YATRA

PILGRIAGES CAN BE GREAT SPRITUAL SADHANA TO BEGINNNERS, MOVING PERHAPS IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS, PEOPLE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN TO YOU, YOU ACCLIMATIOZE OF ALL YOUR NATURAL DAY TO DAY ACT VITIES, YOU ARE COMPELLED TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENTLY, ONE ENNOBLING ENTHRALLING, DEVOTED IDEA OF REACHING THE ALTER OF LORD.  THIS BECOMES A POWERFUL PRACTICE, TO MAINTAIN CONTINUOUS REMEMBER.  ONCE OF THE LORD IN AND TROUGH THE DRAB AND DREARY DAILYROUTINES.  ACCORDING TO VEDANTA, “GOING ON A PILGRIMAGE (TEERTHA YATRA), IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE LOWEST PATH (ADHAMADHAM) AS COMPARED TO OTHER PROGRAMMES AND TECHNIQUES OF SELF UNFOLDMENT.  THIS IS ONLY WITH REFERENCE TO THE HIGHER AND SUBTLER PATHS WHICH CAN BE WALKED OLY BE THOSE WHO HAVE ACHIEVED INNER PURIFICATION AND THERFORE INVOKED IN TEIR MIND AND INTELLECT EQUIPMENT, ITS INHERENT POWERS OF CONTEMPATION.  YATRA IS A VERY POWERFUL MEANS OF SELF PURIFICATION, AND IF THE PILGRIM HAS EYES AND EARS TO WATCH AND EXERIENCE THE BEAUTY AND MAJESTY OF NATURE, THEN HIS CAPACITY TO CONTEMPLATE EXPLODES WITH IN HIMSELF AND HE REACHES HITHERTO UNKNOWN DEPTHS.  WHEN WE THUS CONSIDER ALL THE PILGRIM CENTRES OF THE WORLD, THE CHARDHAM (YAMUNOTRI, GANGOTRI, KEDARNATH, AND BADRINATH), AND MUST UNDOUBTEDLY BE DECLERET AS THE MOST SPECTACULAR.  THE SNOW PEAKS PEEPING NOW AND THEN OVER THE SHOULDERS OF PINE COVERD MOUNTAINS SLOPES, THE THUNDROUS MELODY SUNG IN A HUNDRED TUNES BE THE GUSHING WATERS OF MOTHER GANGES, ENDLESS VARIETIES OF NODDING FLOWERS, THE GLORIOUS SUNRISES AND SUNSETS, THE LOW SKY PINNED WITH TWINKLING STARS, THE MISTY MORNINGS AND THE GLOWING DUSKS.. THIS NATURE AT HER BEST, AT ALL TIMES, ALL ALONG THE ROUTE. 

SWAMI CHINMAYANANDA

CHARDHAM YATRA (TOUR)11Night/12Days

BADRINATH

Day 2: Haridwar - Barkot (220kms/7hrs)
Morning yoga and pranayam and other Yogic Kriya and B/F  proceed  to Barkot via Mussoorie. En route lunch and visit Kampty fall and  Lakahamandal (5kms /one side), visit the ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. After darshan drive to your onward destination Barkot Check in Hotel. Evenings there would be meditation and other relaxation exercises, dinner and night stay.

Lakhamandal - is a large village on the banks of Yamuna, known for its temple ruins. The ruins at Lakhamandal give an indication that in the past it must have been a major temple town. Many believe that Lakhamandal is the same Lakhshagriha described in Mahabharat.

Kaurava Prince Duryodhana had built a palace made of lac, in which he tried to burn the Pandavas alive. The villagers believe that there is a secret passage that emerges few kilometers downstream today in the center of the village there is a Temple dedicated to Bhagwati and Lord Shiva. In the temple complex stand two life size stone statues. Perhaps they are the Dwarpals of a much older temple. With the legend of Jay and Vijay, the Dwarpals at the gates of heaven. But most of the villagers believe the statues to be that of Bhima and Arjuna.

Day 3: Barkot - Yamunotri - Barkot (38kms/2hrs, local taxi drive 7 Kms/1hrs, 5kms/3hrs  trek one side) 
Morning yoga and pranayam and other Yogic Kriya and B/F  proceed  to Janki chatti, Hanuman chatti-Janki chatti(local taxi), trek start from Janki chatti to Yamunotri. Either by walk or by horse or by Doli at own cost. Arr. Yamunotri, One can cook rice by packing it in a cloth and dipping it in the hot water of the hot kund. Pilgrims take this cooked rice home as "Prasad". Here near the temple "Pooja" can be offered to Divya Shila, After taking bath in Jamunabai Kund's warn water and having "Darshan" of pious "Yamunaji" returning to Hanumanchatti. Later drive back to Barkot. Dinner  and Overnight stay. 

