Gujarat Tourism - Gujarat Travel Guide

Area: 196,024 km²

Population: 6.27 crores

Language: Gujarati, Hindi

Capital: Gandhinagar

Best Time to Visit: October to March

Gujarat, a state located at the Western tip of India where people speak their first word “Aavo Padharo”. Aavo Padharo are the words of welcome in the language of Gujarat because this is the only place where these words chime truly and the guest is 'God' and the people of Gujarat are gregariously friendly, inviting and will tempt you to come again and again. The unique natural and man-made countryside of the Gujarat that is from outpourings of the volcanoes to fossil fields and from the fine art of the Neolithic cave artist to the stone masterpieces of a chain of cultured structural design.

Historical Facts

The history of Gujarat is as old as the beginning of Indus Valley Civilization and it was culminated with the conquest by the Muslim rulers from central Asia. Some of the ancient cities of Indus Valley Civilization are in Gujarat as Lothal, Dholavira, and Gola Dhoro. Before 11th century, there was an era of Gupta Dynasty and Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty. Later Muslims came to Gujarat and the first Muslim who was victorious in Gujarat was Mahmud of Ghazni, whose invasion successfully ended the rule of the Solankis. Since its ancient history, Gujarat was enriched by their commercial activities which attracted many European powers too. The first European power to arrive in Gujarat was Portugal. It acquired lot of the Gujarat coastal areas, including the Daman and Diu and the Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Later, the British East India Company rooted an industry in Surat in 1614, which formed their first foot in India. The rule of the British officials paved one of the many paths to the modern day’s contemporary Gujarat. Also, the role of Gujarat in Indian independence can never be kept aside. The greatest freedom fighter of India was great Mahatma Gandhi, born in Gujarat. He was joined by other Gujarati Indian freedom fighters like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Morarji Desai, KM Munshi, Narhari Parikh, Mahadev Desai and Ravi Shankar Vyas. Mahatma Gandhi led the Salt Satyagraha in Gujarat which was a movement of nonviolent protest against the British salt tax in colonial India. It was one of the most observable images of Gujarat during the days prior to independent India.

Economy of Gujarat

The economy of Gujarat is one of the most affluent state economies of India. The Gross domestic product (GDP) of Gujarat is twice as fast as of the country. The economy of Gujarat is affluent because of rapid industrialization. The major income creation from agriculture comes from cotton. The agricultural economy of Gujarat is mainly reliant upon the recurrent cotton yields. Gujarat ranks high in the manufacturing sector.

Cultural Facts

State of Gujarat boasts of a prosperous rituals, traditions and legacy. The Gujaratis have preserved the ancient art and craft techniques and still practice them with great willpower. They are proud of their customs and traditions and follow them with extreme pride. The character of Gujarat is clearly evident from the variation of fairs and festivals celebrated in this state. Therefore, Gujarat has a cultural variety which is an exceptional characteristic of this state. The various song, dance and drama forms practiced in Gujarat are famous throughout India and abroad. The most attractive thing is that the origin of some performing arts as old as the ancient era of Lord Krishna. The folk drama popular in Gujarat is known as Bhavai. Other popular folk dances of Gujarat are Dandiya, Garba, Garbi, Tippani Nritya, Siddi, Padhar Nritya, Dangi Nritya and some other local tribal dances.

Geography Facts

Gujarat has 7% of overall geographical region under forest which makes 4 National parks and 21 sanctuaries. Gujarat is the only habitat of Asiatic Lions and is the only current natural habitat of lions outside the Africa continent. In the South-West part of the Gujarat there exist Gir Forest National Park which covers only part of the lions' habitat and the other big cats can also be found in this National Park as Leopards. Leopards can be found across the large plains of Saurashtra and South Gujarat mountains. Major mountain-ranges of India like Aravalli, Sahyadri, Vindhya and Satpura are found in Gujarat. Girnar is the famous and tallest mountain of Gujarat and Saputara happens to be the only hill-station here in Gujarat. Narmada River is the biggest river of Gujarat followed by Tapi, even though Sabarmati covers longest area in the state.

