9-Days Chardham Tour (ex-Haridwar) from 16-Jun-2008 to 26-Jun-2008

Sadhana, Priyanka and myself went for a Chardham Yatra conducted by the Chitari Travels with a group of 30+ pilgrims. We all enjoyed every moment of the tour and visited all these holy places. The tour comprised of very long tiring journeys, adverse whether, difficult treks and so on, but the enthusiasm of especially old one was really exceptional. Magnificent Himalayas, panoramic scenery, excellent management by Shri Deshmukh sir and his team made the tour possible and enjoyable.

The following links will take you to the day wise details of the tour :

Day 01 - Visit to Haridwar and Rishikesh on 16-Jun-2008

Day 02 - Haridwar to Jamnotri on 17-Jun-2008

Day 03 - Visit to Yamunotri-on-18-Jun-2008

Day 04 -Travel from Hanuman Chatti on 19-Jun-2008

Day 05 - Uttarkashi to Gangotri on 20-Jun-2008

Day 06 - Uttarkashi to Kedarnath on 21-Jun-2008

Day 07 - Kedarnath on 22 and 23-Jun-2008

Day 08 - Visit to Badrinath on 25-Jun-2008

Day 09 - Visit to Badrinath on 25-Jun-2008

Badrinath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu which is situated in the town of Badrinath in Uttarakhand, India. The temple and town form one of the four Char Dham and Chota Char Dham pilgrimage sites. The temple is also one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Badrinath—holy shrines for Vaishnavites.

Also vistited Badrinath, Bhim Pul, Ganesh Gufa, Vyas Gufa and origin of the  Saraswati River from Bhim Pul. It is believed that Saraswati  river disappeared in badrinath and appeared along with Ganga and Jamuna (Triveni Sangam) in Prayag 

Day 08 - Travel from Kedarnath to Badrinath on 24-Jun-2008

Kedarnath to Badrinath

Day 07- Visit to Kedarnath on 22 and 23 Jun-2008

Kedarnath The most remote of the four Chota Char Dham sites, Kedarnath is located in the Himalayas, about 3,583 m (11,755 ft) above sea level near Chorabari Glacier, the head of river Mandakini, and is flanked by snow-capped peaks, most prominently Kedarnath mountain. It was a 7-8 hours of wall with elevation but enjoyed thoroughly with Priyanka. The path was scenic and first time life experience of  observing the snow-studded peaks. Our tired ness run away with the vast site of the panoramic scene once the Kedarnath village was in site.

Day 06 - Uttarkashi to Kedarnath 21-Jun-2008

Uttarkashi to Kedarnath 21-Jun-2008

Tehri Dam  is the highest dam in India and one of the highest in the world. It is a multi-purpose rock and earth-fill embankment dam on the Bhagirathi River near Tehri in Uttarakhand, India. It is the primary dam of the THDC India Ltd. and the Tehri hydroelectriccomplex. Phase 1 was completed in 2006. The Tehri Dam withholds a reservoir for irrigation, municipal water supply and the generation of 1,000 megawatts (1,300,000 hp) of hydroelectricity. The dam's 1,000 MW variable-speed pumped-storage scheme is currently under construction with expected commissioning in May 2018.

Day 05 - Travel from Uttarkashi to Gangotri on 20-Jun-2008

Here we were unfortunate for not reaching the Gangotri due to landslide after Gangnani WaterSprings, Near Gangotri. 

Day 04 - Travel from Hanuman Chatti, Jamnotri to Uttar Kashi on 19-Jun-2008

Jamnotri to Uttar Kashi Again full day travel through the Himalayan ranges and visit to a couple of temples on the way and visit to Shri Kashivishwanath Uttarkashi.

Day 03 - Visit to Yamunotri on 18-Jun-2008

Yamonotri trek from Janki Chatti  was terrific and life time experience. It was full day walk which lasted more than 9 hours and tested our capabilities to reach Yamunotri temple. Quiet a few times, we thought we will not able to make it, but any with blessings from the God and Guru reached the sacred place. It was drizzling through out the day and chill was compulsive to keep walking in a one time use thin plastic rain coat.  Very satisfying day and enjoyed thoroughly.

The place where we stayed in Hanuman Chatti

Day 02 - Travel from Haridwar to Jamnotri on 17-Jun-2008

Full day Haridwar to Jamonotri travel was via Deharedun, Barkot was very snaky and scenic. We were experiencing the Himalayan Range for the first time. 

Day 01-Visit to Haridwar and Rishikesh on 16-Jun-2008

Haridwar and  Rishikesh 

A group of 30+ people for the Chardham Pilgrimage in  a temple in Rishikesh