Valley of Flowers

There Valley of Flowers is a beautiful valley, 13064 ft in height, which is famous for its flora. The Valley of Flowers is a 17 km walk from Govind Ghat.

Like Hemkund Saheb, you need to stop at Ghangaria while going to the Valley of Flowers. From Ghangaria, a 5 km road goes towards north for the Valley of Flowers. At the end of the road there is a small unpaved bridge which takes you to the Valley of Flowers.

Very recently the Valley of Flowers was declared a national park. The peak season for visiting the Valley of Flowers is between the month of June and October. During the rest of the year it remains uninhabited due to the heavy snowfall.

If after visiting the Valley of Flowers you want to stay there, you can come back to Ghangaria where Tourist Rest Houses are available. Read more...

Hemkund Sahib, Hemkund Saheb Yatra

Hemkund Saheb is actually the name of a lake which is a holy place for the Sikhs. In his autobiography "Vichitra Natak" (which is a part of the "Dasham Grantha") the Sikh guru Guru Govind Singh mentioned a lake beside which, in one of His earlier incarnations, He prayed. It’s written that the lake was situated between 7 snow clad mountain peaks.

In 1930, Habildar Sohan Singh discovered this lake and it is believed to be the same lake which was mentioned by Guru Govind Singh.

Hemkund Saheb is at a height of 14203 ft and is a 18 km journey from Govind Ghat. If you are traveling by a cab or a bus, it would drop you at Govind Ghat. From there you would have to walk 13 km to reach Ghangaria which is at a height of 10000 ft. From there the road divides into two, one goes to Hemkund Saheb and the other goes to the Valley of Flowers. From Ghangaria, Hemkunmd Saheb is another 5 km walk.

There are Tourist Rest Houses and refreshment centers available at Ghangaria, so if you want to stay overnight, you need to halt at Ghangaria. Read more...

Panch Prayag

A prayag is a confluence or the merging point of 2 or more rivers. There are 5 prayags which are collectively referred to as Panch Prayag. These are the merging point of the rivers Dhauli Ganga, Nandakini, Pindar, Mandakini and Bhagirathi. Here is a list of the Panch Prayag.

1. Dev Prayag (94 km from Haridwar)
Merging point of river Bhagirathi and river Alakananda.

2. Rudra Prayag (76 km from Dev Prayag)
Merging point of river Alakananda and river Mandakini.

3. Karan Prayag (33 km from Rudra Prayag)
Merging point of river Alakananda and river Pindar Ganga.

4. Nand Prayag (21 km from Rudra Prayag)
Merging point of river Alakananda and river Mandakini.

5. Vishnu Prayag (12 km from Joshimath)
Merging point of river Dhauli Ganga and river Alakananda. Read more...

Panch Badri

In Badrikeshwar, Lord Vishnu is worshipped in 5 different forms under 5 different names. Here is a list of the Panch Badri.

1. Shri Badrinath / Shri Badri Vishal (44 km from Joshimath)
2. Shri Adi Badri (20 km from Karan Prayag)
3. Shri Bridha Badri (Near Animath)
4. Shri Yogdhyan Badri (21 km from Joshimath at Pandukeshwar)
5. Shri Bhavishya Badri (26 km from Joshimath near Tapowan)

Named after Pandu, who meditated at this place, 23 km from Sadrinath to lift the curses of a sage, and was blessed by the Lord Badri, Pandukeshwar is the home of the Yogdhyan Badri.

It is said that when the 2 mountains Nar and Narayan would collapse, the road to Shri Badrinath would be closed forever. Then, Shri Badrinath would be worshipped at Shri Bhavishya Badri. Read more...

Panch Kedar

In Kedar Valley, Lord Shiva is worshipped in 5 different forms under 5 different names. These together form the Panch Kedar. Here is a list of the Panch Kedar.

1. Shri Kedarnath (14 km from Gauri Kund)
2. Shri Madmaheshwar (41 km from Gupta Kashi)
3. Shri Tungnath (3 km from Chopta)
4. Shri Rudranath (31 km from Mandal Chatti)
5. Shri Kalpeshwar (12 km from Helong)

At Shri Kedarnath Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form a natural rock which resembles the hump of a bull. At Shri Madmaheshwar it is in the form of a navel. Read more...