The coast line of Gujarat stretches up to 1600 kms and is one of the longest in india. Gujarat is consecrated with a number of beaches in India like the beach of Ahmedpur, Mandvi, Beyt Dwarka Beach, Chorwad Beach, Gopnath Beach, Somnath and Veraval Beach. Other than the forest area, Gujarat has some of the tourist destinations like Jami Masjid, Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, Buddhist Cave Monastery, and Durbar Hall Museum.

Gujarat Foods

Gujarati cuisine is more or less strictly vegetarian but it is pleasantly appetizing and most of the cuisines are served traditionally on large silver platters along with rice and a variety of wheat breads. A wide range of seasonal vegetables, a sensible use of spices and herbs, and a light touch make authentic Gujarati cuisine a gourmet's delight. Gujarati snacks (farsans) are delicious. Some common dishes includes Khaman Dhokla, a salted steamed cake, made from chickpea flour, Doodhpak, Amras, Sev-Ganthia, Paunk, Kadhi and Shrikhand. Desserts are generally made from local sugar cane, jaggery, milk, almonds, and pistachios were initially served at occasion of weddings and several family occasions as an instant liveliness booster for relatives travelling long distances to attend. Now days, sweets are more characteristically made from milk, sugar and nuts are to be served as part of a Thali and Magas and Ghooghra are dry sweets which are loved by the people of Gujarat.

So, what else an individual can ask for, tour to Gujarat tries to fulfill every type of demand. Become a part of Gujarat and get fascinated with its eternal sweet charm.

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple - History, Location, Legend

As you all know India is one of the countries who has still maintained and conserved their tradition and culture with lots of changes having within it such as development in science and technology.

The ideologies and thinking have changed but the faith and trust in god has not changed. One of the exemplar is Tirupati temple situated in Andhra Pradesh. From all over India and other countries, people come here to worship the idol of Venkateshwar, popularly known as Balaji.

Tirupati Balaji Temple

It is also known to the richest and most visited temple in the India. It is said if you make a wish or pray for something the Balaji grants it and for that reason people whose prayers were granted they would donate money, gold or silver to show their gratitude.

Not only it gets lots of expensive offering but also many devotees shave off their heads and tons of hair is collected, later sold by the temple. It is believed that by shaving your head there in the name of lord, you are wiping out the ego within you.

Location

Tirupati temple is situated on Tirumala Hill which is 3200 ft above sea level and around 10.33 sq miles in area. The hill comprises of seven peaks; Neeladri, Anjanadri, Venkatadri, Seshadri, Vrushabadri, Garudadri. The temple of Balaji is at seventh peak – Venkatadri which in the southern banks of the Sri Swami Pushkarini. You will find there many small traditional temples.

Ideal

The Tirupati temple is made of gold and the room where idol of Balaji is kept is lit only with diyas so you just see the outline of the idol, gold jewelry and red line (tikka) on his forehead gets lightened up by the diyas light as the whole idol is black in color. The whole scene from getting in the area to stand in queue with more than 60 thousand people is tiring as well as exciting. All the chaos around and people shouting Govinda – Govinda, makes you part of their passion to see their lord and love towards him. Once you enter the temple, except the pushing and shouting the name of god, the whole event is mesmerizing.

History

The history of this temple goes long back around 9th century AD when ruler of Kancheepuram, pallavas, supported the holy place but during Vijayanagara dynasty that’s around 15th century AD this place got recognized. Now the place is run by autonomous body called Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanam Committee which is a group of trustees.

Richest Temples In India

As this temple gets lots of donation and is known as one of the richest god in the world, the whole money is spent on the renovation and development of place so the devotees coming to Tirupati won’t face any problem to reach. As lot of money is spend on constructing roads, building lodges to accommodate if any one plans to stay overnight, etc.

Legend

The legend behind this temple is said to be that in 11th century AD, Saint Ramanuja, climbed this seven hills and lord Venkateshwar appeared and blessed him. And then Saint Ramanuja lived for 120 years to spread the teachings and beliefs about his god.

