Day 23 - Almora

Day 23


Almora is a hill station in the state of Uttarakhand. It is situated in the Kumaon mountains of the Himalayas in eastern Uttarakhand. It is surrounded by the thick forests of pine and fir trees. It was the seat of power of Chand Dynasty who ruled this land for almost one thousand years. Almora is the agricultural base and a trade center of dynamic activity.



How to reach here:

By Air: Nearest airport is the Pant Nagra airport which is 4hrs away.

By Rail: Nearest railway station is at Kathgodam station which is 91 Kms away.


Languages spoken: Hindi, Kumauni , Garhwali and English.


Best time to visit: April to June and September to November.



Must eat: Bal Mithai



Famous Restaurants: Bhagwati, Himsagar, Shikhar, shyam and Mount Heaven




Places you must visit:


Kasar Devi Temple is an anciet temple built on a mountain peak in the second century. The temple finds mention is in the second chapter of Skand Purana. It is said that Swami Vivekanand came here to meditate.





Bright End Corner is a place in Almora famous for its sunrise and sunset points. It is a place where one can listen to his soul in serenity and tranquility of the surrounding environment.



Chitai temple has the presiding deity Lord Shiva , who is referred here by the name Lord Gollu. History says that this temple was built by a general of Chand dynasty. The temple is characterized by the number of bells hanging in the premises.These bells are hung by the devotees as an offering making a wish or as a thanksgiving for fulfilling the wish.



Katarmal Sun Temple is the second important Sun temple in India, first being the Konark temple in Orissa.  This 800 year old temple complex has one main temple and surrounded by 45 smaller shrines. This temple has an unique architectural style and the images carved on the walls are intricately done.



Almora fort is a valuable asset of Chand Dynasty given to the people. After the Indian Independence this fort was converted into District Collector's office. This fort is situated at the highest point at Almora bazaar.



Lakhuudiyar is a host of prehistoric rock paintings of human beings , animals, lizards, group of dancers etc. Lakhuudiyar is said to exist since Bronze age.




Phulseema and Pharkanauli  are other sets of beautiful rock paintings of Bronze age. Red lines over the rocks make these paintings peculiar.



Deer Park is a beautiful park for evening walks.



Nanda Devi Temple is the patron goddess of the local people and the erstwhile of Chand dynasty. Hundreds of year old, this temple carries deep faith of people from the area. The statues and images carved on the walls of the temple are intricately carved.



Govind Vallabh Pant Public museum is the only museum in Almora which has rich collection of fascinating items relating to history, archaeology and ones having cultural significance.



Binsar is a town located 30 Kms away from Almora , which is nestled among thick forest. It was the summer capital of the Chand Rajas. The Binsar wildlife sanctuary attracts tourists who are enthusiastic about viewing animals and birds.Binsar has an enchanting beauty that provides peace of mind and soul.



Jageshwar is a prestigious Hindu religious location near Almora. It is believed that it is an abode of one among the twelve Jyotirlingas. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This place is considered sacred as the rivers Surabhi and Nandini flows down and join at this place. This place is renowned for having 124 temples. The oldest being the Mrityunjay temple and the biggest being the Dindeshwar temple. The temples are surrounded by luscious greenery of pine and fur forests. The architecture and the superb carvings reflect the cultural efficacy.

Day 22 - Badrinath

Day 22


Badrinath is one of the most important sites of  the  Char Dhams in the northern state of Uttarakhand in India.This place is beautifully set in the backdrop of the colossal Neelkanth mountain peak and on the banks of river Alaknanda at an elevation of 3313 m.The term Badrinath is a derivative of Badri, which means the place where berries grow abundantly. Renowned for the holy shrine of Lord Badri, the holy abode of Lord Vishnu is liked by all for its effervescent spirituality and loveliness. The twisting Alaknanda river and the copious dazzling waterfalls augments the compelling splendor of the adjoining nature. This holy city is an ideal location for those who want to be in serene environment.


How to reach here:

By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun which is 317 Kms away.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Kotdwar station which is 297 Kms from Badrinath.

