  SPIRITUAL INDIAHIMALAYAN PILGRIMAGE (19 days or 24 days) Trek in the Timeless Himalayas, Experience the Source of the Ganges River. |
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SPIRITUAL INDIA HIMALAYAN PILGRIMAGE (19 days or 24 days) Trek in the Timeless Himalayas, Experience the Source of the Ganges River. |
| The Sacred Himalayan Mountains |
Do you now want to experience the awesome high
Himalayan mountains, the most sacred shrines of India, and the holy
men and women who live in Himalayan caves? Because on our amazing
Himalayan Pilgrimage, we will have that rare opportunity in an
awesome once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The four most
revered Hindu temples are in the Garhwal region of the Himalayas.
The temples of Shiva and Vishnu at Kedarnath and Badrinath have
been the destination of pilgrims for centuries--once reached after
tortuous treks, they are now easily accessible by road. Pilgrims
from all over the world have braved severe conditions of landscape
and weather to visit the shrines and have the holy sight of the
revered dieties. At Uttarkashi at a height of over 3000 meters, the
snow melts to form the sacred rivers of Ganges and Yamuna in a deep
recess of the mountains.
The route to the source of the two holy rivers begins
at Rishikesh and passes ancient temples and Valleys
along the way. The Shrines are only open from May to
November. During the severe winter season, the towns
close and everyone moves down the slopes. In the
hinterlands of the Himalayas is the town of
Gangotri where, it is believed, Mother Ganga, the stream of
life, came down from heaven and touched the Earth for the first
time.
| The Legendary Ganges River |
According to the Hindu religious scriptures,
the heavenly goddess Ganga manifested herself in the form of a
river to absolve the sins of King Sagar's sons. In Gangotri
the river is called Bhagirathi, or the river brought down to the
earth from the heavens by Bhagirath - a descendant of Sagar - the
king who prayed and did severe penance for the salvation of his
60,000 ancestors. The river forms the Gauri Kund. This is where,
according to legend, it descended 
after leaping from the heavens into the
matted hair of the Yogi Lord Shiva, who saved the earth from floods
by taking the force of the powerful Ganges river into his
hair.
For the Hindus, the Ganga is the mother river which manifested from her celestial home onto the earth for the welfare of mankind. Its timeless flow of sacred water has shaped the devotion of millions and sustained huge populations in the subcontinent of India. Ganga water is holy and is used for purifying every Hindu home. The name of this eternal river symbolizes the very nerve centre of India's ancient culture. This river of life has nourished India's multi-faceted civilization and its growth since time immemorial.
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and to the Source of the Ganges |
 Susan Shumsky of Divine Travels is a member of Travel Service Network, Inc. (TSN). Professional industry affiliations include:      
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overnight to India, arriving in the late evening. Your tour leader
will accompany you to your hotel in the heart of Delhi, followed by
the Traditional Indian Welcome at the hotel. Overnight at
hotel.Hotel: The Oberoi Maidens or Similar
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  Meet
your group over the late breakfast, then enjoy a walking tour of
Old Delhi, featuring Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated.
Next, a cycle rickshaw carries us through the crowded Chandni Chowk
Bazaar to Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque. In the afternoon,
drive through New Delhi to visit the India Gate and the old
residences of British Viceroys.
Visit the
powerful, majestic Hindu Temples of Delhi: Chattarpur Temple,
Yogmaya Temple & Lakshmi Narayan Temple.   
New Delhi: The new capital designed by Sir Edward Lutyens. An interesting drive in the one passing through the impressive Rajpath from the World War I memorial arch, the India Gate towards the Presidential Palace. Visit Humayun's Tomb built in 1565 AD, Safdarjung's Tomb, the Qutab Minar, 72 meters high and the most curious antique, the uncorroded Iron Pillar, which dates back to the 4th century AD. |
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 After breakfast,
leave for Rishikesh by surface, en route visiting Haridwar. At
Haridwar explore Evening Ganga - Aarti at Holy River Ganges at Har
Ki Pauri. Afterwards, continue to Rishikesh. Transfer to hotel.
Dinner & overnight at hotel.     |
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After breakfast,
leave for Rudraprayag by surface. Reach Rudraprayag in the evening
and transfer to hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel.