Day4:Barkot-Harsil (174 kms,7hrs)
Morning yoga and pranayam and other Yogic Kriya, After breakfast, we will proceed to Harsil - one the most beautiful valleys in the world. En-route we will stop  at Gangnani for hot water spring dip. Evening Meditation and relaxation class, Ganga Arti. Dinner and overnight at The Chardham Camp, or similer , Harsil. (B.L.D)

Day 5: Harsil – Gangotri-Uttarkashi/ Maneri (22kms/1hrs &100kms/4hrs) 
Morning yoga and Pranayam and other yogic Kriya & After breakfast, we proceed to Gangotri (22 kms/1hrs &100km/4hrs). On arrival take a holy deep in the River scared The Ganges, also called Bhagirathi at its origin. Perform pooja and relax in the lovely surrounding.  In the evening Darshan Vishwanath temple and visit Tapovan Kutir. Evening Meditation class & Dinner and overnight at Uttarkashi. (B.L.D)

Gangnani: Further up on way to Gangotri about 26 Kms from Maneri, is the hot water spring at Gangnani, where one can have refreshing bath in the kund called Rishikund. There is a temple near the kund dedicated to the Sage Parashar, believed to be the father of Ved Vyas.  

Gangotri Temple: The temple, constructed by Gnl. Amar Singh Thapa in the 18th Century, is situated on the right bank of Bhagirathi.

Day 6: Uttarkashi(Maneri)-Guptakashi(238 kms, 9hrs)
Morning yoga and Pranayam and other yogic Kriya & After breakfast, we proceed to  Guptakashi (228 kms/8 hrs) en rout lunch Kirtinatar and visit Rudraprayag (confluence of river Mandakin, coming from Kedarnath and Alaknanda river, coming from Alka puri Badrinath). Evening meditation and relation and arti dinner and night stay at Guptkashi.  (B.L.D)

 Day 7: Guptkashi - Gaurikund (32kms/2hrs) - Kedarnath (14kms Trek/6hrs) 
Morning yoga and pranayam and other Yogic Kriya and B/F  proceed  to  Gaurikund, Trek start from Gaurikund to Kedarnath (3584 mts) on foot or on by pony / Doli en route pit stop(Tea break) Rambada. Tour members should carry personal medicines, heavy woolen, tolietteries and clothes for an overnight halt at Kedarnath.  Check in Hotel. Later visit Kedarnath Temple in Arti and book morning Abhishek pooja darshan dinner and night stay. 

 Kedarnath Temple: An imposing sight, standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by lofty snow covered peaks. The present temple, built in 8th century A.D. by Adi Shankaracharya, stands adjacent to the site of an earlier temple built by the Pandavas. The inner walls of the assembly hall are decorated with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the exquisitely architecture Kedarnath temple is considered to be more than 1000 years old. Built of extremely large, heavy and evenly cut gray slabs of stones, it evokes wonder as to how these heavy slabs had been handled in the earlier days. The temple has a "Garbha Griha" for worship and a Mandap, apt for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form.

Shankaracharya Samadhi : The Samadhi of Adi Guru Shankaracharya is located just behind the Kedarnath temple. It is said that after establishing four sacred Dhams in India, he went into his samadhi at an early age of 32 years. the lake fascinates the visitors. 

 Bhaironath temple :- About half a kilometer away from Kedarnathji, a small temple is dedicated to Bhaironath.  It is worshipped on the opening and closing day of Sri Kedarnath Shrine. Ii is believed that when Kedarnathji temple is closed.  Bhaironathji protects this land from evil.

Day 9: Guptakashi-Badrinath(238kms/10hrs)

Morning yoga and pranayam and other Yogic Kriya, After breakfast, we proceed to Badrinath (238 kms / 10 hrs), via chopta, one of the most beautiful sites   on the whole trip. Enjoy the beautiful drive through medicinal forest on the way lunch joshimath . en route visit Narsimha temple (Joshimath), Shankracharya Math & drive to Badrinath, Check in Hotel.  evening  visit  Badrinath Temple for evening Aarti and book morning Abhishek pooja darshan. Night stayt at Badrinath.                         

In Badrinath:

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. 

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.

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.

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 every 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.

Day 10: Badrinath – Joshimath (44Kms/3hrs)

Early morning, pilgrims after having a bath in the Taptkund have the Abhishek Darshan  of God Badrivishal. Brahamakamal is significant for Pinddan Shraddh of ancestors (Pitrus) 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) and proceed to Joahimath en route visit Vishnu Prayag ( confluence of Dhouli Ganga and river Alaknanda) lunch Joshimath. evening visit Kalp tree. Evening back to Joshimath  meditation and relaxation class. Dinner and night stay.

Day 11: Joshimath – Haridwar (276kms/8hrs )
Morning yoga and pranayam and other Yogic Kriya and B/F  proceed  to  Hardwar, enroute visit Karn Prayag( confluence of river Pindari and river Alaknanda), Nandprayag(confluence of river Nandakini and Alaknanda river), Devprayag(confluence of river Bhagirthi and river Alaknanda river) en route lunch . On arrival in  Haridwar, Dinner and night stay, Hardwar.

Day 12: Haridwar - Delhi (215kms/6hr)
Morning yoga and Pranayam and other yogic Kriya & After breakfast, we proceed to Haridwar sight seeing Bilkeshwar Mahadev, Mayadevi temple, Daksh Prajapati temple) en route lunch arrived Delhi in evening. On Arr. Delhi, Drop at Railway Station/Airport.