Best time to visit: June to September

Languages spoken: Hindi and Garhwali


Must eat: Satvik pure vegetarian food

Famous Restaurants: Limited options

Places you must visit:


Badrinath Temple was built by Adiguru Shankaracharya in the 8th century. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu sculpted in black stone, which is one meter high and has a meditative pose. This temple  is located on the banks of  the holy river Alaknanda. The colorful Singh-Dwara at the entrance is very artistic creation. This temple is divided into three sections that are sanctum sanctorum or garbha griha, sabha mandap where devotees assemble and darshan mandap where prayers and rituals are conducted. This temple has 15 idols of other Hindu Gods.



Tapt Kund is the abode of Lord Agni and is famous for its medicinal properties. It is a natural thermal spring with the temperature of water around 45 degrees celcius. It is believed that the holy dip in this kund helps devotees relieve from their sinful deeds and thoughts.



Narada  Kund is another hot water spring situated near Tapt Kund. It is the place where the idol of Lord Vishnu was recover by Adi Shankaracharya . It is named after the saint Narada muni who wrote Narada Bhakti sutra at this place. Narada Kund, a recess in the Alaknanda river , is covered by a rock, which prevents the flow of water.



Neelkanth peak is named after Lord Shiva. It is also known as 'Garhwal Queen'. It's snowy peak shaped like a pyramid forms the background of Badrinath. This peak is encompassed on either side of the temples of Nar and Narayan. These two mountaain ranges are just on the banks of river Alaknanda. This peak is situated at an average elevation of around 6597 meters above sea level. Neelkanth is the site where sun casts its first rays.



Yogdhyan Badri is situated 13Kms from Badrinath at Padukeshwar near Govind Ghat. It is an ancient temple of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Pandu, the father of Pandavas meditated at this place so that Lord Vishnu can cleanse him for his sins of killing two mating deer. the Pandavas were born at this same place and Pandu died at this place too. It is believed that Pandu had installed an idol of Lord Vishnu in Yogdhyan (meditative) pose, hence the name Yog Dhyan Badri. this idol is carved from Shaligram stone which imparts a beautiful look.



Mata Murti temple is dedicated to the mother of Lord  Nar and Narayan. According to mythology, Mata Murti prayed Lord Vishnu to take his next avatar by coming out from her womb.Lord Vishnu happily agreed and came into this world as twins, Nar and Narayan to kill a monster.



Charanpaduka is a beautiful rock which holds the foot prints of Lord Vishnu.It is said that when Lord Vishnu descended from Vaikunth he stepped on this boulder. It is at an height of 3380 feet and beholds enchanting serenity and beauty.It is believed that the holy darshan of Lord's footprints would retrieve all the ailments and troubles of the devotees.



Alka Puri is located in Chamoli district and is situated 15 Kms from Badrinath. It is believed to be the home of Yakshas, Gandharvas and Kuber. It is the place from where Alaknanda river originated from the Satopanth glacier and glacier snouts of Bhagirath- Kharak.



Mana village situated at a distance of 4Kms from Badrinath and inhibited by Indo-Mongolian tribe known as Bhotias is the last village of  India and is located at the Tibetan border. It is famous for its Vyas Gufa, Vasundhara waterfalls and Bheem Pul.



Vyas Gufa or Vyas cave is the place where Ved Vyas dictated entire Mahabharata to Lord Ganesha so that he could write. Ved Vyas also meditated here.



Ganesh Cave is the natural cave where Lord Ganesha wrote the Mahabharata as dictated by Ved Vyas.



Vasundhara falls are surrounded by beautiful mountain peaks and are situated in the Mana village. The water of this cascading falls flows down from the height of 400 ft and is situated at an altitude of 12000 ft. It is believed that the water of these falls turns awy from the people who are not pure at heart. From a distance, the water from these falls seems to be like milk flowing down the mountain.



Bheem Pul is a huge rock which acts as a natural bridge across the Saraswati river. The Saraswati river flows with force between the two mountains and joins the Alaknanda river. It is believed that Bheem, one of the five Pandavas , threw a huge rock in order to make a path to join the  two mountains so that Draupadi  could easily walk over it.



Sheshnetra is a large stone which is marked with an eye of  a legendary snake situated at a distance of 1.5 Kms from Badrinath. It is said that Lord Vishnu took  retreat on a gigantic snake named Ananta Shesha. This sacred site has the natural imprints on the rock. It is also believed that Sheshnetra guards the  temple of Lord Badrinath.