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Uttarkashi is is
the gateway to the pilgrim route to Gangotri. The beautiful small
town is situated on the right bank of the Bhagirathi, surrounded by
the rivers Varuna and Assi, at an altitude of about 1,550 m. As the
name suggests, Uttarkashi is considered the northern Kashi or
Varanasi, a historical pilgrimage city in the Indian plains. The
temples and ghats in Uttarkashi have names almost identical to
those in Varanasi, such as the Shiva temple--Vishwanath Mandir,
where stands a magnificent Trishul (trident), one meter in
circumference At one time, there were 365 temples in this town. It is known for its temples dedicated to Rishi Parasurama, Dattatreya, Goddess Annapurna Devi, Goddess Kali, and Bhairon. Among the other temples in this town filled with splendor are the temples of Parashuram, Kali and that of the Ekadash Rudra, built by the former Maharaja of Jaipur. The town is also known for its various ashrams, which are the homes of sanyasis and mendicants who occupy the banks of the holy river for penance and prayers. 
  Uttarkashi is also known as Barahat, literally meaning "a big market place". It is a town with modern facilities. The Nehru Institute of Mountaineering is located here. This national institute imparts mountaineering training to young people to inculcate the spirit of adventure among the youth of the country. The region has some high-altitude lakes and the Gangotri and Yamunotri glaciers lead on to several major peaks-the hunting grounds for serious mountaineering buffs.  
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When Ganga descended from heaven, the current was so strong that Lord Shiva (the Destroyer in the Hindi Holy Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer) had to hold her flow in check by coiling his matted locks around her. From then on, Shiva is also known as Jatashankar (Jata means hair in Hindi). There is a lingam (the symbolic phallus of Shiva) submerged in the river that can be seen in winter, a natural rock shivling where according to mythology Lord Shiva sat when he received the Goddess Ganga in his matted locks. |
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After breakfast,
leave for Gauri kund (10 Km) by surface. Reach Gauri kund and trek
towards Kedarnath--14 Km/06 Hrs. (You can ride a pony or be carried
in a pallanquin if you do not want to trek.) Reach Kedarnath in the
evening. Dinner & overnight at hotel.     
Gauri kund is a
plain area with a natural lake. There is an ancient temple,
dedicated to the Goddess Gauri or Parvati, which houses metallic
idols of Gauri and Shiva. According to legend, Parvati meditated
Near the temple there are two tanks of water, one has cold water, while the other is a hot water tank.The hot water comes out of a sulphur rock and and some of it falls into the River Mandakini, flowing nearby. The legend is that the consort of Lord Shiva, Parvati, takes bath here. Only women are allowed to take bath at Gauri Kund to seek the blessings of the goddess. Gauri kund is one kilometre below the sacred Mani Mahesh Lake, where Mount Kailash can be seen, but it usually remains covered with clouds. |
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Situated on the banks of the Mandakini River, at an altitude of of 3,581m, Kedarnath is a 14 km trek from Gauri kund. Kedarnath is one of the four main Hindu pilgrim centres in Uttarakhand (Himalayan Uttara Pradesh). Though mainly famous as a religious centre, this place, surrounded by mountain ranges, also attracts tourists because of its beautiful landscape.
 
 
The jyotirlinga ("phallus of light") in this temple is one of the twelve jyotirlingas throughout India, which makes Kedarnath one of the most sacred Hindu cities. The difference between a jyotirlinga and an ordinary linga is that while the former derives power from within itself, the latter is invested with mantra-shakti (the power of a verse or phrase that has magical properties) by priests.  
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After breakfast,
trek back to Gaurikund (14 Km/04 Hrs) and then continue to
Rudraprayag (78 Km) by surface. Reach Rudraprayag in the late
evening. Transfer to hotel Dinner & overnight at hotel.    |
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After breakfast,
leave for Joshimath by surface. Reach Joshimath and transfer to
hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel. Overnight: Hotel
Dronagiri Or GMVN Guest House (Meals: Breakfast & Dinner)
It is believed that Adi Shankara attained enlightenment at Jyotir Math under an ancient tree that still stands to this day. There is a small Shiva temple under this tree, commemorating this event. Also a small cave below the temple was thought to be used by Shankara to meditate.   
Visiting the ashram of Swami Vasudevanda is like sitting in the forest with the rishis of ancient India. The vibrations emanating from this holy spot fill the mind with peace and sanctity. The illustrious saint, Swami Brahmananda Saraswati Maharaj (guru of the famous Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who was Beatles' guru) lived in this monastary and held the post of Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math from 1941 to 1953--a post that had been vacant for over 150 years.       
