishikesh – Delhi (234 kms 07 hrs drive)

Morning drive to Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi drop you at the Airport / Railway station for onwards destination.