Best Time to Visit

In the month of late December-January is said to be auspicious to go there. According to the Hindu calendar this time is called month of Margashira or Margashirsha. As Venkateshwar is known to be another identity of lord Vishnu, so according to the Vaishnavism culture (those who follow Vishnu) believes that in Vaikunta which comes between late December and January is very auspicious day as on this day ‘the gate of lords inner sanctum’ is opened. So during this period more than lakh of pilgrims come here to perform pujas and yagnas.

Accommodation

At the Tirumala the whole accommodation supervised by the Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanam committee (TTD). You will get to stay at dormitories made available around temple. During off seasons you can make advance booking by sending draft check of Rupees 100 and a letter to the TTD.

How to Reach

Bus transportation is made available from airport to Tirumala and back to the airport by the APSRTC bus for convenience for the passengers. Plus there are buses which are free of cost working in and out of Tirumala and around Tirumala.

Gir Forests National Park - One of the oldest Sanctuary of India

Gir National Park is a wild life sanctuary located in the Gujarat state of India. Gir forests national park is also recognized as Sasan Gir.  It is a forest area of about 1400 sq. km, with about 250 sq. km area is come under Gir national park and rest of area is come under wildlife sanctuary. It is declared as national park in 1965 by Indian Government. Sasan Gir or National park is 65 km far way from city Junagadh and 43 km away from Somnath.

Gir National Park

Gir National Park

Asiatic lions can be seen only in the Gir National Park. It is the only place where these creatures can be seen. In Asia, it is the best protected areas for lions due to its different species and climatic condition. Many wildlife activists and government put efforts to protect the ecosystem of Gir forests. Hunting is prohibited in this area and no one can harm its flora and fauna. As a result, number of lions increases from 52 from 2005 to 411 in 2010.

In Gir forests, some major rivers passing through this area are Godavari, Hiran, Shingoda. Kamleshwar Lake is the prime lake of this area and it is an important part of this forest.

During hot season, water accessibility is the major problem for forest department. Whenever deprived rainfall occurs, water shortage becomes main problem for its creatures.

In Gir forests, about three hundred different types of flora are found. Dry deciduous forests are found in this area. Teak forests are important part of this. These are located mainly in the eastern part of the forest. Large amount of green grass also harvested annually from the forests.

More than 200 species of birds are found in Gir mainly as, Rock Bush-Quail Brown Fish Owl, Indian Eagle-Owl, Pygmy Woodpecker, Black-headed Oriole.

Asiatic Lion (Gir Lion)

The Asiatic lion generally lives in dry and deciduous forest. In other parts of the world, North Africa, Greece are the areas where these lions can be seen. While Gir forests are well protected, but there is also some case of poaching. Also some lions could be affected by attacking poisoned livestock. Some natural calamities also present danger for this creature; however government tried their best to protect these Asiatic lions.

Asiatic Lion at Gir

A large numbers of tourists come to Gir National Park to see Asiatic lions, as it is the only place where these creatures can be seen, so many tourists attracted towards this. Visitors can see Asiatic lions in their natural habitat, Lions taking sun bathe, with their Children. The park is opened for tourists all the year except in the time of rainy season because it’s not safe to safari in the rainy season.

Timings of Safari:

Gir Forest safari is in the 3 shifts. The morning shifts 6 to 9 am, 9 to 12 am and evening shift is 3 to 6 pm.

Safari can be experienced with Jeep. This is the open jeep in which 6 members and 2 children are allowed. The cost of safari included all charges is about Rs.3500/- for domestic and Rs.7000/- for foreigners. Identity card is must, to take safari.

Various hotels and resorts are available here, ranging from luxury to ordinary.

How to Reach:

Junagadh is about 63 km away from the park, where railway station exist, and trains from different parts of country, from Ahmedabad, Rajkot are available. So it is a good choice to come to Junagadh first, then by road you can go to the park.

You can also reach here from Somnath, it is about 43 km from Sasan Gir. Private buses and taxis are available from here.

