OUR CHARDHAM YATRA

....Our spiritual journey into Devbhoomi…….

Yamunotri

Gangotri

Kedarnath

Badarinath

A dream long cherished , the blessings long awaited,  came true in the form of this spiritual journey…..

Our Guide and Spiritual Guru Shri Narayana Rao garu, was pleased to know our intensions of going on a yatra. He blessed us  with the best darshans and a safe trip. My mother Smt. Suryamba , who also had been on this yatra around 12 years back was  always encouraging us to go on a spiritual trip like this when one is physically fit to travel. Age should not be a barrier to travel . So she would always ask us to plan a yatra. Taking their blessings we planned this yatra.

Nagareshu Kaanchi ---- As the phrase says, we went to Kanchipuram and took the blessings of Goddess Kamakshi and Ekambareswara . From there the next trip was to Shringeri to witness the Sankara Jayanthi Utsava and take the blessings of His Holiness Sri Sri Bharati Theertha Maha Swami  and proceeded for this Char Dham Yatra.

 I along with my wife finally planned to start our spiritual life immediately after retirement from my job. I have retired from my job from 1^st May, 2013 and decided to enjoy my retired life by exploring places not seen so far, distances not covered , heights not conquered .

We thought of starting a spiritual journey by planning for the Char dham yatra. My sister and brother-in-law who are like minded couple also joined our thoughtful journey. All four of us have chalked out our preferences of places to visit and time lines etc with the tour operator and requested him to make a customized tour programme for us. He has given us the tour plan for 11 nights and 12 days from/to New Delhi. On receipt of the plan we have mutually discussed on the date of journey – auspicious day being 29^th May 2013, essential things to carry, medicines as required for our journey etc. Then we started the ticket booking process. We could breathe happily after all the bookings were done.

I and my wife took the morning flight from Bangalore to Delhi on 29^th May,2013. My sister and brother-in-law took a flight from Visakhapatnam to Delhi on the same day around the same time. We both met at New Delhi airport. Our tour operator was waiting outside the airport for our arrival with his six seater Innova AC Car. On receiving us he has handed over the tour program papers and papers related to the arrangements made at various hotels at all the places that we were going to visit. We embarked the car and started our journey at 12.00 Noon on 29^th May, 2013.

Day 1 ( 29.05.13) – New Delhi to Haridwar ( 262 kms)

Via – Ghaziabad, Modinagar, Roorkie

On the way we stopped at around 2.40 p.m., at a hotel called “Bikaneerwala” which is situated at Modipuram after Meerut which is 100 kms from New Delhi. We had our lunch at this place and it was very good and filling. There is another option 33 kms further at Mansoorpur called “Halidirams / McDonalds /Subway Hotels which are also good places for lunch or snacks

At the entrance of Haridwar, one can see on the right hand side of the road “ Baba Ramdev Ashram” and on the left hand side of the road “ Patanjali Yogpeeth”

We reached Haridwar at 6.30 p.m., and checked into “Sun Hotel” where rooms have been booked for us. We refreshed ourselves and went for a holy dip in river Ganga at “Brahmakund” bathing ghat at 7.30 to 8.00 pm. The very thought of having bath in the Holy River Ganga makes one feel that we are the blessed ones to get this opportunity. With this special feeling we returned to our hotel. Finished our dinner and rested for the day.

Day 2 ( 30.05.13) – Haridwar.

Early morning got up at 3 a.m., and after completing our preliminaries went to “Hari ki Pauri” and had a holy dip in ganga at the bathing ghat. We have performed Ganga Puja at the banks of “Hari ki pauri” and witnessed morning aarti performed by the pandits at the banks of Ganga River between 5.15 to 5.45. After that we returned to our hotel and dressed up ourselves and finished our breakfast at 7.30 a.m.

Thereafter we proceeded to visit Manasa Devi and Chandi Temples. They are situated on two adjacent hills and we took the ropeway to reach these temples. At foothill, tickets are sold for to and fro trip. We purchased a combined ticket for both the temples which is available at a marginal concession rate of Rs. 200 per person. This combined ticket includes ropeway car journey for both the temples and also surface transport charges between two hills. It was very pleasant journey on the ropeway enjoying the nature of in and around Haridwar. Total time including travel by rope way, bus and darshan will take at least 3 hrs. We finished our darshan by 12.30 p.m., and after having lunch at hotel relaxed for two hours.

