BADRINATH DHAM 4Night/5Days

it is built in the form of a cone with a small cupola of a gilt bull & spire. Legend dates the temple prior to the vedic age and the original temple is believed to be built by King Pururava and the icon of the lord carved by Vishwakarma, the creator of gods. A Hindu reformist Adi Shankaracharya re-enshrined the temple back in 8th century. A flight of steps takes pilgrims to the main gate & then into the temple. The temple is divided into three parts - the 'Garbha Griha' or the sanctum sanctorum, the 'Darshan Mandap' where the rituals are conducted and the 'Sabha Mandap' where devotees assemble. The Garbha Griha portion has its canopy covered with a sheet of gold offered by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar. The complex has 15 idols. especially attractive is the one-metre high image of Badrinath, finely sculpted in black stone. It represents Lord Vishnu seated in a meditative pose-padmasan.  A special feature of Akhand jyoti darshan is attached on the opening day.  This flame in the ancient lamp then continues to burn throughout the year.  The closing day of the temple is decided on the day of Desshera and is normally the second week of November. The temple closes with many ceremonies. A woollen Choli(cloth) woven by the young girls of molapa families of the Mana village is offered to the deity. This Choli is then taken off on the opening day of the temple and the fibers of the cloth are distributed amongst the devotees as Mahaprasadam.

Special pujas are also performed on behalf of individuals. Every puja must be preceded by a holy dip in the Tapta Kund. Some of the special morning pujas are Abhishek, Mahaabhishek, Geeta Path. Some special evening pujas are Aarti & Geet Govind. Such pujas are to be booked in advance. The temple opens at 0430 hrs & closes at 1300 hrs. Once again it opens at 1500 hrs & closes at 2100 hrs after the divine song Geet Govind. Rawal is the administrator-Pujari of the temple well versed in puja ceremonials & Sanskrit language.

Day 1: Delhi - Haridwar (215 kms/6hrs) 
Arrival Delhi Railway Station, Meet & Assist further drive to Hardwar, enroute lunch. Later drive to Hardwar transfer to your Hotel. Evenings there would be meditation and other relaxation exercises & Ganga Arti in Har-ki-Pauri . Back to your hotel, Dinner & Night stay. 

Joshimath: Adi Guru Shankaracharya, who came all the way from Kerels in the 8th Century A.D, perform penance under a tree here and after getting enlightenment, established a Math (religious centre), known as "Joshimath". The name Joshimath is derived from it. Temple of Narsingh and Nav Durga are located here.

Day 3: Joshimath - Badrinath (44kms/3hr)
Morning yoga and pranayam and other Yogic Kriya and B/F  proceed  to Badrinath en route visit Narsimha temple Shankracharya Math & drive to Badrinath, Check in Hotel. After lunch Visit Mana village 3kms from Badrinath temple (Vyas cave, ganesh cave, Bhim bridge, Saraswati udgam place, Keshav Prayag’ confluence of river Sarswati and Alaknanda) evening  visit  Badrinath Temple for evening Aarti and book morning Abhishek pooja darshan. Night stayt at Badrinath.

Panch Dharas : The five streams in badripuri-(a) Prahalad Dhara (b) Kurma Dhara (c) Urvashi Dhara (d) Bhrigu Dhara (e) Indra Dhara(glides down from Narain Parvat). The water from eachof these streams have different temperatures.

Day 4: Badrinath - Kirtinagar ( 202kms/8hrs)
Early morning, pilgrims after having a bath in the Taptkund have the Darshan of Badrivishal. Brahamakamal is significant for Pinddan Shraddh of ancestors (Pitrus) and proceed to Kirtinagar en route lunch Birhi. Arrived Kirtinagar fresh up attend meditation and relaxation class. Dinner and night stay.

Panch Shilas : (a) Narad Shila (b) varaha Shila (c) Garurh Shila (d) Markandeya Shila (e) Narshingh Shila. 

Narad Kund : A recess in the river, near Tapt Kund, forming a pool from where the Badrinath idol was recovered. 

Urvashi Temple :- Legends has it that God indra sent his celestial nymphs to distract the meditation of Nar & Narayan. To Shatter the pride of Indra, Narayan tore his feet from where several nymphs appeared more beautiful then that sent by Indra.  One of them named Urvashi then accompanied them all back to Indra.  On the outskirts of the Bamni village, there is a temple dedicated to Urvashi.

Brahama Kapal : It is a flat platform  a few yards north of the temple and on the bank of river Alaknanda. It is an important place for shhrad ceremony or offering of pinds to ensure a heavenly place for dead ancestors or manes. It is said hat ofter offering pind here, the manes are permanently enshrined in heaven and no more pinds are to be done elsewhere ever afterwords. Legends has it that when Shiva chopped of the fifth head of Brahma, it got stuck to his trident. Lastly with the blessing of Lord Vishnu at Badrivan, the head of Brahma fell down from the trident at this place & hence the name Brahma-Kapal (head).

Sheshnetra :  It is a large block of stone between tow small seasonal lakes carrying an eye of “Sheshnag” The eye formation is quite natural, 1.5kms. away is a boulder having an impression of the legendary serpent, better known as the Sheshnag's eye, it is believed that the seshnag waits at this place patiently to accompany the lord on his reincarnation.

Charanpaduka : It is  about 2kms.from Badrinath away is a beautiful meadow where the footprint of Lord Vishnu is seen on a boulder. 

Mana Village : Inhabited by an Indo-Mongolian tribe, it is the last Indian village before Tibet. The women of the village offer Choli  to the deity on closing day of the temple each year.

Bhim Pul : On the other side of Mana village, a massive rock forming a natural bridge, lies over the roaring Saraswati river. It presents a spectacular view of water thundering down through the narrow passage under the rock and is believed to have been placed there by Bhim, the second eldest among the five Pandava brothers.

Vyas Gufa (cave) : Near Mana Village, this is a rock-cave where Ved Vyas is believed to have composed the Mahabharata and the pauranic commentaries.

Alka Puri : 15 kms. from Badrinath and located via Mana village, lies the source of Alaknanda river from the glacier snouts of Bhagirath-Kharak and Sato Panth glaciers. The spot is supposed to be the adobe of Kuber, Yakshas and Gandharvas.

Sato Panth : 25 kms. from Badrinath and located at an elevation of 4,402 mts. is a three cornered lake of serene water with a circumference of about 1 km. The lake is named after the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and mahesh, who are believed to occupy one corner each of this lake. The trek is hazardous and full of dramatic views. An experienced guide is advisable. There is no place to rest except in the caves. Cooked food, stove etc. must be carried from Badrinath itself.

 

Day 5: Kirtinagar – Hardwar-Delhi  (123kms/4hrs & 215 kms/6hrs)
Morning yoga and pranayam and other Yogic Kriya and B/F  proceed  to  Hardwar, enroute lunch and  visit Rishikesh Local Sight Seeing (Ram Jhulla, Laxman Jhulla, Triveni Ghat, Parmarth Niketan, Shivananda Ashram & Gita Kutir). On arrival in  Haridwar,  pick satabdi train or same transport  Arr. Delhi, Drop at Railway Station/Airport Delhi.