Rajkot is the nearest airport to come to Sasan Gir. From Rajkot, you can come to Junagadh by private buses or taxis. It is about 105 km from Rajkot to Junagadh. Taxis will take normal charges and time to reach.

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Helicopter service for Chardham Yatra & Benefits

Chardham yatra is a difficult yatra as one has to trek through perilous terrains to high enough altitudes. For those who cannot manage this rigorous terrain trek, Helicopter service to the Chardhams comes as a boon. With that service, they can complete this holy expedition quite successfully overcoming whatever physical issues or weaknesses they have and that which was stopping them from undertaking the yatra. To know more about the service and its benefits, read on-

char dham yatra by helicopter

Tour of Chardham by Helicopter can be an interesting proposition. It can be a fun ride, an exciting way to travel to Chardham. Albeit it costs a few more bucks than traditional mode of travel, it can save a lot of time. Also, those who are infirm and weak, like aged and children, it is the best mode of travel without any fuss. Bypass the strenuous and lengthy schedule of Chardham yatra which can actually be more cumbersome if travelling along with aged parents or members and children. Fulfill the dream of your parents of going for Chardham yatra and let not their age or infirmity come between their precious wish.

Departure Cities:

Helicopter service for Chardham yatra is available from Phata, Augustmuni, Rampur, Dehradun and Delhi. You have to plan in advance your schedules and book helicopter couple of months before your actual journey.

Helicopter Packages:

There are many packages available based on pilgrims demand and budget. There is single trip, double trip, one dham (Kedarnath), two dham (Kedarnath and Badrinath), chardham(all four). Also, there are other packages like Kedarnath Yatra (1 day), Kedarnath Yatra (2 days), Badrinath Yatra (1 day), Badrinath Yatra (2 days), Chardham Package (1 night), Chardham Helicopter Package (2 nights), Chardham Helicopter Package (4 nights-5 days), Chardham Helicopter Package (7 nights). You may consult travel companies to get the best deal.

Best Time to Visit

The Himalayan weather is quite fickle. It is sunny one day, raining another day. But, the best time is during the summers starting from late April to late June every year. It is strict no-no to not visit during the monsoons as helicopter service might be terminated due to bad weather. Also, there are frequent landslides during the time. Also, the view will be blurred due to thick clouds all around. The next best time is during the winters during September to early November. So, if you are planning for

Helicopter Chardham Yatra it is always better to consult the weather before visiting and talk to your travel advisor.

Benefits

• Helicopter Yatra has many perks and benefits. To know more, scroll down:
• It saves lots of time. A 3-day trek to Kedarnath can be done within a few hours by helicopter. Similarly, it saves time for other three holy spots too. Thus, it is perfect for persons with tight schedule.
• It is the most comfortable mode of transport for the ailing and the aged. It is difficult for the old aged people to tolerate the strain of the difficult terrain. The long winding roads are tiring and exhausting even for the young blood.
• Although helicopter yatra costs more than the traditional mode, but it is still a good deal.
• You can get a bird’s eye view of the breathtakingly beautiful panoramic Himalayan beauty from the helicopter.
• With travel time cut short by more than half, you can actually spend more time with your family relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the mountain sipping a cup of hot coffee.

Tips for Helicopter Yatra

• There is upper limit for total weight (300 kg approx.) for a 5- seater helicopter, so it is advisable to carry less of baggage.
• Consult your doctor if you have any medical condition that may be aggravated due to high altitude, cold weather, strain and stress.
• Even before actual journey, do regular exercises and ‘pranayam’ to cope your body with the rugged mountains.
• Follow the instructions of the pilot word by word to word to do away any untoward situations or circumstances.

Dal Lake in Srinagar - Climate, Best Time to Visit, How to Reach

Dal Lake is located in Srinagar, the capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The lake is spread over an area of 18 square kilometres and is divided into four various parts namely, Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal and Nagin Lake (this is a separate smaller water body close to the Dal Lake). The lake is located at an altitude of over 1,500 metres above the sea level. The beautiful lake has a big ecological and socio-economic significance. The richness and the charm of the Dal Lake eco-system attract tourists from all across the world every year. The lake is surrounded on three sides by mountains and gardens laid along the shore. The houseboats are the unique attractions of the Dal.