At 2.30 p.m., we arranged a round-trip auto for Rs. 250/- to take us to “Harihara Ashram” (2 Km from our hotel) and “Daksha Prajapati Mandir”(1 km further). At “Harihara Ashram” we have seen “Parad Shivling (made of mercury which is approx. 150 kgs), Big Rudraksha Tree and Mrityunjaya Mahadev. At “Daksha Prajapati Mandir” we have seen the “Homa Kund” where king Daksha has performed Yagna without inviting Shiva. After completing the darshans we returned to our hotel by 4 p.m.

At 5.30 p.m., we once again reached “Hari ki Pauri” to witness the evening “Ganga Aarti” and floating Diyas. It was a wonderful aarti one cannot wink an eye while watching various puja kriyas they perform before and after the aarti. After aarti they distribute abhishek milk, water, and Prasad. We took the Prasad and aarti and bowing to the sacred river ganga we returned to our hotel by 8.30 p.m. Finished our dinner and rested for the day.    

Day 3 ( 31.05.13) – Haridwar to Yamunotri. ( 230 kms)

Via – Dehradun, Mussorie, Barkot, Hanumanchatti, Jankichatti.

We started at 8.30 a.m., from our hotel and reached Dehradun  ( 45 kms from Haridwar) at 10.15. a.m and Mussorie (35 kms from Dehradun) at 11.30 a.m. After travelling for another 40 minutes at 12.10 p.m.,we reached a place called “Kempty Water Falls”. This place is a very beautiful tourist spot with lots of shops around. We went near the water falls taking a narrow road which goes in between the shopping rows with steep stairs. This is a bit strenuous for aged people but you will forget the strain once you reach the falls. We have taken wonderful photos at this spot. Professional photographers are available who will take photos and give the copies with soft copy CD within 10 -15 minutes time at a cost.  

 

We left “Kempty Water Falls” at 1.30 p.m., and reached a place called “Nainbagh” at 2.30 p.m., for lunch at Hotel Devbhoomi. Resumed our journey at 3.00 p.m., and reached Barkot at 5 p.m., which is 50 k.m., before Yamunotri. We reached Jankichatti , the foothill halt for Yamunotri. We cheked into at “Hotel Athithi” at 7.30 pm., and rested for the day.

Day 4 ( 01.06.13) – Yamunotri.

We hired “Dolis” to reach Yamunotri which is 6 km from foothill (Jankichatti). Alternative choices are Horses, Bittoos, or walk - depending on one’s stamina and purse. Dolis take 3 hrs. to reach Yamunotri. We started our journey in “Dolis” at 8.00 Aa.m., and reached Yamunotri  at 10.45 a.m. Finished our Holy Bath in the hotwater spring called “Surya Kund” which is in front of the birth place of Yamuna River. We perfomed Puja to Goddess Yamuna at her birth place called “Divya Shila “ (local pandits are available to do the puja kriya at a cost (dakshina) of around Rs. 1000/per couple). Thereafter we visited the temple of Goddess Yamuna along with Goddess Ganga and took their blessings. We then started our return journey again at 12.30 p.m. and reached our hotel at 2.30 p.m. We finished our lunch in the hotel and rested for the day. We took lot of photographs at various timings and places at foot hill, enroute Yamunotri and at Yamunotri to capture the beauty at and around the place.

Day 5 ( 02.06.13) – Yamunotri to Uttarkashi. ( 134 kms)

Via – Barkot, Brahmkal, Dharasu, Mathali.