Satopanth is a triangular lake with three corners spread within the circumference of about one Kilometer. This lake is situated 4402 meters above sea level. This lake is surrounded by snow covered peaks and is named after the Gods Mahesh, Vishnu and Brahma. It is believed that these Gods occupy one corner each of this lake.



Brahma Kapal Ghat is a flat platform on the banks of river Alaknanda , where Lord Brahma is believed to reside. Hindus perform propitiating rites for their deceased ancestors. It is also believed that Brahma's head had fallen off from Shiva's Trident with the blessings of Lord Vishnu here at Brahma Kapal.

Day 21 - Kedarnath

Day 21


Kedarnath  is one among the holiest pilgrim center in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India. It is one of the Char Dhams of the north. This serene place is closely associated with the mighty Pandavas. According to the legends, it is said that in order to evade from the Pandavas, Lord Shiva made himself hidden in the form of the bull here at Kedarnath, and when noticed by the Pandavas, the Lord drudge himself in to the earth leaving the hump on the surface. This lovely land on the majestic backdrop of the lovely Himalayas is naturally bestowed with some of the wonderful vistas of the nature. Kedarnath presents as a picturesque location, where one can feel the serenity and tranquility of nature in its full bloom midst the sacred environment of holy shrine.



How to reach here:

By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun which is 230 Kms away.

By Rail: Nearest railway station is at Rishikesh which is 221 Kms away.


Best time to visit: March to October


Languages spoken: Hindi, Garhwali and English


Must eat: Satvik food


Famous Restaurants: Options Limited.



Places you must visit:



Kedarnath Temple is believed to have been built by Pandavas and is almost 1000 years old. It was refurbished by Adiguru Shankaracharya in the 8th century. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the idol is in the form of pyramidal linga.It is one of the 12 Jyotirlangas in the country and is revered highly.The statue of Nandi, the divine bull of Lord Shiva , stands at an entrance of the temple.The present temple encompasses a hall tahat has the images of Pandava brothers, Nandi, Veerabhadra and Lord Krishna.




Shankaracharya Samadhi - The famous Hindu philosopher Adi Shankaracharya was a great scholar and saint who established four sacred Dhams in India and after that he went to his samadhi at an early age of 32. This samadhi poses as an idyllic and tranquil location to the devotees. The magnificent temple in the backdrop adds its serenity.



Bhairav Nath Temple holds much religious significance. It is believed that when the Kedarnath temple remains close during winter due to heavy snow fall, the deity in Bhairavnath temple guards the main temple complex. The legends says that this guardian deity of the Kedarnath temple is blessed with Vaishno Devi  and whoever visits her holy abode will also pay their respect to Bhairav nath. The visit to Vaishno Devi is incomplete without the Darshan of Bhairav nath at Kedarnath.





Chorabari ( Gandhi Sarovar) is a picturesque lake situated near the main temple. The popular belief is that it was from here Yudhisthira endeavors his heavenly abode. This lake presents an awesome scenario of nature  , which is really mesmerizing. The ice perched on the surface of this lovely lake makes an enthralling effect.



Vasuki Tal is one of the prettiest sights in Kedarnath. The glittering clear water lake is surrounded by lofty hills from all sides.It offers an ideal trek for courageous tourists.



Gaurikund - The trek to the Kedarnath temple begins from Gaurikund which is 14 Kms from here. There is a temple dedicated to Gauri, the wife of Lord Shiva here. This place is also famous for its thermal springs believed to be infused by medicinal properties. It is believed that Gauri has meditated at this place.



Sonprayag is a tiny hamlet situated at the convergence of two majestic rivers , Mandakini and Basuki. The hoary mountain peaks and the gushing waters in the rivers attribute a majestic charm to this tranquil location. The devotees believe that the simple dip in this river would fetch them with high rewards.



Triyuginarayan is a place of mythological importance located 25 Kms from Kedarnath in a beutiful village of Rudraprayag. It is believe that Lord Shiva tied a nuptial knot with his consort Goddess Parvati  at this place. The eternal flame which burns here even today is said to have been the witness to their marriage.This place is also famous for an old temple in the name of Lord Vishnu.




