Leisure Tours India

Badrinath
Guarded on either side by the two mountains Nar or Narayan, the Neelkanth Peak provides a splendid backdrop to Badrinath, one of the ‘Four Dhams’. One of the most celebrated pilgrim spots in the country, it plays host to the famous Badrinath Temple. Legend has it that Lord Vishnu came to the area, called ‘Badri Van’, or the berry garden, to meditate after Narad rebuked the Lord for being immersed in worldly pleasures. The main deity is a meditating Lord Vishnu.

Facing the temple at the bank of Alaknanda River is a hot water spring known as"Tapt Kund", a bath in which is very refreshing to all travellers. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple of Shri Badrinathji, is 5 m high, built in the form of a cone with a small cupola of a gilt bull and spire. The temple opens every year in the month of April-May and closes for winters in the third week of November.

Even though legend dates the temple back to the Vedic age, Guru Adi Shankaracharya has established the present temple. The temple has three parts - Garbha Grih (The Sanctum Sanctorum), Darshan Mandap (for pujas) and Sabha Mandap (for devotees to assemble).

General Information
Area	:	3 sq km.
Altitude	:	3133 m.
Season	:	From opening to closing, generally from April to November.
Clothing	:	Heavy woolen garments required through out.

Accessibility

Air:
Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 314 km.

Rail:
Nearest railhead is Rishikesh, 297 km which is connected to major cities like Howrah, Mumbai, Delhi and Lucknow by rail. There are two routes to reach Badrinath from Delhi:
Route 1: Delhi-Rishikesh: 287 km by rail, Rishikesh-Badrinath 297 km by road.
Route 2: Delhi-Kotdwar: 300 km by rail, Kotdwar-Badrinath 327 km by road.

Road:
Condition: Metalled from Rishikesh to Badrinath.
Taxi: Private taxies and other vehicles are also available between Rishikesh and Badrinath on hire.
Bus: U.A. State Transport corporation operates regular bus services from Delhi-Rishikesh daily.

Transport Companies operating regular bus services from Rishikesh to Badrinath during the Yatra season: Yatra Office, Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd.

Organised package tours for Chardham, 2X2 DLX/Coach, 15 seater, Qualis, Sumo, Contessa, Ambassador (Fleet of Transport GMVN Ltd.) and other agencies: G.M.O.U. Ltd., T.G.M.O.U. Ltd., Yatayat Aur Paryatan Vikas Sahakari Sangh Ltd., Roopkund Travels Ltd., Seemant Sahakari Sangh Ltd.

Kedarnath
Amidst the dramatic mountainscapes of the majestic Kedarnath range stands one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Kedar or Lord Shiva. Lying at an altitude of 3584 m on the head of river Mandakini, the shrine of Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the Hindus. There are more than 200 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in the district itself, the most important one is Kedarnath.

According to legend, the Pandavas after having won over the Kauravas 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.

An imposing sight, standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by lofty snow covered peaks. The present temple, built in 8 th century AD. 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 architectured 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.

General Information
Area	:	3 sq km.
Rainfall	:	1475 mm.
Season	:	May to October.
Clothing	:	Summers: Light woollens Winters: Very heavy woollens
Languages	:	Garhwali, Hindi and English.

Accessibility

Air:
Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 239 km.

Rail:
Nearest railway station is Rishikesh, 221 km.

Road:
Kedarnath is approachable on foot, 14 km from Gaurikund, which is connected by road with Rishikesh, Kotdwar, Dehradun, Haridwar and other important hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon hills.

Local Transport:
Horses, dandies and ponies are available at Gaurikund for going and carrying luggage to Kedarnath.

Accommodation

Kedarnath, Ph. No.: 01364-263228.

Helicopter Service

Helicopter Service is available from Agastya Muni to Kedarnath (Rudraprayag).

Gangotri
The shrine of Gangotri is situated at an elevation of 3048 m amidst captivating surroundings. Gangotri is located at a distance of 99 km from Uttarkashi. The temple, constructed by the Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa, in the 18 th century, is situated on the left bank of Bhagirathi. It is visited by lakhs of pilgrims every year. A number of ashrams are located on the other side, some of which provide accommodation facilities to the visitors.

General Information
Altitude	:	3084 m.
Climate	:	Pleasant during day, cold at night.
Season	:	April to October.
Clothing	:	Heavy woollens throughout the season.
Languages	:	Hindi, Garhwali and English.

Accessibility

Air:
Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 17 km from Rishikesh and 265 km from Gangotri.

Rail:
Nearest railhead is at Rishikesh, 248 km away.

Road:
Gangotri is connected by road with Rishikesh, at 265 km away. Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam organises different package tours through 2X2 dlx / coach and other cab tours, other bus services are available - Samyukt Rotation Yatayat Vyawastha Samiti connect Gangotri with many centres in the region like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Tehri, Uttarkashi etc.

Yamunotri
The shrine of Yamunotri, situated at an elevation of about 3,235 m is a point of paramount religious importance for Hindus and an essential pilgrimage. Situated in the direction opposite to Gangotri, the road bifurcates from a place called Dharasu, somewhere between Rishikesh-Uttarkashi and goes on to Yamunotri. The shrine can also be visited via Mussoorie and Barkot.

General Information
Altitude	:	3,235 m.
Climate	:	Summers: Cool during the day and cold at night. Winters: Snow-bound. Touching sub-zero.
Clothing	:	Summers: Light woollens. Winters: Very heavy woollens.
Languages	:	Hindi, Garhwali and English.
Eating Out	:	Only local eating houses (dhabas) are available. Non-vegetarian food and alcoholic drinks are prohibited in Yamunotri.

Accessibility

Air:
Nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun.

Rail:
Nearest railhead is at Rishikesh.

Road:
The road to Yamunotri diverts from Dharasu bifurcation point.

Important road distances:
Hanuman Chatti (13 km), Dharasu (107 km). Tehri (149 km).
Hanuman Chatti to Phool Chatti is 5 km by jeep, 3 km Phool Chatti to Janki Chatti on foot and 5 km from Janki Chatti to Yamunotri by trek (8 km trek), the roadhead for Yamunotri is connected by bus services of Samyukt Rotation Yatayat Vyavstha Samiti to Rishikesh, Haridwar and other major centres in the region.

Important Road Distances:
Rishikesh to Yamunotri 222 km. via Narendranagar 16 km, Chama 46 km, Brahmkhal 15 km, Barkot 40 km, Sayana Chatti 27 km, Hanuman Chatti 6 km, Phool Chatti 5 km, Janki Chatti 3 km and Yamunotri 6 km.