We left our hotel at 8.00 a.m., and reached Uttarkashi at 4.30 p.m. We checked into “Hotel Shivling”. After refreshing ourselves went to the banks of river “Baghirathi” which flows alongside of the hotel. There are few bathing ghats maintained by private ashrams. We reached the banks of the river through the bathing ghats provided by one of the ashrams called “Kailash” and had a holy bath in the river during “Pradosha Kala”. We were blessed with an opportunity to pour the holy river water over the shivling in the ashram and bowed our head before Lord Shiva. Thereafter we went to the famous  “Kashi Vishwanath Temple” to have darshan of Lord Vishwanath. We visited the Shakti temple in the same premises opposite side of the Vishwanath Temple. We did “pradakshin” and offered our prayers to the most  powerful  “Thrishul” standing inside the temple. This “Thrishul” is a combination of Shiva’s Thrishul, Vishnu’s Sudarshan and Parasuram’s Axe. There is a belief that if one has full faith and devotion in the heart and he touches the Thrishul  with fingers, he can see a movement at the tip of the Thrishul. This was really amazing. After finishing darshan of Lord Shiva and Shakti we visited other small temples within the same temple compound viz., Ganapathi, Sakshi Gopal and Markandeya temples.

On the other side of the road to Vishwanath temple, there are temples for Goddess Annapoorna Devi and Parasurama. We visited these temples also and returned to our hotel and rested for the day.

Day 6 ( 03.06.13) – Uttarkashi to Gangotri to Uttarkashi ( 185 kms)

We left our hotel at 7 a.m., to Gangotri. Enroute we halted at one place for breakfast which was packed and given by our hotel and proceeded to Gangotri and reached at 12 noon. The weather was very cold and Gangotri water was at freezing cold temperature. We had taken a holy bath at the bathing ghat and had a darshan of Mata Gangotri. Two types of darshans are available. One is General and the other is Special. Special darshan for couple is Rs. 500. Both the lines will be merged just in front of the sanctorum of the goddess and Special Darshan will not have anything special other than having quick darshan. Depending on time plan and purse one can choose the type of darshan. We took photos of mountains and waters in and around the temple complex. There are shops on both sides of the lane which leads to the temple and bathing ghats. One can do some useful shopping at these shops. We started our return journey at 2p.m. Enroute we stopped for half-an-hour to have our lunch and resumed our journey. We reached our hotel in Uttarkashi at 7.30 p.m. Finished our dinner and rested for the day.

Day 7 ( 04.06.13) – Uttarkashi to Guptkashi

Via Lumbgaon, ghansali,Tilwara, Ukhi Mutt.

We left our hotel at 7.15 a.m., to Guptkashi. Enroute at Tilwara we had our lunch and reached Ukhi Mutt at 3.00 p.m. This is the place where the “Utsava Murtis” of Panch Kedars viz., Kedarnath, Madhya Maheshwar, Tunganath, Rudranath and Kalpanath  are brought during winter season to ensure uninterrupted Puja Rituals. During winter season the entire Panch Kedar temples are covered by snow and the temples will be closed for six months from Diwali Day till Akshaya Thritiya Day. We had darshan of Lord Uma Maheshwara, Mandhata King, Utsava Murthis of Lord Tunganath, Madhya Maheshwar and Kalpanath. We also visited the Kalyan Mandap where the marriage of Anirudh, the grandson of Lord Krishna and Usha, the daughter of Lord Indra is supposed to have taken place. We have also visited Chamundi Devi Temple inside the complex and offered our prayers to the Goddess along with Nava Durgas. We left the place and reached Guptkashi at 4.00 p.m. and checked into “Hotel Shubham”

One important thing is that as the name says – Dev bhoomi – the entire mountain ranges are such a pleasure watching  as one can see formations of Gods – in different forms be it Vishnu, Shiva , Rama and Sita in a wed lock or Goddess Parvathi on Shiva’s lap. These were amazing as words cannot express ones inner feelings.

Evening at around 6 p.m., we went to the Lord Vishwanath Temple and had darshan and returned to our Hotel. We had our dinner and rested for the day.

Day 8 ( 05.06.13) – Guptkashi to Phata to Kedarnath      

( 18 kms by road and 16 kms by Helicopter)

Early morning at 5 a.m., we went to Lord Vishwanath temple and performed Abhishekam to the Shivling with waters collected by us from Gangotri and Yamunotri, by chanting Rudra namakam and chamakam along with shodashopachara puja.

