trip advice planning – Trip Advisor Expert https://tripadvisorexpert.com Tour and Travel Blog Sat, 18 Apr 2020 06:20:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 Trip to Jibhi – Kullu – HP from Chandigarh https://tripadvisorexpert.com/trip-to-jibhi-kullu-hp-from-chandigarh/ Sat, 28 Sep 2019 14:45:57 +0000 http://tripadvisorexpert.com/?p=2344

These are some of the best tourist places in Jibhi which provide maximized visual treat. Getting a brief knowledge will provide you with detailed data about the next vacation planning. Keep scrolling down and read all about the places and what are they famous for!

  • Jalori Pass: For Pine Trees And Rocky Hills
  • Serolsar Lake: For A Mesmerizing Visual Treat

The distance of the Jalori pass from Jibhi is 12km. It is located at an elevation of 3000metres. This is a beautiful place where you can get dislodged in nature. You can listen to the minimal whispers of nature and also the sound of the breeze that flows. It is a must-visit place due to serenity brought due to the pine trees and the beautiful shapes of rocky hills. The surrounding of this place is mesmerizing, which makes it a must visit.

The encounter with some amazing plant life and wildlife, while passing by will let you know about the true aspects of nature. In a nutshell, the scenic beauty of this place makes it worth a visit. The feeling of being relaxed, tranquillity and free from the hectic world is the foremost reason to travel here. It simulates the paradise on earth. You should pack the desired clothes as per the season here. A trip between November to March needs proper woolen clothes as that is wintertime in this region.

Another one in the list is Serolsar Lake which is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Jibhi. It is covered up amid thick woods secured with pine trees. The lake lies calmly and is a visual treat to watch. Lake deceives the east of Jalori Pass, which is at an elevation of 3040 meters. It is a simple trail of five km, which begins from Jalori Pass. Trekking is the main choice to arrive at the lake.

Lounge around this lake or plunge your feet into the water to restore your spirit. Aside from fanciful visual treat, there is one fascinating truth related to the lake. Even though various Silver Oak trees encompass lake, one can’t see even a solitary fallen leaf on the outside of the lake. This is a direct result of two sparrows named Aabo that live close to the lake. Local people accept that at whatever point a leaf falls on the outside of the lake, these sparrows quickly take the leaves out. This is one of the most interesting stories related to this lake.

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Trip to Auli – Joshimath – Uttarakhand https://tripadvisorexpert.com/trip-to-auli-joshimath-uttarakhand/ Sun, 07 Jul 2019 14:00:25 +0000 http://tripadvisorexpert.com/?p=259 Trip to Auli – Joshimath – Uttarakhand
Auli is one of the most picturesque places I have been to. With seeing the mighty ranges to skiing in the fresh snow, Auli had it all. It does not just end here, Auli lies in the upper ranges of Himalayas and even though it is a famous tourist spot, the place does not look crowded.

In the 8th century AD, the great Guru Adi Shankaracharya is said to have tread on these fields. The temple built by him at Joshimath still exists. For hundreds of years, the colorful semi-nomadic tribes of the Bhotiyas, of the Mongolian stock, traversed the trails at Auli, locally called Thatauli. Their longhaired yaks, laden with an assortment of goods, assisted them in conducting a flourishing trade with nearby Tibet.

Before Auli was developed as a ski resort, its slopes were the training ground for men of valor and courage-the ski-equipped men of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force. Among the awesome, legendary peaks ranged round Auli, the 23,490-feet-high Trishul (literal meaning, the strident of Lord Shiva) was the scene of a unique expedition in 1958. The mountaineers took four days to climb the peak and only 90 minutes to ski down to the base camp.

Auli can be visited anytime during the year. However, since Auli is the skiing destination and is famous for its peaked snow mountains, it is better to visit this beauty during the winter season. Reaching here during the winters might get difficult though due to road blockages, so before leaving for this place do ask for the road conditions.

Below I am listing down the months in which you can expect what kind of weather.

Summers: The summertime in Auli is from March to June. However, you won’t be able to find snow during this time. Since the mountains here are barren, the mountains will have a brown shade, with a little snow on the top of the peaks. The temperature stays about 15 degrees, which is ideal for beating the heat of the city. You can go on many treks and enjoy the sight-seeing activities due to the pleasant weather.

