![]() ![]() Trek in the Timeless Himalayas, Experience the Source of the Ganges River. |
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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.
The route to the source of the holy river begins at Rishikesh and passes ancient temples and Valleys along the way. The sacred 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.
11-day tour |
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![]() ![]() 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 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 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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