Thereafter we returned to our hotel and started at 7.15 a.m., to reach Phata Helipad. We reached Phata at 8.05 a.m., and had to wait for our turn to get the Helicopter slot to go to Kedarnath. Weather is very uncertain at this place and plying of Helicopter is entirely dependent on the weather. We were lucky enough to get our chance before the weather situation deteriorated. The Helicopter journey between Phata and Kedarnath is 8 mts. We reached Kedarnath by 12 noon. We have checked into “Punjab Sindh Awas”. After finishing our lunch we went to Kedarnath temple at 2.45 p.m.,. We caught hold of one Panda (local priest) and made arrangements for Abhishekam and Puja to Lord Kedareshwar. He charged us Rs. 3000/- per couple. We carried essential items required for abhishekam from home and performed abhishekam to Lord Kedareshwar. Inside the sanctrum there are stone idols of panch pandavas, Draupadi and Kunti Devi. We have also seen the “ Akhanda Jyothi” in the Sanctorum which is believed to be lit by Devatas and glows throughout the year including during winter period when the temple is totally closed.  

Just 2 kms behind the temple, is the Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya’s Samadhi. After finishing our darshan of Lord Kedareshwar, we visited this place and saw a beautiful Marble Shivling, a Marble statue of Sri Adi Shankaracharya along with his “Satya dhandam” ( which is believed to be used by Sri Shankaracharya during his regime), a Marble statue of Mata Aryamba (mother of Sri Adi Shankaracharya). Sri Adi Shankaracharya during his final lap of yatra visited Sri Kedareshwar and ended his physical journey on this earth at this place. We have seen a big stone “Sathya Dhandam” in front of the Samadhi Mandir.

After taking rest in the hotel for a while we came back again to the Kedareshwar temple to witness the Maha Managala Aarti which is performed inside and outside of the temple. There are tickets available in the temple office to attend this Maha Aarti inside the temple. Otherwise one can see the aarti performed outside the temple. We could not get the opportunity to get inside entry and hence watched the aarti outside the temple and returned to hotel room. Finished our dinner and rested for the day.

Day 9 ( 06.06.13) – Kedarnath to Phata to Pipalkoti      

( 16 kms by Helicopter 165 kms by road)

Via Chamoli

Early morning at 6.00 a.m., we reached the Helipad and took Helicopter at 7.20 a.m., and reached Phata at 7.35 a.m. We had breakfast at Phata. Thereafter we went to our hotel at Guptkashi and collected our luggage. Left the Hotel at 9.30 a.m. for Pipalkoti and reached at 2.30 p.m. Checked into Hotel “Shivlok”.

Day 10 ( 07.06.13) – Pipalkoti to Badrinath ( 77 kms)      

We left our hotel at 5.20 a.m., to Badrinath and reached at 9.40 a.m. We checked into “Hotel Dwarikesh” freshened ourselves, finished our breakfast and proceeded to visit Mana Village which is 3 kms from Badrinath. Mana Village is the last Indian Village. Beyond this point it is Tibet which is under China. At Mana village We visited the following.

1.     Ganesh Gufa – This is the place where Lord Ganesh has written the “Maha Bharath” while Ved Vyas is narrating the same.

2.     Vyas Gufa – This is the place where Ved Vyas has dictated the sacred “Maha Bharath” to Lord Ganesh as per the advice of Sage Narada. We saw the Stone Idols of Ved Vyas, Lord Vishnu, Vallabhacharya and also scriptures written on stone.

3.     Bhimphul – A single stone Bridge constructed by Bhim to facilitate Draupadi to cross river Saraswati during their “swargarohana” phase.

4.     Birth Place of Saraswati River – Saraswathi River took birth at this place. After flowing few yards it disappears and travels as “Antarvahini” till it confluences with other two river viz., Ganga, Yamuna at Triveni Sangam at Allahabad. Hence having darshan of river Saraswathi and bathing in its waters at this place is considered to be the most rarest opportunity and sacred.

Incidentally the period from 31st May,2013 to 11^th June,2013 called “Pushkara Kala” or Kumbhmela for Saraswathi river and bathing during this period is considered to be highly sacred. We had the opportunity to bathe in the river Saraswathi. We also took bath in Alakananda which flows parallel to river Saraswathi and confluences at this place.

  

5.     One can see all shops and stalls are written as last Indian shop.

We returned to our hotel at around 3 p.m., after having lunch enroute.