Under Swaroopananda's ashram is the cave of Trotakacharya, who was Adi Shankaracharya's favorite disciple. Trotaka, representative of purity, guilelessness, and innocence, was the founder of the Jyotir Math monastery. Each of Adi Shankara's disciples was the founder of one of the four monasteries set up by Adi Shankara in each of the four directions. These four monasteries have had a Shankaracharya at their head ever since that time. These four religious leaders are in charge of the spiritual well-being of all the people of that area.   
When the Badrinath Temple is closed in winter, devotees throng to worship at the Narsimha Temple at Joshimath. The temple is about 1200 years old. Dedicated to Vishnu, the presiding deity of the temple is Narsimha, the half-man, half-lion and fourth incarnation of Vishnu. The characteristic feature of the deity is that its left wrist is very thin and is getting thinner by the day. Situated some 30 yards from the Narsimha Temple, the Vasudeva Temple is one of the most famous Vishnu temples in India. It was considered very sacred by the Tamil vaishnavite saints known as alvars (see History of Kerala). The presiding deity of the temple is Vasudeva who is identified with Vishnu. The idol is carved out of a piece of black stone measuring 6 feet in height. |
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  After breakfast, leave for
Badrinath, 42 km away. Evening aarti at the holy shrine. Transfer
to hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel.Hotel: Narayan Palace or similar (Meals Breakfast & Dinner) Above Joshimath, the army takes over the road, and there is an interesting one-way system. The traffic from Joshimath travels for a few hours to reach a place called Pandukeshwar, where the road is broader. Here the vehicles wait, while the traffic from Badrinath comes down and passes them. After that, the vehicles are allowed to move higher up the mountain. The ride further from here can be described as thrilling. The roads are well- maintained although very narrow. The area is extremely vulnerable to landslides and it is not uncommon to be stopped for a few hours or at worst a few days because of landslides due to heavy rain. As the narrow road winds steeply up the mountain, one encounters sharp hairpin bends which can be exciting or scary, depending on one's sense of adventure!   
The temple stands
at the base of the mighty greater Himalayan wall that includes the
Nar, Narayana and Neelkanth peaks. The sacred Alaknanda River and
the Rishi Ganga stream Legend has it that Lord Vishnu came to the area to meditate after the sage Narada rebuked the Lord for being immersed in worldly pleasures. Lord Vishnu sent His consort Goddess Lakshmi (the Goddess of Wealth) to Naaglok (the celestial Snake God's land beneath the sea) and chose this valley, then called Badri Van, or the berry garden, to meditate.
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After breakfast, leave for Auli by bus or car. Reach Auli and transfer to hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel. Hotel: Cliff Top Club Or Similar (Meals Breakfast & Dinner)     |
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After breakfast, Full day free at
Auli. Take cable car down to Jyoshimath, if desired. Or hike in
Himalayas. Dinner & overnight at hotel.
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After breakfast,
leave back for Rishikesh by surface. Reach Rishikesh and transfer
to hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel.  |
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   After breakfast,
leave back for Delhi. Reach Delhi and transfer to Village BISTRO
for Farewell Dinner and afterwards continue to IGI Airport and tour
terminates. |
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Old Delhi: The 350 years old walled city was built
by Emperor Shah Jehan in 1648 as his capital. Opposite the fort are
the black and white onion dome and minarets of the Jama Masjid, the
most elegant mosque in India. Raj Ghat is worth a visit where
Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948.
After breakfast, full day sightseeing of
Rishikesh. Dinner & overnight at hotel.
Rishikesh is situated on the right bank of
Holy River Ganges and surrounded on three sides by Himalayan ranges
are known from medieval time as a celestial abode. It is a great
pilgrimage center of India, attracting a large number of pilgrims.
It has since been the abode of saints and sages from where they
sojourn before undertaking the arduous pilgrimage that lay ahead on
the distant Himalayan Peaks. This is the gateway to the kingdom of
gods and pilgrimage to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and
Yamunotri.
Narada, an ancient Indian sage, reputed to be
the inventor of the veena, a stringed musical instrument, meditated
here for several years at the temple of Rudranath, in order to
attain perfection in the science of music. Pleased with his
devotion, Shiva blessed Narad, granting him the cherished wish that
the sage became the repository of sacred music. Here, in the
temple, Shiva is worshipped in the form of Rudranath. With a
population of 5,000, Rudraprayag is at the junction of the three
hill districts of Pauri, Tehri and Chamoli. Rudraprayag is situated
on the confluence of the rivers Mandakini and Alaknanda.