Monsoon: Monsoon stays between July to October in Auli. During this time, the temperature falls a little further and might go down to 10 degrees. While visiting the place during this time, do check if landslides are happening since mountains are prone to this. I would suggest you to avoid visiting Auli during this time since due to rain you might get stuck in the hotel rooms itself and exploring the place might get difficult.

Lying at the height of 2,800 meters, Auli offers the most captivating views of mighty Himalayas. It lies in Uttarakhand, which in itself offers an abundance of natural beauty. It lies in the Garhwali district and lies in the upper ranges of the Himalayas.

Auli offers amazing views with high peaks of the Himalayas. One can see Nanda Devi from here. The mighty Nanda Devi is at the height of 7800 meters. From far you can see the snow-clad mountains, and it is so relaxing to have a cup of tea while watching these mountains. The colors become even more enchanting during the sunset time when the entire sky lit up in a shade of pink color. This time is when you will get the “peace of mind.”

The high peaks can be seen in all the four corners and this panoramic view will always be stuck in your eyes.

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Trip to Mana – Chamoli – Uttarakhand https://tripadvisorexpert.com/trip-to-mana-chamoli-uttarakhand/ Sun, 07 Jul 2019 11:10:53 +0000 http://tripadvisorexpert.com/?p=229 Trip to Mana – Chamoli – Uttarakhand
Mana is a small pilgrim village that is located in the state of Uttarakhand. The village is present near the religious site of Badrinath. The village has the distinction of being the last settlement on the road to the country of Tibet. It is situated at a height of around 3219 meters. The village is on the banks of the River Saraswati. The entire region is surrounded by hills and one can see many small streams nearby as well.

This is a perfect place for trekking and there are many trekking spots that are located here. The village of Mana can be visited as day trip from Badrinath. There is a waterfall called the Vasundara Falls that is located nearby and this is also a good place to see while travelling to the village of Mana.

There is small passage called the Bhim Pul that is located here and the River Sarawasti plunges headlong into the path and this is a sight to behold. The local population of the village lives in small cottages that are decorated and carved exquisitely.

One can visit the temple of Mata Murti that is located near the town and the temple holds an annual fair, visiting which can be an interesting experience.

A 10 minute drive on a well-kempt tarmac road from Badrinath led us to Mana. Sight of the well-bred mountain dogs running towards us, the noise of the gushing Saraswati, rows of army camps on either side of the road and that one massive village gate that read ‘The Last Indian Village’, everything around us seemed like an intimation about how far away we had come.

This village at an altitude of 3115 metres in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand introduced us to divinity in a rather peculiar way. The kids of the village narrated the stories from Mahabharata as they guided us from the gate through the congested village street all the way up to Vyas Gufa, the cave where Ved Vyas compiled the four Vedas and narrated Mahabharata for the first time.

Visiting Mana village is in itself a very awesome and satisfying experience. This term, “India’s last village” overcomes both your mind as well as your heart, and giving that adventurous spark in you, with a sense of accomplishment too. The moment you step foot on its ground, the vividness of nature as it is surrounded by the Himalayas and is on the banks of the river Saraswati grasps your attention.

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Badarinath Yatra 2019 – Uttarakhand https://tripadvisorexpert.com/badarinath-yatra-uttarakhand/ Sun, 07 Jul 2019 09:38:48 +0000 http://tripadvisorexpert.com/?p=265 Badarinath Yatra – Uttarakhand

Nestled among the serene heights of the great Himalayas are four pilgrim.

These destinations namely Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, collectively known as Char Dham. These pilgrimage centers draw the maximum numbers of pilgrims each year, thus becoming the most important hubs of religious travel in the whole of Northern India. Traditionally, the pilgrimage begins from the West and ends in the East. Thus, the Char Dham Yatra commences from Yamunotri, then proceeding to Gangotri and finally to Kedarnath and Badrinath.

Each of these four sites is devoted to a specific deity. Yamunotri is dedicated to the Goddess Yamuna who goes along the pilgrims to the high altitudes of the picturesque Rawai Valley. It is believed that a bath in the waters of the Yamuna protects the devotee from untimely death. Gangotri is dedicated to the Goddess Ganga. The shrine overlooks the River Bhagirathi, another name of River Ganga – the name having been derived from the myth of the ancient King Bhagirath’s penance that succeeded in bringing her upon the earth from the heaven. Kedarnath is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is also a part of the Panch Kedar. It is the northernmost Jyotirlinga and is close to the source of the holy River Mandakini. Badrinath is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is situated on the bank of the River Alaknanda. According to legend, Lord Vishnu meditated here while his consort Lakshmi took the form of a berry (Badri) tree to offer him shade.

