Places to Visit in Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham

Uttarakhand, a northern state of India cuddles many pilgrimages including Badrinath and Kedarnath, and many eyes catching sightseeing. It is quite difficult to reach at such an altitude without proper reachable roads from Gaurikund. To overcome this tourists opt for ponies and palanquins rides from Gaurikund and now Helicopter service to Badrinath Kedarnath is also available.

Badrinath Dham

Badrinath is a pleasing town in Uttarakhand where spirituality lingers with the attractive beauty of nature. This charming town is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand settled at a height of around 3300 metres. Badrinath is the last stop off of the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand which starts with Yamunotri then accelerates towards Gangotri, Kedarnath, and finally to Badrinath. The origin of this spiritual land depends upon scores of legends that add up more beauty to the place.  The place is dedicated to Lord Vishnu holding a high faith among the devotees.

Best Places to Visit in Badrinath

There are many tourist destinations in Badrinath where tourists can spend his/her free time apart from the shrines like Ghangaria, Valley of Flowers, Narad Kund, Bheem Pul, Ganesh Cave, Panch Dhara, Satopanth Lake, etc.

Badrinath Temple

There is a belief among the devotees that one can attain Moksha from their death if one takes blessings at Badrinath Temple. You can spot a statue of Lord Vishnu which is approx 1m tall and there is one more idol of Lord Badrinath who is sitting in a pose of meditation where devotees come and pay homage.

Ghangaria

Situated at a height of 3100 meters above sea level this small town is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand and is known as a hidden gem of Uttarakhand. The town is a perfect spot for sightseeing in Uttarakhand which is a blend of adventurous activities, trekking, Gurudwara, and pilgrimage. During winters the place gets covered with snow due to heavy rainfall, so it is recommended to tourists not to visit this place during winter.

Valley of Flowers

A hub of nonnative and rare flowers seems like a bouquet gifted by nature to us. UNESCO has declared this beautiful gem of Uttarakhand a World Heritage Site due to its mesmerizing and soul-endowing beauty. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of lush green mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, and streams from the valley.

Hemkund Sahib

The water of this Kund is crystal clear and freezing cold, located at a height of 4329 meters above sea level situated in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Numerous waterfalls, beautiful lakes, dense forests, and the exhilarating view of the mountains are the major attracting elements of Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib. The star-shaped Gurudwara is the highest Gurudwara of the Sikh Community.

Auli

The place seems like “heaven on earth” studded with fascinating views of snow-capped mountains, lush green meadows, and the dripping sound of water flowing between the rocks. Auli gives a special treat to biking lovers who don’t like riding bikes between the mountains. Winter is a perfect time to visit this destination due to the skiing slopes and snow-covered views of the mountains.

Vasudhara Falls

Mana Village in Uttarakhand is famous for its soul-enriching views of natural beauty, lush green meadows, and several waterfalls. The water falls from a height of approx 400 ft and is situated at an altitude of 12000 ft. There is a myth that the water of Vasudhara waterfall changes its direction from those who are not of a pure heart. At a certain height, the water falling from the hills seems like milk is falling but this is just an illusion.

Tapt Kund

A sacred Kund which holds hot water springs containing Sulphur in it. There is a ritual performed by the devotees to take a bath in the Kund and then only they go to the temple for doing the philosophy of Lord Vishnu who is known as the God of Moksha. The Kund holds a mystery of keeping water hot even after the very low temperature at such an altitude.

Charan Paduka

Perched at an altitude of 3380 meters above sea level there is a beautiful rock that holds the footprints of Lord Vishnu and is situated at a distance of 3km trek from Badrinath. Devotees come here with a strong belief in getting free from their ailments and the wrongdoings done by them.

Tips for People Going Skiing

Please bring the accessories needed for skiing like a ski pair, ski gloves, ski jacket, snowboard, ski shoes, etc. Everyone is aware of the weather of Auli which sometimes ranges from -4 to -8 degree Celsius so it is strictly advised to bring woolen clothes with you.

Kedarnath Dham

A sacred place where the whole environment is filled up with the devotion of Lord Shiva whose shrine is perched at an altitude of 3,584 meters above sea level in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. Out of 12 Jyotirlinga, Kedarnath Temple is also one of them and even one of the Panch Kedar settled in Garhwal Himalayas. It is a bit difficult for the devotees to reach because of the dearth of penetrable roads from Gaurikund to the temple. Devotees need to trek a distance of around 14km from Gaurikund to Kedarnath Temple. The town is clubbed with around 200 shrines adorned with the idols of Lord Shiva. Apart from temples, there are other places that compel tourists to stop over there.

Places to Visit in Kedarnath

Kedarnath Temple

One of the most sacred and visited pilgrimages where devotees from everywhere pay their homage to Lord Shiva and come to seek his blessings. Its construction was done during the early 8^th century by putting many rectangular-shaped stones. To reach the temple devotees need to hike from Sonprayag for around 21km.

Vasuki Tal

A beautiful lake in Kedarnath where nature lovers can spend their leisure time as the intense beauty of the place takes tourists into a deep calmness. Brahma Kamal and some other Himalayan flowers make the place colorful and scented. The succulent terrains of the region make it a suitable spot for trekking.

Sonprayag

The place is located at the convergence of 2 holy rivers Vasuki and Mandakini. There is a belief among Hindus that if they take dip into the river then they will get the Moksha. Snow-capped mountains and lush green meadows add extra importance to this place.  It is located between Gaurikund and Rudraprayag on the way towards Kedarnath.

Gandhi Sarovar

Also known as Chorabari Tal is a lake that holds very clean water and is located on the mouth of Chorabari Bamak Glacier and a notable altitude of 3900 meters. Trekking, Adventures, and lakes act as the major tourist attractions of Gandhi Sarovar. Tourists should visit this place during the daytime as there is no weather consistency in this area.

Bhairav Temple

Just at a distance of 1km from Kedarnath Temple, devotees can pay their homage at one more shrine which is dedicated to Lord Bhairav (a form of Lord Shiva). Fascinating views of mountains and Kedar Valley can also be enjoyed from this temple. Gaurikund is the nearest reachable road from where tourists need to trek some distance.

Phata

A small pleasing village connected to Kedarnath via Uttarakhand which is famous for its helipad situated at a distance of 32 km. People use to stay here overnight and get refreshed after a tiring trekking and other activities. The sacred Gaurikund is located at a distance of just 18km from Phata.

Triyuginarayan

At a distance of 5km trek from Son Prayag, pilgrims can visit ancient temples which have architecture and designs similar to Kedarnath Temple, and the temples are dedicated to Lord Vishnu. There is a belief behind this place that this is the place where Lord Shiva got married to Goddess Parvati. The flame lit in front of the Shiva Temple witnesses as matrimony evidence.

Kalimath

Perched at a height of around 1800 meters and on the banks of the Saraswati River, the place is located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. This sacred place dedicated to Goddess Kali is a combination of serenity and divinity which are mixed into the environment of this place. There is a silver plate at the location to which devotees pay their homage and the temple of goddess Kali is also built around this holy silver plate.

Best Time to Enjoy Kedarnath and Badrinath Journey:

If one wishes to plan a trip to Kedarnath and Badrinath then May to November is the best time to visit the place but June and July should not be your preferred time as during monsoon there is a heavy chance of rainfall which may lead to landslides and so can spoil your journey. The temperature ranges between 12 degrees to 17 degree Celsius during summer which always result in a pleasing experience of the journey. Though the temperature is moderate during summer still tourists must carry woolens with them to make their journey hassle-free.