Peepalkoti, Pipalkoti

Even though most of the Travel Agents suggest the tourists to stay overnight at Joshimath while visiting Shri Badrinath Temple, Peepalkoti is a far better place to halt for the night than Joshimath. It’s because that although both Peepalkoti and Joshimath are scenic places, Joshimath is far more congested than Peepalkoti. So if you prefer to stay in the lap of nature and enjoy the beauty of the hills, I would suggest you to stay at Peepalkoti.

Peepalkoti is 78 km from Badrinath and 44 km from Joshimath. It is in the Chamoli district and is at a height of 4130 ft. You would find a gas station (petrol pump) in Peepalkoti and after that there is another one in Joshimath. There are no gas stations in Badrinath, so it is advisable to fill in your car to it’s brim.

There are numerous hotels available in Peepalkoti. The one we stayed in was Hotel Kushal Palace. The details are given below.

Hotel Kushal Palace
Badrinath Road, Peepalkoti (Chamoli).
Phone : 09412961480
09410129424

You’ll get a 3-bed room within 500 INR during the off-season. The food is awesome and I would personally suggest you to try their Butter Paneer Masala.

There are also some other hotels in Peepalkoti, but their rent is on a bit towards the higher range. If you want to spend more you can stay in Hotel Alakananda and Hotel Uday Palace. Although I don’t have their details, you can book a room through Vikrant Travels. Read more...

Rudraksh, Rudraksha

According to Shiva Purana in Hindu mythology, while fighting with the demon Tripurasura, Lord Shiva had hurt his eyes and a few drops of tears shed from his eyes. Seeing that Lord Brahma turned those tears into a tree whose fruits are called rudraksh. It is said that whoever would wear these rudraksh would be protected by Lord Shiva.

If you too are planning to buy one of these rudraksh then a word of caution. Even though you would find numerous shops selling these rudraksh, they might be selling a fake one. So it is advisable to buy them from a well-known shop. Here are the names of some reliable shops where you would be able to buy genuine rudraksh.

Naval Ratan Emporium
Temple Road, Main Market,
Badrinath - 246424 (Uttarakhand).
Phone : 01334 - 228279
09412978141

If you are not visiting Badrinath, then you can also buy a rudraksh from Haridwar as Naval Ratan Emporium has their Head Office in Haridwar.

Naval Ratan Emporium
11 - Niranjani Akhara Road,
Haridwar - 249401 (Uttarakhand). Read more...

Har-ki-Pauri, Hari-ki-Pairi or Har-ki-Pairi

Har-ki-Pauri is the focal point of Haridwar. It is one of the most famous ghats where devotees gather to bathe and worship the river Goddess Ganga.

According to the Hindu mythology, this is the place where a drop of nectar fell from the churning of the oceans when the world was created.

Each evening, around 6 pm, thousands gather at Har-ki-Pauri to worship Maa Ganga by floating diyas in the river. You need to contact a Pujari to complete the rituals. Here is the details for the same.

Pt. Sanjay Marwari
Ganga Mandir, Har-ki-Pauri,
Haridwar - 249401.
Phone : 09319022466

I would suggest calling up the Pujari a day before, otherwise during the peak season they have quite a hectic schedule. Read more...

Gaurikund to Kedarnath

Whether you are traveling by a bus or a cab to Kedarnath, the motor road ends at Gaurikund. From Gaurikund to Kedarnath, it’s a trekking route, although you won’t need any special trekking equipments except for a pair of good sneakers. It a 4 - 5 hours journey by pony from Gaurikund to Kedarnath, a whopping 14 km.

There is a hot geyser at Gaurikund where you can have a bath. After that you can either trek to Kedarnath, or you can hire a pony for the adults, a pittu for the kids or a doli (palanquin) for the elderly members.

A Pittu is a single seat made from cane within which is then tied to the back of the pittu-carrier. A doli is carried by 4 doli-carriers and usually costs more than either the pony or the pittu. You can get in touch with a pony wala to hire any of these. Here is the name and number of a reliable pony wala that we hired.