Before embarking on this journey, one has to be prepared to experience physical as well as mental hardships on the Himalayan roads. The Char Dham Yatra is one of the quite accessible yet most arduous journeys. The Yatra route in the state is usually bustling with activity, especially during the summer. The scenic beauty of the mountains solemnly provides strength to the pilgrims as they move towards their destination.

बद्रीनाथ धाम से जुड़ी रोचक बातें

1. पुराणों के अनुसार बद्रीनाथ धाम में पहले भगवान शिव अपने परिवार के साथ वास करते थे। एक बार भगवान विष्णु तपस्या के लिए एक शांत स्थान की तलाश कर रहे थे लेकिन उन्हें कोई ऐसा स्थान नहीं मिला और अंत में वह बद्रीनाथ धाम में आए और इस स्थान को देखकर मोहित हो गए । लेकिन उन्हें यह नहीं पता था कि यहां भगवान शिव अपने परिवार के साथ वास करते हैं।

2.इस स्थान के लिए भगवान विष्णु ने एक बालक का रुप लिया और जोर -जोर से रोने लगे । एक बालक को इस तरह रोते हुए देखकर माता पार्वती उन्हें चुप कराने लगी।लेकिन वह बालक चुप नहीं हुआ।

3. भगवान शिव इन सब के बारे में जानते थे । उन्होंने माता पार्वती से उस बालक को छोड़ने के लिए कहा। लेकिन मां ने शिवजी की बात नहीं मानी और उस बालक को सुलाने के लिए चली गई।

4.उस बालक को सुलाने के बाद माता पार्वती बाहर आ गई । जिसके बाद भगवान विष्णु ने अंदर से दरवाजा बंद कर लिया ।

5.जब भगवान शिव वहां आए तो उन्होंने शिवजी से कहा कि मुझे यह स्थान पसंद आ गया है। आप केदारनाथ चले जांए।

6. जिसके बाद बद्रीनाथ भगवान विष्णु का धाम बन गई।

7. इससे जुड़ी एक और कथा का शास्त्रों में वर्णन है । एक बार माता लक्ष्मी भगवान विष्णु से रुठकर अपने मायके चली गई । जिसके बाद भगवान विष्णु ने माता लक्ष्मी को मनाने के लिए कठोर तप किया।

8.भगवान विष्णु को ढुंढते हुए मां लक्ष्मी उसी स्थान पर पहुंची जहां वह तपस्या में लीन थे।

9.भगवान विष्णु एक बेर के पेड़ पर बैठकर तपस्या कर रहे थे। जिसके बाद से ही मां लक्ष्मी नें उन्हें बद्रीनाथ का नाम दिया।

10. बद्ररीनाथ धाम में की जानें वाली आरती को एक मुस्लिम शायर ने लिखा है। यह शायर फकरुद्दीन (बदरुद्दीन) था जो चमोली जिले के नंदप्रयाग के रहने वाले था। फकरुद्दीन यह आरती केवल 18 वर्ष की उम्र में लिखी थी।

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Key Monastery – Spiti Valley – Himachal Pradesh https://tripadvisorexpert.com/trip-to-key-monastery-spiti-valley-himachal-pradesh/ Mon, 01 Jul 2019 09:20:00 +0000 http://tripadvisorexpert.com/?p=246 Trip to Key Monastery – Spiti Valley – Himachal Pradesh
Key Monastery (or Ki, or, Kye, or Kee) looks like a ramshackle temple of mysticism straight out of a fantasy novel, but this Buddhist training ground is actually the result of repeated attacks by Mongol hordes.

The exact age of the founding of the Key Monastery is not known but it is believed to originally date back to 1100 CE, although many believe the site is even older. Now sitting on top of a mountain foothill, the early structures built by the original monks would have been much lower. However as the peaceful Buddhists were attacked by the area Mongol barbarians the reconstruction efforts would simply build upon what had gone before, eventually creating the erratic patchwork of rooms, tight hallways, and hidden courtyards that exists today.

Much of the monastery bears a distinct Chinese design influence like many similar structures in the area, dating back to a period in the 14th century when the style came to the area. The interiors are also rich with historic murals and documents precious to the orders which have lived in the ever changing monastery.

Today Key Monastery is still a fully-functioning training ground for lamas operated by a Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhist monks. Around 250 monks reside on the site at any given time, training, farming, and generally keeping the thousand year old wonder alive.