Dal Lake, Kashmir

Flora

The beautiful lake is dotted with thousands of lotus, water lilies and water chestnuts. It is also surrounded by chinar, willow and poplar groves. Vegetables are also grown in the water of the Dal Lake and are sold in the local markets.

Fauna

Dal Lake is also known for its diverse avifauna. Little grebes, kingfishers, herons are some of the common birds found here. The other animal residents of this place include grasshoppers, lizards and mice.

Time to Visit

March to October is the best time to visit the Dal Lake. This period includes three seasons, namely, spring, summer and autumn. During the winter (December to early March), the entire valley region remains under snow. However, for those who want to enjoy the chill and skiing, this is the time to visit Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is the northern-most province of India and is located largely in the Western Himalayan mountain system. The state has borders with Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in the south, China in the north and east and Pakistan in the west. J&K is a territory of great political dispute between India and Pakistan and India and China. The state features three main areas, namely, Jammu, Kashmir valley and Ladakh. Srinagar is the summer capital while Jammu is the winter capital. J&K is quite rightly defined as the ‘Paradise on Earth’ for its sublime natural beauty.

Kashmir Climate

Kashmir mainly experiences four types of climate, namely, spring (March till May), summer (May to August), autumn (September till November) and winter (December till March). Spring can witness brief showers while summer is not much hot (temperature vary between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius during this time). Snowfall is common during winter.

How to Reach

By Air

Srinagar airport is near about 14 km from the city. Srinagar is connected with all the major cities of the country.

By Rail

JammuTawi is the nearest railway station to Srinagar and it is connected from New Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, Mumbai and other cities.

By Road

National Highway 1-A (from Uri in Kashmir  to Jalandhar in Paunjab) is the main road communication to this region. It connects Srinagar to Jammu and the rest of India. Several state and private buses and taxis operate on this route. The famous Jawahar tunnel falls on this route. NH 1-D connects Srinagar with Leh.

Attractions

Shikara Ride in Dal lake of Srinagar

• Shikaras and the houseboats
• Beautiful Nagin Lake
• Floating market in the lake. The vendors ferry goods on boat. Everything from fruits, nuts, flowers, leather goods, shawls are sold.
• Sona lank and Rupa lank, two islands, located in the middle of the Lokut Dal and Bod Dal.
• Mughal gardens like Nishat Garden, Shalimar Garden
• Chasmashahi
• Pari Mahal
• Harwan
• Shankaracharya’s shrine and Hari Parbat temple on the hillocks adjacent to the lake.
• Shiva Temple
• University of Kashmir campus
• Royal Springs Golf Club

Activities at the Dal Lake

• Shikara rides
• Living in the houseboats in the lake in a pristine and serene atmosphere is a lifetime experience
• Kayaking
• Canoeing
• Boating
• Water surfing
• Fishing (Dal Lake supports a huge flourishing fishing industry)
• Water skiing
• Trekking in the city forest area

Accommodation

Houseboats (there are various categories of houseboats like Deluxe, A Class, B Class, C Class and so on). Meenabazar Group of Houseboats, Persian Palace Group of Houseboats

Hotels in Srinagar like: Akbar Hotel, Broadway Hotel, Centaur Lake View Hotel, Lake Isle Hotel, Grand Palace Hotel, Hotel Diplomat, Hotel Sadaf, Hotel Ahdoo’s, Green Acre Hotel, Hotel Vikram, Ruby Hotel

Guesthouses

Problems

Popularity of Dal Lake took a heavy beating in the late 1980s and 1990s owing to the rising disturbance of terrorism. However, that situation has improved significantly in recent times. Uncontrolled growth of macrophytes is another major problem that has affected the lake’s ecosystem.