At around 6.00 p.m. we visited lord Badrinarayan Temple. The temple is situated in between Nar Narayan Mountains and infront of Shivling Mountain. We had a good darshan of Lord Badri Vishal along with Sridevi, Bhoodevi, Kubera, Garuda Narada, Uddava and Sudarshan. Along side of main sanctorum Nara Narayana stone idols are situated. Inside  the temple complex we had darshan of Mata Lakshmi Devi, Lord Hanuman, Lord Gantha Karna (Kshetra palaka of the temple) small temples.

We made arrangements with local pandit for next days “Pinda Pradhan” Kriya and evening Special Darshan and returned to hotel. Finished our dinner and rested for the day.

Day 11 ( 08.06.13) – Badrinath       

We finished our morning preliminaries and started at 8.30 a.m., from hotel to Badrinath Temple to perform “ Pinda Pradan” kriya.

The Pandit with whom we made arrangements was waiting for us at the place, took us to the “Tapt Kund”, a hot water spring and made us to have a bath in the Kund before we start the Kriya. We finished the “Pinda Pradan” Kriya at a place called “Brahma Kapal” just few meters away from Taptkund and at the banks of river Alakananda, in one hour’s time. We then drove to “Andhra Ashram” where we were served good Andhra food cooked and served by Andhra Brahmins. We had our lunch there and returned to our hotel at around 2.00 p.m., After resting for a while we started at 4 p.m. to temple to have the evening special “Vishnu Sahsranama parayana darshan”  the cost of which is Rs. 900/- per couple. We had a good darshan and Prasad and returned to our hotel at around 9.00 p.m. and rested for the day.

Day 12 ( 09.06.13) – Badrinath to Rudra prayag – 155 kms    

Via Vishnu Prayag, Joshi Mutt, Nand prayag, Karna Prayag.

We left our hotel at 7.40 a.m., to Rudra Prayag.

a)        Reached Vishnu prayag ( 32 kms) the confluence of two rivers viz., Alakananda and Dhavala Ganga. Car reached till the Bathing Point. However the steps which lead to the water are so steep, that we couldn’t dare enough to climb down the steps to take bath in this prayag instead collected waters in our bottles and did “Prokshna”  with the sangam waters at the same place.

b)       Thereafter we travelled another 19 kms to reach Joshi Mutt. This Mutt is established by most close disciple of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya viz., Totakacharya. During winter season when the Badri Vishal Temple is closed due to heavy snow fall, the daily puja rituals are perfomed here.  Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya has kept at this place, the 1^st of five Spatik Shiv Lingas given by Lord Shiva to him during his Kailash yatra. We had the opportunity to have darshan of this Maha Shiv Ling made of Spatik with its glowing beauty. We have also visited the following other temples in the same premises.

1.     Sri Raja Rajeshwari Devi Temple

2.     Bhavishya Kedarnath Temple.

3.     Sri Lakshmi Narayana Temple

4.     Sri Totakacharya Mandir.

5.     Kalp Vriksh – 2500 years old where under sri Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya has done tapas. The tree trunk and roots although appear to be quite old, the leaves and branches are fresh and green.

6.     Under the Kalp Vriksh, small temple of Lord Shiva is there to have darshan.

7.     Lord Hanuman.

8.     Bhishmacharya on Ampasayya.  

c)        Thereafter we travelled another 56 kms further to reach Nand Prayag. This is a place where two rivers Alakananda and Nandakini confluence. Here also the car reaches till the Bathing Point.  The steps are not so steep and can be climbed down easily. There are reasonable arrangements for changing dress etc. We had a good holy dip in the river confluence and collected water in our bottles to carry it back home.

d)       Thereafter travelled another 21 kms further to reach Karna Prayag. This is a place where two rivers Alakananda and Pindara Ganga confluence. Here also the car reaches till the Bathing Point.  But the place situated amidst the main market area and there is no privacy for women to take bath. The path to reach the water is long and steps are also steep but can be managed to climb down with little extra effort. We, men had a good holy dip in the river confluence and collected water in our bottles to carry it back home.

We travelled another 47 kms and reached Rudra Prayag at 5.00 p.m., and checked into Hotel “Balbir Palace” Finished our dinner and rested for the day.

Day 13 ( 10.06.13) – Rudra prayag to Rishikesh – 134 kms    

Via Srinagar, Dev Prayag

We left our hotel at 7.50 a.m., and had a holy bath at Rudra prayag Bathing Ghat, which is 4 kms away from our hotel. Thereafter left Rudra Prayag at 9.30 a.m.