Guptkashi is famous for its Ardhanareeshwar and Vishwanath temples. As per Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva  makes himself hidden here for some time. Ardhanareeshwar is a divine concept that depicts the deity in the form of half man and half woman.The temple portrays Shiva as half male and half female.The temple has two streams of water , which symbolizes the holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna.The entrance of the temple is guarded by the image of  Nandi bull.





Deoria Tal is a lake of crystalline clear water that adds charismatic appeal to its beautiful surroundings. It is believed that it was this place where the mighty Pandavas were asked queries by Yaksha. The lake is surrounded in a soothingly inclined field bounded by a deep wood cover.

Day 20 - Gangotri

Day 20

Gangotri is one among the Char Dhams in Uttarakhand, India. The history of Gangotri dates back to centuries when Goddess Ganga transformed into a river to dissolve the sins of King Bhagirath's forefathers, following his penance. In order to reduce the impact of her fall, Lord Shiva gathered Ganga into his matted locks to save the earth from devastation. This place is known as the place of origin of river Ganga.

How to reach here:

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun (226 Kms) is the nearest airport.

By Rail: Haridwar Junction railway station which is 223 Kms away is the nearest railway station.

Best time to visit: April to June and September to November

Languages spoken: Hindi and Garhwali

Must eat: Satvik non- vegetarian food.

Famous Restaurants: Limited Options.

Places you must visit:

Gangotri Temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga, was built by a Gorkha Commander, Amar Singh Thapa in the 18th century. The temple was renovated by the Maharaja of Jaipur in the 20th century. The sacred stone near the temple is believed to be the exact spot whre the river has descended from the heaven. 

Gaumukh Glacier is considered to be the precise source of the Bhagirathi river later called as river Ganga. The place resembles Cow's mouth hence the name. Gaumukh is the second largest glacier in India, Siachen being the first.The dip in the ice cold water of Ganga is supposed to be very sacred and holy. This dip is supposed to wash away all your sins and lease you new life. The trek to this glacier is easy but it goes through rocky path.

Jalmagna Shivling (Submerged Shivling) is a natural rock Shivling submerged in the river and is only visible during winters when the water level goes down. The submerged Shivling is a divine sight for those who are lucky enough to witness it. The very sight gives the feeling of having seen God himself !

Nandavan Tapovan are the two arduous trekking spots that offers panoramic view to the Shivling peaks.

Bhairon Ghati lies near the confluence of Jat Ganga and Bhagirathi. There is a Bhairav nath temple which is surrounded by thick dense forest. 

Uttarkashi is situated at the banks of river Bhagirathi at an altitude of 1150 mts above sea level. It is home to various famous temples of Lord Vishwanath temple, Ekadash Rudra temple, Bhairav temple, Kuteti Devi temple and Gyaneshwar temple. It is also known to host the Magh mela when pilgrims from all over the country bring along their village deity to take a dip in the holy water of Bhagirathi.

Kedar Tal is a  crystal clear lake and is a spectacular creation of God that lies at an altitude of 4425 mts above sea level. It is a best place for a long trek.

Harsil is a scenic village in Uttarkashi. The attraction of this Hamlet lies in its picturesque scenery and apple orchards. It is an inspiring place for all aspiring artists. 

Gangnani  is a small town in Gangotri. It is famous spot to view the beautiful mountain peaks. It is also famous for its thermal water springs. It's spectacular and tranquilizing surroundings make it a good place for meditation. 

Maneri is a latest entrant to the tourist attractions in Gangotri. The main attraction here is the dam built across the Bhagirathi river where the water is channeled to the turbines through an 8 km long tunnel built in Tiloth at Uttarkashi. The added attraction is the beautiful lake developed as a result of the dam. 

Dayara Bugyal is a breathtakingly beautiful meadow situated at a height of 3048 m above sea level. Untouched by human civilization, it offers picturesque view of the lovely Himalayas.One can easily plan a trek to Dayara and witness a Sheshnag temple on the way. It also provides excellent ski slopes during winters.

Dodi Tal is a clear sparkling lake nestled midst the thick dense forest. It is a very famous trekking site. The lakeside has accommodation in the form of beautiful rest houses, camp sites and log cabins.

Nachiketa Tal is a picturesque splendid beauty of a crystal clear lake surrounded by dense forest and mind blowing views of mountain peaks. It has a small temple at the backdrop. No accommodation is provided at this place. The lake is named after Nachiketa, the son of saint Uddalak.