Overlooking Kaza from a height of about 13,500 ft, the Kye monastery is the largest in the valley and holds a powerful sway over the most populous part of the valley around Kaza. The gompa is an irregular heap of low rooms and narrow corridors on a monolithic conical hill. From a distance is resembles the Thiksey monastery near Leh in Ladakh. The irregular prayer chambers are interconnected by dark passages, tortuous staircases and small doors.

Hundreds of lamas receive their religious training in the monastery. It is also known for its beautiful murals, thankas, rare manuscripts, stucco images and peculiar wind instruments that form part of the orchestra whenever Chham is enacted in the gompa in summer. Another interesting aspect of the gompa is its collection of weapons which may have been used to ward off marauders as also to maintain its control over people betraying a church-militant character.

Thousands of devotees from all over the world were attended the Kalachakra ceremony which was performed in August, 2000 by His Holiness Dalai Lama.Kalachakra initiation (Skt. Abhisheka, Tibetan Wang) is not just an elaborate puja or a religious congregation.

It is a workshop in a grand scale to make an earnest effort by both the teacher and disciples to awaken their Buddha nature by the combined forces of teaching, prayer, blessing, devotion, mantra, yoga and meditation. It is an effort by every participant to try to discover the true and permanent peace for the sake of all others. The Buddhists believe mere presence during this elaborate initiation ceremony stretching over a few days, liberates the participant from suffering and bestows on him the bliss of Enlightenment.

The ceremony focuses on five main subjects – cosmology, psycho-physiology, initiation, sadhana and Buddhahood. A Kalachakra mandala and Viswatma deitiy in union with his consort are at the centre of this ceremony guiding the disciple through the tedious process of initiation.

The gompa is approached by road from Kaza (only 12 km). However, it is only 8.5 kms trek from Kaza.

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Trip to Kaza – Spiti Valley – Himachal Pradesh https://tripadvisorexpert.com/trip-to-kaza-spiti-valley-himachal-pradesh/ Sun, 30 Jun 2019 17:44:20 +0000 http://tripadvisorexpert.com/?p=257 Trip to Kaza – Spiti Valley – Himachal Pradesh
The beautiful town of Kaza is located at an altitude of about 12,500 ft., on the left bank of the Spiti River in the majestic Lahaul and Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is known as the sub-divisional headquarters of Spiti and the largest township in the Lahaul and Spiti Valley, which is one of the most beautiful valleys of Himachal Pradesh. Kaza is surrounded by high mountains, crystal clear river & streams, and barren landscapes interspersed with green landscapes and meadows. It is a marvelous destination, which houses several beautiful palaces, monasteries, gompas, and other historical buildings.

Kaza is a popular tourist place in the Lahaul and Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is divided into two areas-the old Kaza and the new Kaza, while the old kaza is called Kaza Khas and comprises king’s palace, monasteries, gompas, and ancient buildings, the new Kaza is called Kaza Soma and houses government offices, hotels & restaurants. Tourists from all over the world visit this stunning destination to get a glimpse of the beautiful mountain terrains and pristine locals that also offer adventurous activities such as trekking, mountaineering, etc.

There are three most popular trails from Kaza that conects to the lovely villages around here, plunged in a rich natural beauty of the Spiti Valley. Also, available here are some very ancient and exquisite monasteries and gompas that depict the culture and tradition of Kaza. One can easily reach this amazing spot from the Kinnaur Valley and Lahaul Valley. The route from Kinnaur Valley is most appropriate as it remains open throughout the year, while the Lahaul Valley route opens only during the summer as the Kunzum Pass closes during winter.

Kaza can be best visited in summer as the winter is quite severe with the temperature plunging to sub-zero levels. The locals remain within the confines of their houses and venture out only if it is absolutely necessary. They stock up the supply of their food that last them through the winters; the locals also utilize their time to produce handicrafts that can be sold during tourist season i.e. summer. There are many hotels and restaurants at Kaza, so one can stay comfortably and enjoy a holiday worth remembering.

Kaza makes for an ideal base camp for all the treks and tours within the valley and provides guides, porters, and most importantly permits for treks.