After travelling another 72 kms, at 1.40 p.m. we reached Dev Prayag, the confluence place of two rivers viz., Alakananada and Baghirathi.  The car could reach one side of the river, whereas the bathing point is on the otherside of the river. We had to walk a few meters and cross a bridge and further walk few yards to reach the exact point for bathing. However, the facilities at the ghat are reasonably good and provision is made for taking dip in the river confluence. We had a good holy dip in the river and came back to our car. Then we proceeded for lunch at Devprayag and travelled another 70 kms to reach Rishikesh at 4.30 p.m. We checked into Hotel “ Tapovan Resorts”. After refreshing ourselves we left for city tour. We visited Ram Jhoola, Gita Bhavan, Shivanand Ashram, Prachin Rameshwar Temple, Kali kamli Baba Mandir, Lakshmi Narayan Mandir and returned to hotel. Finished our dinner and rested for the day.

Day 14 ( 11.06.13) – Rishikesh to New Delhi – 224 kms    

Via Haridwar, Meerut, Modinagar, Ghaziabad

We had a holy bath at Ganga River after crossing Laksman Jhoola about a kilometer distance from our Hotel.

After finishing Breakfast, we left our hotel at 9.45 a.m., and proceeded towards New Delhi. Enroute we had our lunch at Haldirams at Mansoorpur at 3.50 p.m. and reached new Delhi at 5.15 p.m. After checking in hotel Sweet Inn for the night stay, we finished our dinner at Adyar Anand Bhavan and rested for the day.

Day 15 ( 12.06.13) – New Delhi to Bangalore/Vizag    

Early morning we left for the Airport to take a flight back to Bangalore at 9.30 a.m. and reached Bangalore at around 12 noon. Similarly my sister and brother-in-law also left for New Delhi Airport to take their flight back to Vizag at 3.30 p.m. and reached Vizag at 6.30 p.m.

We are back at our sweet home after a long tour for 15 days with long cherished sweet memories.

A trip like this would not be possible without the blessings of the Almighty,  proper planning, knowledge about the places which is very much available in the e-media, guidance of people who have earlier visited such places , forward thinking of what one may require during the entire trip, correct timing of the trip as the season has to permit us to go there and above all preparing ones body – physically and mentally. Regular walks, proper diet – healthy one not heavy one, timely exercise to keep the body fit, breathing exercises – praanayam  which helps one and all when we travel to places which are on the Mountains, and most important of all proper travel and tour organizer. In our case we had engaged Tour My India team – Mr. Anil Rana and Mr. Anoop Rana , without whose help this tour would not have been possible as we wanted it to be. The most important of all a good vehicle with an excellent driver is what makes a trip a memorable one. We were fortunate to have a very good car with a very contained and controlled driver, who is an excellent driver, very careful  driving, cool minded, very well-mannered with a decent dress sense. He was always on time and he behaved like one amongst us. We thank Mr. Devender Thakur for his best driving skills and for making our trip a safe and a most memorable one.

I take this opportunity to thank all my relatives and friends who called us to wish a safe and happy journey, without whose wishes  probably the enthusiasm would not have been this strong.

Not to forget all people who helped us all through our trip guiding us and helping us to have excellent and memorable darshan – thanking them from the bottom of our heart for all the help that they have done to us.

The most important of all, we are really thankful to Lord Shiva and Mata Parvathi along with Ganga Maiyya for allowing us to step into their holy land and having permitted us to have a holy bath in all the theerthas .

A few more things one will have to keep in mind is, food that is available during the whole yatra may not be as tasty as one would expect.  Reasons could be various – height  , proper atmosphere, lack of oxygen  and water. Since this is a theertha yatra – our prime objective should be darshans and holy dips in the rivers, all other preferences like food , sleep, travel, road conditions, distances etc should take a back seat .

Even before we could come out of the tour memories , we were shocked to see the news on the devastation that has taken place a day after we reached our destinations . We pray God to show mercy on all the piligrims who were affected by the nature’s fury.

Mr & Mrs. N V S Rama Rao

Bangalore

20^th June 2013