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:: PANCH KEDAR YATRA ::
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The five Kedar
lies in the valleys between the rivers Bhagirathi and
Alaknanda. The term Kedar itself means a natural rock
formation or a glacial moraine. According to legend, himalayas
Kedarnath, the chief seat of the Panch Kedar, come into being
during the period when the five Pandava brothers were asked to
seek Shiva's blessings, purging them off sin of fratricide, or
killing their cousin brothers in the terrifying bettle of
Kurukshetra. Shiva disguised himself as a bull and started to
plunge underground when he was spotted by Pandavas. No wonder
the natural rock formation that is worshipped here resembles
the rump of bull. The other four places where Shiva is
worshipped take their appearance from different part of his
body - the navel at Madmaheshwar, the arm at Tungnath, the
face at Rudranath, and the matted hair at Kalpeshwar.
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Kedarnath |
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holiest of Shiva's shrines is likened to gold
among base metals so that every pilgrim finds
peace here, and it is said that devotees who die
here become one with Shiva himself. The temple of
Kedarnath, located at a height of 3,581 mts, stand
at the head of the Mandakini river, with Kedarnath
peak keeping vigil above it. |
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temple is dedicated to the Sadasiva or invisible
form of Shiva, and is represented by a natural
rock formation.Beyond
the temple is the highway to heaven, called
Mahapanth |
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Madmaheshwar |
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Shiva is worshipped at Madmaheshwar in the form of
navel - shaped lingum. Located at base of
Chaukhamba peak, at an altitude of 3,289 mts, the
classic temple architecture belongs to the north -
Indian style. So sanctified is the water here that
even a few drops are considered sufficient for
absolution. |
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The natural scenery is dramatically
wild, with deep gorges and himalayas valleys,
mountainsides flung upwards towards the skies, and
forests where the snow lies thick in winter, only
to be replaced by a carpet of greenery in the
summer. Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks are also
visible from here, the entire ring of mountains
associated with the life and times of shiva. The
confluences of two streams at Gaundar just short
of the temple, is one of the prettiest spots in
the region. |
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Tungath |
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The sanctity of the region of
Tungath is considered unsurpassed. The peak of
Tungnath is the source of three springs that from
the river Akashkamini. At this temple at 3,680 mts,
Shiva's arm is worshipped. The highest hindu
shrine in the Himalayas, 3kms uphill from Chopta,
Tungath is reached through a path that wends
through alpine meadows and rhododendron thickets.
An hour's climb from here leads to Chandrashila
with its panoromic views. The entire journey and
the shrine are located in some of the finest, most
picturesque pocket of the Himalaya.
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Rudranath |
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Devotees come to Rudranath to offer
ritual obeisance ti their ancestors, for it is
here, at Vaitarani river that the soal of dead
cross when entering another world. The temple of
Rudranath at 2,286 mts, entails trekking through
ridges at almost twice that height before reaching
the meadow where it is located. Within the
sanctum, Shiva's image is worshipped in the form
of his face. The temple is surround by several
pools - Surya Kund, Chandra Kund, Tara Kund, Manas
Kund - while the great peaks of Nanda Devi,
Trishul and Nanda Ghunti rear overhead.
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Kalpeshwar |
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A favorite spots for sages who come
here to meditate, following the precedent of
Arghya who performed austerities and created the
celebrated nymph, Urvashi, here, and the irascible
Durvasha who meditated under the wish fulfilling
tree, Kalpavriksha, Pilgrims pray at the small
rock temple at a height of 2,134 mts. before the
matted tresses of Shiva enshrined in rock in the
sanctum sanctorum. The sanctum is preceded by a
natural cave passage. Surrounded by thick forests
and terraced fields in the Urgam valley, the
temple is reached following a 10 km. long trek. |
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DAY TO
DAY ITINERARY |
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Day 01: Delhi - Rishikesh. |
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Day 2 - Rishikesh - Guptkashi / Gaurikund |
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Day 3 -Guptkashi / Gaurikund - Kedarnath 14 kms trek |
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Day 4 - Kedarnath - Guptkashi / Gaurikund 14 kms
trek. |
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Day 5 - Rest. |
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Day 6 -Guptkashi / Gaurikund - Kalimath - Ransi 14 kms trek
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Day 7 - Ransi - Madmeshwar 17 kms trek. |
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Day 8 - Madmeshwar Rest |
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Day 9 - Madmeshwar - Ransi 17 kms trek .. |
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Day 10 -Ransi - Kalimath 14 kms trek - Chopta over night stay. |
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Day 11 - Rest. |
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Day 12 - Chopta - Tungnath - Chopta 4 kms trek one way. |
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Day 13 - Rest |
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Day 14 - Chopta - Sagar vai Taxi - further 10 kms trek . |
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Day 15 - 12 kms trek to Rudranath . |
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Day 16 - Rest. |
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Day 17 - Rudranath - Sagar 22 kms trek - Gopeshwar over night stay. |
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Day 18 - Gopeshwar - Pipalkoti Rest. |
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Day 19 - Pipalkoti - helong - Kalpeshwar 12 kms trek . |
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Day 20 - Kalpeshwar - Helong 12 kms trek - Pipalkoti. |
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Day 21 - Pipalkoti - Rishikesh |
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Day 22 - Rishikesh - Delhi. |
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Panch Kedar Yatra Reservation
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