Wular Lake Srinagar - Climate, How to Reach, Visit Timing

A Splendour Called Wular Lake

Wular Lake, one of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia and the largest in India, is located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in northern part of India. The 16 kilometre long and 10 kilometre wide lake is located 60 kilometres northwest of Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Wular Lake acts as the natural flood reservoir for the Jhelum River, which feeds into it. In 1986, the lake was designated as Wetland of national Importance under the Indian government’s Wetlands Programme. In 1990, it was enlisted as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention of 1975.

Wular Lake

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is the northern-most province of India and is located largely in the Western Himalayan mountain system. The state has borders with Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in the south, China in the north and east and Pakistan in the west. J&K is a territory of great political dispute between India and Pakistan and India and China. The state features three main areas, namely, Jammu, Kashmir valley and Ladakh. Srinagar is the summer capital while Jammu is the winter capital. J&K is quite rightly defined as the ‘Paradise on Earth’ for its sublime natural beauty.

Wular Lake is bestowed with an unparalleled natural beauty. The small island of Zaina Lank, which is said to be built by king Zain-ul-Abidin in the middle of the picturesque lake adds to its charm.

Geographical Aspect

Wular lake has an important role to play in the hydrographic system of the Kashmir Valley for it acts as a big absorption basin for the annual floodwater here. A number of local water bodies like Bohnar, Erin, Madamati and Ningal besides the Jhelum deposit huge amount of silts into the lake. The lake lies at an altitude of 1,580 metres above the sea level and has a depth of 14 metres.

Swans & Cows, Wular Lake [source]

Wular Lake Avifauna

A fascinating natural diversity at Wular Lake supports a wide variety of avifauna. Migratory species like Egzet, Shoveler, Common Pochard and Mallard can be spotted here. Besides, marbled Teal, Short-toed Eagle, Little Cuckoo, Monal Pheasant, Himalayan Pied Woodpecker, Pallas’ Fish eagle, black-eared kite, sparrow hawk, Himalayan Golden Eagle, Chukar Partridge, Blue rock pigeon, Alpine swift, Kashmir roller, common swallow and Golden oriole are some other commonly found in and around the Wular Lake. However, the increasing human encroachment and the consequent polluting of the water body and hunting have posed serious danger to these birds.

Aqua Fauna

Wular Lake is also home and habitat to a large number of fish species, some prominent among them being Cyprinus carpio, Gambusia affinis, Barbus conchonius, Crossocheilus latius, Schizothorax curvifrons and others. Wular lake yields more than 60 per cent of the fish catch in Kashmir Valley and is source of livelihood for great many fishermen.

Attractions in and Around Wular Lake

• Boating on the lake
• Bandipore town
• Hokersar wetland which is a magnificent place for birding
• Manasbal Lake
• Ningal Nullah
• salim ali national park
• Parihaspora
• Khir Bhawani Temple
• Imambara Goom
• Anchar Lake
• Kuker Bagh Lake
• Anatomy Museum

Climate at Srinagar

The climate at Srinagar is humid subtropical with hot summers. Summer extends from June through August while winter stays from December to February, which is also the time when the city experiences snowfall. Average annual rainfall is around 675 mm.

Best Time to Visit Wular Lake

Summer is the best time to visit Srinagar and the Wular Lake. April through June is the best time.

How to Reach Wular Lake

Reaching Srinagar (Wular Lake can be reached by road from Srinagar):

By air

Srinagar is well connected by air with New Delhi, Mujmbai, Chandigarh, Shimla as well as Leh in Ladakh.

By Rail

Srinagar itself has no railway station. Nearest railway station is Jammu which is 305 kilometres away. Jammu is connected with major Indian cities like New Delhi, Bangaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Trivandrum. Taxi service is available from jammu to Srinagar.

By Road

Srinagar has road links with Jammu (266 km), Pehalgam (87 km), Sonamarg (80 km), New Delhi (808 km), Chandigarh (560 km), Leh (421 km), Kargil (202 km), Katra (249 km), Dalhousie (405 km) and other places. Tourist vehicles are available to tour different parts of J&K from Srinagar.