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Trip to Tabo – Spiti Valley – Himachal Pradesh https://tripadvisorexpert.com/trip-to-tabo-spiti-valley-himachal-pradesh/ Sun, 30 Jun 2019 13:37:14 +0000 http://tripadvisorexpert.com/?p=242 Trip to Tabo – Spiti Valley – Himachal Pradesh

Tabo is a small Buddhist village of a few hundred, located 3050 m (10,006 feet) above sea level in the cold desert region of the Lahaul-Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh. It has a beautiful monastery, or gompa, with the ancient compound dating back to 996 A.D. – making it the oldest continually functioning Buddhist establishment in India.

According to some texts I purchased at the monastery’s book shop, the Tabo gompa came up under the patronage of the ancient Tibetan royal dynasty of Purang-Guge; it was one of the 108 constructed between the tenth to twelfth centuries AD, when the second diffusion of Buddhism was supposed to have taken place. These were spread across the Lahaul-Spiti valley, Kinnaur region and Ladakh, all a part of present day India, as well as what is now Western Tibet.

These were located along the trade routes of the time and involved heavy financial outlays; traders could take night halts here securing their lives and possessions from bandits. The monastery is currently home to about 50 lamas or monks, many still very young.

Tabo Monastery is an ancient monastery that was established in 996 CE. It is considered to be an important monastery and is often referred to as the Ajanta of the Himalayas. The complex has 9 temples and many stupas—all of which are made in mud and have been standing like this for more than 1000 years.

The main temple is an assembly hall where monks used to pray together. This hall has all its walls painted with Buddhist stories. There are stories of the life of Shakyamuni (the Buddha) and various Bodhisattvas. There are also 33 stucco sculptures of Bodhisattvas on the walls with their names mentioned for recognition.

You can go around the hall and admire the paintings, some of which date back to the time when the monastery was built, but most of them are from a later period when probably conservation and restoration work was carried on. The paintings do seem to be inspired from Ajanta paintings though the style of is a bit different. Other temples are usually closed, but monks might open them for you on request.

These temples belong to Buddhist deities like Tara and Buddha Maitreya. No photography of the paintings is allowed at Tabo Monastery though you can take pictures of the complex outside. However, picture postcards of these beautiful paintings are available with monks for sale.

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Trip to Nako – Kinnaur – Himachal Pradesh https://tripadvisorexpert.com/trip-to-nako-kinnaur-himachal-pradesh/ Sun, 30 Jun 2019 10:30:07 +0000 http://tripadvisorexpert.com/?p=253 Trip to Nako – Kinnaur – Himachal Pradesh

This dream like village from another time is located right next to the Tibetan border, above 3600 m above sea level altitude, in the Himalayan highlands of the Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh region.

Nako is the last point of the Kinnaur district if you travel from Sarahan to Spiti Valley and this quaint village is also the most remote village.

In fact it’s that remote that you can’t expect any mobile range during the day and Internet is still a huge commodity!

Yet, I fell in love with Nako village, from head to toe, so that we even ended up staying one more day there then what we had initially planned.

Situated above 3 kms above the Hangrang valley road and is 119 kms from Kalpa on the western direction of the huge mountains of Pargial. This is the highest village in the valley and the existence of lake formed out of the masses of the ice and snow above adds beauty to the village.The lake is fringed with willows and populars. Yaks, kine, horses and asses are reared here in abundance. Local village deity is Deodum and another Lagang temple with several idols exist here.There is a staying hut for visitors.There are small, but significant Buddhist temples and a rock is regarded to have the imprints of the saint Padmasambhava. This is the base for the trek to pargial peak and is en-route to the Thashigang monastery, where an image is said to grow hair.

Nako Lake is a small secluded reservoir which can charm anyone with its pristine natural beauty and cultural innocence. The spiritual lake is the secret hideaway in the mystical land of the Himalaya. The lake is nestled at an elevation of 3662 m, surrounded by willow and poplar trees. Groves of willow trees surround the lake, making for a fascinating sight.

Nako lake is bounded by 4 Tibetan temples. Close to the temple, there are four caves which are believed to be the meditation site of saint Padmasambhava. These were the caves from where Guru Padmasambhava gave disclosure to his followers.

There is a waterfall nearby the lake which as per legends and locals is regarded as the heavenly abode of fairies. It is also said that, it’s not at all easy to find the waterfall as there is no marked trail leading to it. During the month of September, tourist can enjoy boating on the shimmering lake or relish the beauty of the enchanting mountains.

A tour to Nako Lake requires a special permission from the inner line as the place is quite close to Tibet border. If tourist are looking for a relaxing and rejuvenating session on their tour to Himachal then Nako is a must visit site. The natural scenery all around and the view of the eternal snow are picturesque and charming. Explore the strange, exciting lake of Himachal Pradesh, Nako lake.