After breakfast, leave for Uttarkashi for
(170 Km) by surface. Reach Uttarkashi in the evening. Transfer to
hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel.
and made
of copper. It supports a trident four meters long. Each prong is
about two meters in length. 
After breakfast, leave for Gangotri (97 Km)
by surface. Reach Gangotri and transfer to hotel. Dinner &
overnight at hotel.
Gangotri, beyond the gorge where the Jadh
Ganga meets the Bhagirathi, heralding the approach of the Gangotri
temple, the narrow Bhagirathi Ravine, dramatic and beautifully
wooded, opens out into a valley flanked by jagged snowy peaks. At
the end of this portion of the valley stands a simple edifice to
the Goddess Ganga built in the eighteenth century, to commemorate
where King Bhagirath sat and prayed for 5,500 years and where came
the Pandavas to atone for the death of their kinsmen. Standing on
pillars on the right bank of the river at a height of 3,200 meters
(10,500 ft), the slopes surrounding the temple indicate the level
of the bed of the past giant glacier, while the tiny village is
full of giant deodars and conifers. Here the river flows north,
giving the village its name Gangotri--Ganga turned north. The
temple of Ganga in Gangotri is visited by millions of devotees each
year.
At 3048m, Gangotri lies in the northwest
Himalayas of Garhwal. It is one of the four dhams (pilgrimage
centres for Hindus, the other three being Yamunotri, Badrinath and
Kedarnath) of Garhwal region of the Himalayas. The Bhairnoghati
bridge, built across one of the deepest gorges in the world,
connects Gangotri to the rest of the 
After breakfast, trek towards Bhojbasa via Chirbasa. (You can ride a pony or be carried in a pallanquin if you do not want to trek.) A total of 13 kms to be covered within
approx. 05 Hrs. The trek route passes through deep dense forest
Bhojbasa of Himalayan coniferous and pine trees to arrive at
Bhojbasa. The main structure at Bhojbasa is an ashram, which is
served as a stop over point en route Gaumukh. Transfer to hotel.
Dinner and overnight at hotel. 
Gaumukh
is the point from where the holy Ganges originates. A short and
easy trek of an hour brings us to Gaumukh - The Source of Ganges.
Afterwards, continue to Gangotri. Reach Gangotri & Transfer to
hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel. 
The
high altitude plain, Tapovan, is where King Bhagirath supposedly
did penance. Legend has it that his prayers compelled Mother Ganga
to descend from heaven and fall onto the earth here. Tapovan is the
foothill of the mighty Shivling Peak (6543m), one of the most
beautiful peaks in the world. Sixteen kilometres downhill, it is
seen as a river in Gangotri. The force of the water here is
awesome.
After breakfast, leave for Rudraprayag. Reach
Rudraprayag. Transfer to hotel. Dinner & overnight at
hotel.
here for a long time, to win Shiva as her
consort. Ultimately, she succeeded, and the cosmic couple was wed
at Triyuginarayan. 
After breakfast, visit Kedarnath Temple and
personal meetings with many Holy Saints and Sadhus. Dinner &
overnight at hotel.
The most famous monument of Kedarnath is the
Kedarnath Temple. It is dedicated to Shiva (Destroyer in the Hindu
Holy Trinity of Creator- Preserver- 
Destroyer) who is worshipped mainly in the
form of a linga (symbolic phallus of Shiva). The Kedarnath Shrine,
one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, is a scenic spot situated
against the backdrop of majestic Kedarnath range. Kedar is another
name of Shiva, the destroyer. Shiva is considered the embodiment of
all passions--love, hatred, fear, death & mysticism which are
expressed through his various forms. The temple is built of large,
heavy and evenly cut grey slabs of stones and is considered more
than 1000 years old. A large statue of the Nandi Bull is situated
outside the temple door.
The temple was renovated
and refurbished by the religious
reformer and saint, Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century.
Located behind the Kedarnath
Temple is the Samadhi or the final resting place
where the saint gave up his life. 
According to legend, the Pandavas, after
having won over the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra war, felt guilty of
having killed their own brothers & sought the blessings of Lord
Shiva for redemption. He eluded them repeatedly & while fleeing
took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. There he dove into
the ground, leaving his hump on the surface. The remaining portions
of Lord Shiva appeared at four places and are worshiped there as
his manifestations. The arms appeared at Tunganath, the face at
Rudranath, the belly at Madmaheshwar & his locks at Kalpeshwar.