Suraj Singh
Pony Wala, Kedarnath.
Phone : 09410433721

The Pony costs between 1200 INR - 2000 INR. The cost of the doli and the pittu depends on the weight of the person to be carried. Usually the doli can be hired for a price of 4000 INR - 5000 INR. It is advisable to contact the Pony Wala on the previous day of the journey.

Although there are arrangements for helicopters for Kedarnath by Pawan Hans Helicopter Service, the service is available only during the peak season and cost somewhere between 8000 INR - 10,000 INR per person for a return trip to Kedarnath.

Rambara, which is exactly in the middle of Gaurikund and Kedarnath (7km from either of them), is a resting place. You would find a roadside dhaba where you can have a cup of hot tea/coffee, pakodas and other similar refreshments.

The ponies stops almost 1 km before Shri Kedarnath Temple from where you need to walk. The dolis and the pittus, however, would take you almost near the Temple.

The road from Gaurikund to Kedarnath, inspite of being steep, is a scenic route. You would be able to see the Kailash mountains from afar, covered with snow. And you would have to cross several mountains to reach Kedarnath. I wouldn’t the least bit exaggerate if I say that it is the journey of a lifetime. Read more...

Travel Agents in Dehradun

If you are coming to Haridwar from Dehradun and want to hire a cab then here is a travel agent who would help you with the same.

Dynamic Taxi Service
Contact : Ishwar Singh Rauthan
(Vice President, Taxi Union Jolly Grant)
Jolly Grant Airport, Bhaniyawala,
Dehradun (Uttarakhand).
Phone : 0135 - 2412358 (R)
09319710686
09759531740 Read more...

How to cover Kedarnath and Badrinath in 4 Days

Yes, it is indeed possible to visit both Kedarnath and Badrinath in 4 days time, although to do that you need a good driver. And you can do this only in the off-season because at Joshimath the gates for going to Badrinath opens only at certain intervals, but during the off-season the gates are open most of the time. So here’s how you can do it.

Day 1 - Go from Haridwar to Badrinath. You would reach Badrinath at night, so you can do the darshan and see the sandhya aarti and stay there for the night.

Day 2 - Start your journey from Badrinath before dawn and you would reach Sitapur by night. Stay there for the night.

Day 3 - Leave Sitapur as early as possible and visit Kedarnath. After the darshan you would reach Sitapur once again by the evening.

Day 4 - Leave Sitapur early morning and you would be able to reach Haridwar by night time.

But remember, this is a very tiresome journey and I would suggest that you should not try this is you are traveling with kids and elderly people. Read more...

Mana Village, Mana Gaon

Apart from being the last village on the Indian territory, it’s grand scenic beauty is another reason to visit Mana Village (Mana Gaon). It’s a 3 km ride from Badrinath and is only ½ hours journey by a bus/cab.

You have to trek from Mana Village, although you won’t need any special trekking equipments except for a pair of good sneakers. First, you can visit Bhim Pool, which is said to have been built by Bhim for his wife Draupadi as she was unable to cross the ridge.

From Bhim Pool, Vasudhara waterfall is a 4 km journey.

You can see the Saraswati river here which is not visible anywhere from it’s source upto Allahabad Sangam in UP where it merges into the river Ganga along with Yamuna river. Also, near the Saraswati river there is a shallow water stream which is said to be coming from the Mansarovar Lake in China. The Mansarovar Lake has it’s own place in Hindu mythology and is said to be the only place in the world where you can see a blue lotus. Read more...

Kapat closing time for Kedarnath and Badrinath, 2009

The kapat (door) for Kedarnath and Badrinath Temples closes every year around the month of October due to the extreme weather, the whole area remains uninhabited except for the jawans of the Indian Army. Again during the month of April - May, the kapat of both the Temples are opened. During the time when the kapat is closed, darshan is not possible, so it’s better you check out the kapat closing time from this website for the year and then plan your visit.

According to the Official Kedarnath, Badrinath Trustee website, the kapat closing time for Kedarnath and Badrinath for the year 2009 is as follows :

The kapat of Shri Kedarnath Temple was closed on 19th October, 2009.

The kapat of Shri Badrinath Temple was closed on 17th November, 2009 at 3:40 PM. Read more...