Accommodation

• Houseboat New Lucky Flower
• Hotel Broadway
• Hotel Vikram
• Green Acre Hotel
• Adoos Hotel
• Heevan Resort
• Hotel Paradise
• Hotel Dar-es-salam
• Swiss Hotel
• Pahaldam Hotel
• Hotel Shangrila
• Bloomingdale Hotel

Other places of attraction in Srinagar

• Dal Lake
• Mughal Gardens
• Kashmir Valley
• Temple of Shankaracharya
• Jama Masjid
• Khanqah-e-mollah
• Hazratbal shrine
• Shalimar Garden
• Pari Mahal

Interesting Facts About Kedarnath Dham

Kedarnath in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand holds a unique position in the hearts of Shiv bhakts. The Kedarnath temple is one of the 12 jyotirlingams in India and one of the four Chardham in Uttarakhand. Located at a height of 3583 metres and about 223 kilometres from Rishikesh, it is the toughest leg of the char Dham Yatra and it is no surprise that many pilgrims choose to travel by pony or palanquin or fly by helicopter rather than trek 14 kilometres up the steep and winding path leading to the temple. The temple is on the banks of the Mandakini River, one of the holiest of rivers that goes on to meet the Ganga downstream. There are myths and legends associated with the temple and there are facts that you should know if you intend to make a pilgrimage.

Kedarnath Temple

It is Tough

You can travel by road only up to a point and that point is Gaurikund where one must stay overnight if one wishes to attend the morning Aarti and Darshan and it is better than looking for hotels in Kedarnath, which is a small village-town. From here you trek 13 to 14 km or take a pony or ride in a palanquin. Walking over winding steep paths up to Kedarnath is only for the fittest and it could take a whole day.

Divine Protection

The flash floods in 2013 caused havoc and also destroyed parts of the platform but left the temple untouched. Some ascribe it to divine protection of Lord Shiva while some who are more practical ascribe it to the presence of a large rock behind the temple that diverted waters.

Kedarnath Temple Night View

Darshan Times are Limited

The temple opens for pilgrims on Akshay Tritiya day and closes after bhai dooj after Diwali. When the temple is open for pilgrims they can have a Darshan starting at 7 AM in the morning. Unlike other temples where Aarti is performed in the morning, the main ceremonies are performed here between 1 PM to 2 PM after which the Lord rests. Ceremonies include Prathah Kalik Pooja (morning prayers), Maha Abhishek, Abhishek, Laghu Rudrabhishek, Shodashopachara pooja, Ashtopachar pooja, full aarti, Pandav Pooja, Ganesh Pooja, Bhairav pooja, Parvati pooja, Shiv sahasranama pooja, etc. The temple again reopens at 5 PM and stays open up to 8.30 PM with the idol of kedarnath on display between 7.30 PM and 8.30 PM. Possibly it is arranged so that those who trek all day long are rewarded with a Darshan when he arrive. In winter the idol is brought down to Ukhimath. Even the roads to Kedarnath are closed during winter due to dangers of landslides and heavy snow blocking the roads.'

The Presiding Priests are from Karnataka

The head priests are from the Veerashaiva community of Karnataka and are known as Rawals. The Rawal does not perform the ceremony but conducts it with the help of other priests.

Baba Kedar Doli

There is an Idol Here!

In almost all shiv temples across India the only way Shiva is represented is in the form of a triangular lingam. Kedarnath is unique in that there is a statue of the Lord here that people worship along with the ever present Lingam. Keeping Shiva company are idols of the Pandavas including Draupadi, Lord Krishna, Nandi and Virabhadra, one of his guards.

Kedarnath Could Also be a Vishnudham

This is perhaps rooted in legend. It is believed Nar Narayan, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu resided here and created a Shivling and prayed to Lord Shiv who descended and granted the wish that he reside in the lingam. Shiv then occupied this abode of Vishnu and called the place Kedar.

You Must Have a Receipt Before Pooja!

It is not like any other temple where you can just walk in, offer pooja and be on your way. First you have to obtain a receipt and then only they are permitted inside the sanctum.