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Grahan Village Trek – Kasol – Kullu – Himachal Pradesh https://tripadvisorexpert.com/grahan-village-trek-kasol-kullu-himachal-pradesh/ Fri, 07 Jun 2019 09:36:04 +0000 http://tripadvisorexpert.com/?p=269 Grahan Village Trek – Kasol – Kullu – Himachal Pradesh

Parvati Valley in Himachal Pradesh is home to many marvels of nature that absolutely deserve to be seen and appreciated. While the well known of Kasol is already there, the lesser known gem of Parvati Valley is the village of Grahan. Tucked away amidst the hills with beautiful views of snowcapped peaks all around, Grahan trek is something that will take your breath away with its scenic beauty. This tour gets you a chance to camp by a riverside in Kasol, and trek and camp in the brilliant Grahan Village.

Grahan is located to the north of hippie town Kasol in Himachal Pradesh. It has only 50 houses and around 350 villagers. The village has some beautiful temples with significant architecture.

The people are very sweet and humble but the best of the village are its kids. There are two schools in the village- Primary and Secondary but they are still struggling to get more teachers there. Hiking is the only option for tourists and locals to reach the village from Kasol. The trail is pretty much marked with signage courtesy youth hostel.

The trail to Grahan is pretty much easy with decent gradient.It is a jungle trail and sunlight is not a problem for you.

While hiking we pass through forest with huge pine trees ans sounds of birds and insects and also the might Parvati River. We also crossed a few wooden bridges.

The village has no cellular network and no ATMs. That is why if you are looking for a village with much needed peace then Grahan is the one as Kasol and Tosh are crowded in comparison.

This place is still untouched at very much road less traveled in Parvati Valley.

But one important thing that needs to be noticed about the village is that 90 percent of the tourists there are Israelis. They love that place can choose to stay there for weeks and sometimes even months.

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Kedarnath Yatra 2019 – Uttarakhand https://tripadvisorexpert.com/kedarnath-yatra-uttarakhand/ Wed, 05 Jun 2019 04:20:02 +0000 http://tripadvisorexpert.com/?p=273 Kedarnath Yatra – Uttarakhand

Kedarnath is one of the most sacred pilgrimages of Lord Shiva situated in Rudraprayag district of Garhwal region in Uttarakhand. Kedarnath is one of the Char Dham in Uttarakhand and the most important dham among Panch kedar. Kedarnath is situated at an altitude of 3586 mts, in the lap of the majestic mountain peaks and near the head of river Mandakini, Kedarnath range stands one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.

Kedar meaning powerful is another name of Lord Shiva the protector and the destroyer. The beautiful ambiance around the temple looks like quite peace on heaven causes a beautiful place to do meditation.The main attractions here is the Shiva Temple, which is a popular Hindu shrine and pilgrimage, attracting devotees from all over the world. The travel and tourism scope here is strengthened by factors like natural beauty and religious zest.

Shiva is considered the embodiment of all passions – love, hatred, fear, death and mysticism which are expressed through his various forms. There are more than 200 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in the area itself, the most important one is Kedarnath.

The best time to visit Kedarnath is during summers (May and June) when the minimum temperature is 5°C, and the maximum is around 18°C. This season is ideal for visiting temples and sightseeing. The monsoon season lasts from July to August, accompanied by heavy rains lead to landslides and floods, making it unfavorable to visit.

It is said that the temple was originally built by the Pandavas from the Mahabharata fame, but was consecrated in 8th century AD by Adi Shankaracharya on his excursion across the Garhwal Himalayas. Today, the temple is the most revered shrine of the enchanting Himalayan region and sits as an important part of the Chota Char Dham Pilgrim Circuit. Additionally, it’s the first of the sacred Panch Kedar shrines and also one of the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Kedarnath Dham holds a special place in the heart of every Hindu devout and Shaivite who yearns to visit this pious destination at least once in their lifetime. If you too are someone planning a pilgrimage tour here, note that the town is connected to almost every major city of Uttarakhand via a motorable road which extends till Gaurikund. Further up Gaurikund, one has to cover a paved yet gruelling pathway uphill of about 14 km. To do so, one can either embark on a trekking expedition, hire a pony or rent a palanquin which can be pre-booked from the GMVN office. Helicopter services are also available to Kedarnath.

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