Kedarnath including these four shrines is treated as Panch
Kedar. 
There are two monasteries in Jyotir Math
representing the Shankaracharya of North India, due to a
controversy about who the actual Shankaracharya is at this time.
His Holiness Swami Vasudevananda Saraswati has held the post of
Shankaracharya since 1990 and lives in the ancient monastery, a
beautiful, peaceful ashram that has been on this land since it was
founded by Adi Shankara in ancient times.
A second ashram of the Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math
was recently built by His Holiness Swami Swaroopananda Saraswati,
who was a direct disciple of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati and is
currently the Shankarachary of the West in Dwaraka,
Gujarat.
Just below Joshimath two rivers, the Alaknanda and
the Dhauliganga, meet at the confluence of Karnaprayag. The river
Dhauliganga, coming from the Niti Valley, is approachable from
Joshimath by vehicle up to Malari town and beyond. The entire route
is lined with thick deodar forests. From Malari, one track goes
towards Niti village via Kailashpur, Farkia, Bampa and Ghamsali.
The entire valley throbs with activity in summer. Niti is the last
village of the valley and from here the track goes towards the Niti
Pass (5,299 m) and Marchokla.
Joshimath is a fairly large town. It has to
be, since most of Badrinath arrives here to spend the winter months
when the shrine of Badrinath remains snowbound for six months. It
is the winter shrine of Badrinath which is worshipped here during
the winter months. Today, it is a comparatively modern town with
small hotels, modern 
shops, and even a cinema.
Besides being an ancient religious centre,
Badrinath, at the banks of Alaknanda, altitude 3,133m, also
attracts tourists because of its natural beauty. It is one of the
four most sacred Hindu cities founded by Shankaracharya in the four
quarters of India. The place derives its name from the word
'badri', meaning berries that once grew here abundantly. It is
situated on the confluence of the Alaknanda and the Rishi Ganga.
Ancient Hindu texts state that a visit to Badrinath is an absolute
must to complete a pilgrimage. The importance of the place is
evident from the space scribes of the Mahabharata and the Puranas
(ancient Hindu texts) had dedicated to it. The shrine of Badrinath
in this city attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over
India.
The
Badrinath Temple is dedicated to Vishnu (Preserver in the Hindu
Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer). The presiding deity of the
temple is Badrinath (a form of Vishnu), also called Shri Badri
Vishal or Badrinarayan. Within the temple complex is an another
shrine dedicated to Laksmi, the Goddess of Fortune. This shrine is
situated to the left of the main temple building. Outside the exit
door of the Badrinath Temple is the seating place of
Shankaracharya, who meditated here. Adi Shankarcharya established
the idol of Vishnu in the temple, which is made of black granite.
The temple remains closed during winter. 
merge into one another beside the temple.
There is a hot water spring (Tapt kund) near the temple, and a
depression in the Alaknanda River known as Narad Kund. Supposedly
the Buddhists had thrown the image into the river there, and it was
recovered by Adi Guru Shankaracharya--the great Hindu reformer who
revived Hinduism when it was on the decline during the reign of
King Ashoka, a great patron of Buddhism who was promoting the
religion in the land.
Auli is
nestled in the lap of the snow-capped peaks of Garwal Himalayas in
the Chamoli district of western Uttar-Pradesh, near the world
famous religious shrine of Badrinath. At an altitude of 2,500-3,050
metres above sea level, with a vertical drop of 529 meters,
Auli's 
well-dressed slopes are flanked by coniferous and
oak forests and offer a panoramic view of Mt. Nanda Devi, Mana
Parbat, Dunagiri, Beethartoli, Nilkanth, Hathi Parbat and Ghori
Parbat. The rugged and snowy tettain of Auli is so challenging that
it used to be a training ground for India's Para-Military Forces in
the 70's.
Realizing the potential of Auli as a
ski-resort, the Government of U.P. had it surveyed by French and
Austrian experts who favourably compared the slopes of Auli to the
best in the world. Auli is today a promising ski-spot and an ideal
winter resort. Apart from Skiing Festivals being held here since
1986, National Championships under the aegis of Winter Games
Federation of India have been held at Auli with technical and other
backup assistance provided by various Government and adventure
related agencies.