Chardham

Gangotri and Yamunotri are the sources of river Ganga and Yamuna. These two sources along with Badrinath and Kedarnath constitute the Char Dham of the Garhwal.

Gangotri
Ganga, the holy river of India, is a symbol of love and purity. It conveys the culture and civilization of the country and is not just a river but a Godess.

It is believed that Goddess Ganga first descended to Earth from Heaven at Gangotri where Lord Shiva received her into his matted locks to counter the immense impact of her fall. Gangotri is at a distance of 105 kms. from the town of Uttarkashi. It is the spiritual source of the river, while its actual source is the ice cave of Gomukh, 18 kms up the Gangotri glacier.

The shrine of Gangotri is set amidst rugged mountains and overlooks the thundering river at 3,048 metres. The shrine has a temple made of white stone is decorated with a gilded roof crowned with a central spire. On reaching the shrine pilgrims offer prayers at the temple and go down to the main bathing ghat next to the river. Near the temple is the Bhagirath shila, a stone slab where king Bhagirath sat to meditate. Dev ghat, which is set amidst tall trees, and it is the confluence of Bhagirathi with the Kedar Ganga. At Gaurikund magnificent waterfalls create a pool, which is reached through forest paths along the Gangotri gorge and over a rope bridge across the mighty river.

Yamunotri
The yamnotri shrine is on a deep cleft at high western face of Banderpunch peak. It is the source of river Yamuna and is worshiped. This mountain shrine is one of the most difficult to access. Pilgrims come to worship at Yamunotri, the goddess Yamuna and bathe in its chilled waters. The temple at Yamunotri is just next to the river, around the hot sulphur springs of the Surya Kund.

Badrinath
Badrinath is located on the rigth bank of holy river Alaknanda, in the mid of beautiful valley, at an altitude of 3,133 . The shrine has a temple dedicated to lord Vishnu. This temple of Shri Badrinathji is 15 mt. in height, built in the conical form and topped with a small cupola of a gilt bull and spire

Kedarnath
Kedarnath is situated at an altitude of 3,581 mts. It is a spectacular sight standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by snow covered peaks. The shrine has a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva the the destroyer. Shiva, is considered the embodiment of all passions-love, hatred, fear, death and mysticism which are expressed through his various forms.

The exquisitely architectured, kedarnath temple is said to be more than 1000 years old. The temple is built of extremely large heavy and evenly cut grey slavs of stones. The temple houses a concial rock formation that is worshipped as lord shiva in his sadashiva form.