How to Reach Haridwar

By Train :
I went to Haridwar from Kolkata, so I booked a ticket for 2301 Up Howrah - New Delhi Rajdhani Express. It takes 17 hours (approx.) to reach New Delhi from Kolkata. After getting down at the New Delhi Station you can either hire a cab, which is what we did, or you can catch a bus for Haridwar from I.S.B.T. The cab charges between 2000 INR to 2500 INR during off-season and 3000 INR during the peak season. Be prepared to go for a hard bargain. It usually takes 4-5 hours to reach Haridwar from New Delhi. You also have the option of taking a train from Delhi to Haridwar, but for that you might have to stay at New Delhi depending on your schedule.

If you are planning to go directly to Hariwar by train, here’s a list of trains available. You need to alight at Haridwar Junction.

Train Name - Boarding Station
2017 Shatabdi Exp. - New Delhi
2055 Jan Shatabdi Exp. - New Delhi
4041 Mussoorie Exp. - New Delhi
2327 Upasana Exp. - Howrah (Kolkata), Lucknow
3009 Doon Exp. - Howrah (Kolkata), Varanasi, Lucknow
2687 Chennai - Dehradun Exp. - Chennai, Nizamuddin (Delhi)
2054 Jan Shatabdi Exp. - Amritsar
4632 Amritsar - Dehradun Exp. - Amritsar
4610 Hemkunt Exp. - Jammu
9105 Ahmedabad - Haridwar Mail - Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Delhi
9019 Bandra - Dehradun Exp. - Bandra Terminus (Mumbai), Nizamuddin (Delhi)

By Plane :
The nearest airport from Haridwar is Jolly Grant Air Strip at Dehradun. From Dehradun you have the options of catching a train or taking a ride on a bus or cab. Read more...

Travel Agents in Haridwar

Vikrant Travels
Opp. Bholagiri Dharamshala, Jodhamal Road,
Haridwar - 249401 (Uttarakhand).
Phone : 01334 - 227930
09837059259 (Arun Garg)
09837241161 (Vikrant Garg)
Telex : 01334 - 226343
Email : vikrantgroup@rediffmail.com
Blog : http://vikranttravelsharidwar.blogspot.com

Diamond Tour and Travel
Opp. Bholagiri Dharamshala, Jodhamal Road,
Haridwar - 249401 (Uttarakhand).
Phone : 01334 - 224297
09837080427 (Abhishek Ahluwalia)
09358192827 (Abhishek Ahluwalia)
Fax : 01334 - 266385
Email : diamondtours77@rediffmail.com
Web : www.diamond-travels.com Read more...

Hotels in Haridwar

Radiant Hotel
Himalaya Depot, Gali No. 3,
Near Sewa Samiti and Gujranwala Bhawan,
Shrawan Nath Nagar,
Haridwar - 249401.
Phone : 09410926964
01334 - 220476
Email : info@radianthotel.com
Web : www.radianthotel.com

Hotel City Heart
Bholagiri Road, Near Lalta Rao Bridge,
Haridwar.
Phone : 01334 - 229952

Hotel Sunshine
Moti Bazar, Haridwar - 249401.
Phone : 01334 - 322002

Hotel Suvidha
Shrawan Nath Nagar, Behind Chitra Cinema,
Haridwar.
Phone : 01334 - 227023

Hotel Vikrant
Vishnu Ghat, Haridwar.
Phone : 09456343859 Read more...

How to cover Kedarnath and Badrinath in 5 Days

Day 1 - Go from Haridwar to Sitapur. Stay at Sitapur for the night and buckle up your seatbelt for a breathtaking journey to Kedarnath the next day.

Day 2 - Start your journey to Sitapur to Kedarnath early morning, and after the darshan, return back to Sitapur by the same evening and stay for the night.

Day 3 - Leave Sitapur as early as possible and head over to Peepalkoti. Stay at Peepalkoti for the night.

Day 4 - Leave Peepalkoti early morning to visit Badrinath. After darshan visit Mana Gaon, which is the last village in the Indian territory, and return back to Peepalkoti by evening. Stay at Peepalkoti for the night.

Day 5 - Leave Peepalkoti early morning and head back to Haridwar. En route, visit Hrishikesh. You would reach Haridwar by evening. Read more...