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About Do Dham Yatra
Devbhoomi or the Land of Gods, is home to a number of major Hindu pilgrimage sites. Bucket list of every devotee has Dham Yatras included in them, Among Dham Yatras the most popular places include Kedarnath and Badrinath. Located in the middle of the Himalayan peaks, Kedarnath temple is said to have been suppressed under Ice for around 400 years. Badrinath is located at an elevation of around 3,100 m, it is also known as the Sapta Badri which is around 218 kms away from Kedarnath Temple.
History of Do Dham Yatra
As the epitome of religious belief Do Dham Yatra holds special significance in Hindu Mythology and culture. Everyone who deeply believes, finds Do Dham Yatra as one step closer to god. Do Dham Yatra is a journey of solace to Kedarnath and Badrinath.
Built around 1000 years ago, buried under ice for approximately 400 years, this temple has faced bruises by continuous falling of ice rocks from 13th CE to 17th CE. Devoted to Lord Shiva, this holi temple Kedarnath, has one of the most unique-shaped Jyotirlinga. There are many legends associated with Kedarnath temple of Uttrakhand, one is linked with the famous epic of Hindu Mythology, Mahabharata. Legends believe that after the Kurukshetra war Pandavas couldn’t attain inner peace in the guilt of killing their own kin. After ruling in Hastinapur for 100 years, Pandavas crowned Abhimanyu’s son as the next king and left in search of Lord Shiva along with Draupadi. Wherever Pandavas went in search of Lord Shiva, he moved away from that place and shifted somewhere else. Ultimately he settled in Gupt Kashi and when Pandavas finally reached there, he incarnated himself as a bull but when Bhima spotted him, Lord shiva started disappearing into the earth. Before Lord Shiva could entirely disappear, Bhima caught hold of a part of his back and the same part remained out of the earth, which led to the birth of pyramid shaped Jyotirlinga. It is believed that this temple was built by Pandavas. Another legend says that when the two twins, Nar and Narayan performed penance to Lord Shiva, after a rigorous prayer he was impressed and appeared before them. The twins requested Lord Shiva to stay in Kedarnath forever and thus, Lord Shiva transformed into Linga and rested here.
It is an unwritten religious rite to visit, the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to popular beliefs, Lord Vishnu was lectured by sage Narada when he saw Goddess Laxmi massaging his feet. Lord Vishnu then sat for meditation in Padmasana, for a very long time unaware of the cold weather. His consort Goddess Laxmi protected Lord Vishnu in the form of Badri tree while he was engrossed in meditation. Delighted by Goddess Laxmi’s action he named the place as Badrika ashram and he was recognized as Badrinath (husband of Badri vishal that is goddess Laxmi). Thus Lord Vishnu is depicted in Padmasana posture at the Badrinath temple.
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Places to Visit near Do Dham Yatra
- Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi:Â Placed behind the esteemed Kedarnath temple, saint Shankracharya is said to have established four dhams that are popularly visited by pilgrims. He is believed to have attained Nirvana and merged into land where he tread upon. All the tourists who visit this place can feel spiritual and physical rejuvenation in themselves.
- Shri Bhairavnath Temple:Â Revered to Lord Bhairav, this temple is situated at top of the hill treating the eyes of viewers with mesmerizing sights of Himalayas and the entire Kedarnth valley. The divine deity of the temple is also known as Kshetrapal (the guardian of the region), who carries a Trishul as a weapon and a dog with him.
- Vasuki Tal:Â Vasuki Tal is situated at 13,600 ft altitude which is a delight to trekkers and pilgrims both. On your trek you will be able to witness majestic sights of crystal clear water and scenic landscapes, to reach the lake and attain tranquility.
- Chandrashila:Â It is believed that Lord Laxman from the epic Ramanayana had meditated here at Chandrashila which is 13000 ft above sea level. Other than reference to spirituality Chandrashila also excites trekkers with stunning scenes.
- Rudra Meditation Cave:Â It is a modern meditation cave that gained fame after Narendra Modi visited Rudra meditation cave before the 2019 elections. It is a place away from the chaotic world for people who want to meditate truly.
- Sonprayag: Famous among the pilgrims for its spiritual significance Sonprayag, is a meeting point of Basuki and Mandakini rivers. Pilgrims usually visit this place to take a dip in holy water, while some want to cleanse their sins some want to attain moksha.
- Charanpaduka: A trek 3 kms away from Kedarnath will take you to Charanpaduka, which has a rock with imprints of footprint. It is believed by legends that this is an imprint of Lord Vishnu’s foot from the time when he first set his foot on earth.
- Brahma Kapal: Wouldn’t you love to visit a religious site where people believe that Lord Brahma still exists. As it is located on the shores of river Alaknanda, it is a place where many visitors arrive to immerse ashes of their deceased family members.
- Vyas Gufa:Â This sacred site is notably famous because people believe this is the place where Maharishi Ved Vyas and Lord Ganesha sat down to document the epic of Mahabharata and sage Vyas also documents some other important documents and Vedas here.
- Gaurikund: Gaurikund is not only the basecamp for Kedarnath but also a sacred site in itself. Situated at an altitude of 1,982 meters above sea level, it is named after Hindu Goddess Mata Parvati. According to the beliefs spread across Hinduism, Gaurikund is the place where Mata Parvati meditated and did penance to win Lord Shiva’s heart.
