Uttarakhand Chardham tour (Part 2)

Yamunotri to Gangotri

Yamunotri   to Uttarkashi  Day 3

Starting leisurely at 9.30 AM from Janaki chatti campsite at Yamunotri ,we reached Uttarkashi at 1.00 P.M. Uttarkashi is the holy town set on the banks of Bhagirathi River at an elevation of 1158 meters. Its significance among Hindus is no less than Kashi.  Visited sacred Vishwanath Temple  dedicated to Lord Shiva . There is a trident made of eight imperative metals. According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Shiva slaughtered Vakasur with his Trishul at this sacred place. 

Lord Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Trishul inside the temple

Evening was spent at leisure walking through 1 Km long tunnel connecting 2 parts of town , purchasing varieties of  pahadi  fruits ,later had sumptuous buffet dinner at the hotel.

Uttarkashi  to Gangotri   -Uttarkashi Day 4

 Early morning at 5.30 A.M, all of us were out to make the awaited trip to Gangothri. The road to Gangotri passes through Maneri, Bhatwari, Gangnani and Harsil. Thoroughly enjoying the scenery with swooping ranges and gazing changing facets of Bhagirathi as she makes her way across the Himalayas, we reached Gangotri at 10.00 am. The road is very bad after Gangnani, it is quite dangerous also, a driver must be very cautious on this route. Flowing Bhagirathi, green valleys with cedar and pine trees kept company through- out our journey. Gomukh glacier becomes visible as we approach Gangotri.

Gangotri is located at an altitude of 3100 meters above sea level, on the banks of Bhagirathi river. From Devprayag onwards Bhagirathi meets with Alaknanda  to form Ganga River. Location of the temple is very picturesque, in the backdrop of  high mountains, watched by Gomukh glacier in the east. The  white colored granite ,20 feet height exquisite temple  houses  Ganga Devi's idol, Goddess Yamuna and Lakshmi. Bhagirath Shila, where King Bhagirath is believed to have performed his famed saadhna to bring Ganga from heaven to earth, is located within the compound. The river water was cold ,I could dip hand/feet for a few minutes to collect the holy water , Pradeepji  took a small bath . On the banks ,we all members sat in a circle performed the pooja under the guidance of priest and paid our respect to the mother divine by offering a coconut carried from Sullia.

With our friends at Gangotri temple

View of Gangotri Glacier from the Ghat

Pranams to King Bhagirath who performed 500 years of penance to bring River Ganga to earth

Pranams to Maa Bhaghirathi at Gangotri Ghats

Bhagirathshila inside Temple premises

Maa Ganga Temple 

We took same route to go back to Uttarkashi. Way back had Idli  sambar at Gangnani and took bath in hot spring here. It is said that in ancient times, Rishi Parashar used to live here. Stopped for a shorter while at other attractions like Khedi Waterfall  and the captivating region of Bhairon Ghati  near the convergence of Bhagirathi River and Jat Ganga.

Captivating view of River Bhagirathi near Harsil

Khedi waterfall

Pilot Baba Ashram

 After Bhatwari, as we approach Uttarkashi, there is an  ashram of  Pilot Baba. It  looks like a spiritual disney land with gigantic images of Ganesha, Shiva and numerous other sages. The ashram has a pleasing natural ambience with landscape, lush green gardens with beautiful flowers.

That evening we took a stroll round the Uttarkashi town,way back to hotel had vegetable momos . Next morning we had to drive a long way to Kedarnath.