- Guptkashi:Â Around 49 km away from Kedarnath, Guptkashi is renowned for its old Vishwanathan temple that is devoted to Lord Shiva.
- Vasundhara falls:Â This majestic waterfall is a major tourist attraction for pilgrims and nature lovers equally. It is located near the sacred Badrinath and everyone who visits Vasundhara falls is left speechless after the heavenly beauty they witness.
- Govindghat:Â Govind Ghat Lies in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand, this place acts as a basecamp for Valley of Flowers trek and sets the trail to holy pilgrimage site Hemkund Sahib too.
- Joshimath: At the height of 6100 ft it is recognised as a gateway to Himalayan treks and has religious significance too as it is one of the four ‘maths’ that are dedicated to the Atharvaveda of holy Hindu scriptures.
Things to do in and around Do Dham Yatra
- Trekking in Kedarnath:Â Trekking in Kedarnath excites both devotees and trekkers even after difficult trails and there are several treks near Kedarnath like Vasuki Tal, Paniya Tal, Panwali Kantha, Khatling Sahastra Trek, and Panwali Kedarnath.
- River Rafting in Rishikesh:Â Get a chance to explore river rafting from the mighty river ganga in Rishikesh and experience the joy and thrill of river rafting.
- Temple Hopping in Valleys:Â Uttarakhand is also known as Dev Bhoomi because it is home to a variety of temples, apart from offering prayers at two prominent Dhams, you will be able to visit Bhairavnath temple, Laxman temple etc and earn blessings.
- Take Holy Dip in Gaurikund:Â Gaurikund holds a large significance in hindu mythology. Legends believe that if you take a dip in holy Gaurikund in the Garhwal Himalayas, your sins are cleansed away and you become pure again.
- Scenic Photography:Â Photographers are often in search of places that can provide them stunning landscapes, Kedarnath and Badrinath are not just the places with spiritual significance but even the valleys and mountains around them adds to the allure of the place.
- Mana Village:Â Having tea in the first village of Mana while enjoying the wonderful surroundings.
- Hike to Vasudhara Falls:Â The Kedarnath and Badrinath region is not only famous for pilgrimage sites but also popular among the hikers. Hike to Vasundhara falls while witnessing the scenic landscapes and mesmerizing beauty of the region.
- Darshan at Badri Vishal Temple: Badrinath is not just a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu but it is also believed that this is home to Lord Vishnu’s vehicle, Garuda. Darshan of this sacred temple will make your life blessed and fulfill the religious and spiritual needs.
- Visit Narsingh Temple in Joshimath:Â God Narshima, is the deity of this Narsingh Temple in Joshimath, He is said to be one of the 7 incarnations of Lord Vishnu. When a pilgrim is visiting Kedarnath and Badrinath they make sure that they visit this temple in Joshimath too, to earn blessings from God Narshima.
Best Time to Visit Do Dham Yatra
Many devotees stay eager to go on Kedarnath Yatra throughout the year. Here are divisions according to seasons:
- Summers:Â From April to June the temperature remains around 5 degree celsius and this is the best time to complete the Yatra. If you are confused on how to plan the trip Go4Explore provides one of the best packages for Do Dham Yatra.
- Monsoon:Â From July to September Kedarnath and Badrinath face heavy rainfall and the area is prone to landslides. But the temperature hovers around 8 degree celsius and you will find less rush during these times. Don’t forget to carry raincoats, trekking shoes etc with yourselves to protect yourself from weather.
- Winters:Â During the months October to February, Kedarnath and Badrinath face heavy snowfall and temperature drops down to minus 2 degree celsius and the doors of Kedarnath and Badrinath are closed during this season.
How to Reach Do Dham Yatra
- Roadways:Â Well connected roads from Delhi to Rishikesh eases your travel journey. From Rishikesh you can either take a bus or book a cab to Guptkashi and Guptkashi takes the last motorable road to Gaurikund from where Kedarnth trek begins.
- Railways:Â Nearest railway stations to Kedarnath are Dehradun and Haridwar railway stations from where you can take a bus to Rishikesh and Guptkashi.
- Airways: Major cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata etc are connected to Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun. Dehradun’s airport is the closest airport from where you can reach Rishikesh. If you want to avoid trekking for Kedarnath Yatra you can take up helicopter service from Sirsi, Phata, and Guptkashi.
Festivals in Do Dham Yatra
How beautiful would it be to witness divine union of two most sacred and religiously significant temples? Badri-Kedar Utsav is a festival that takes place in June that creates a magical union of Lord Badrinath and Lord Kedarnath with a line up of various cultural programmes and a vibrant procession.
FAQ’s
1. How many days are required to visit Kedarnath and Badrinath?
Around 7-8 days are required to visit both Kedarnath and Badrinath.
2. Can you cover Badrinath and Kedarnath together?
Yes, it is possible to cover Badrinath and Kedarnath.
3. How far is Kedarnath from Badrinath?
The distance of Kedarnath is 243 kms from Badrinath.
4. What are the best months to cover Kedarnath and Badrinath?
April to June are the best months to cover both.
5. What is the closing date of Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham?
The doors of Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham usually close around the time of Diwali.
Explore our other Uttarakhand Tour Packages: Uttarakhand Backpacking Chopta Edition, Hampta Pass Trek, Valley of Flowers Trek, Madmaheshwar Trek.
