One of the most difficult pilgrimage yatra in India refers to the five temples of lord Shiva in the high Himalaya - kedarnath, Madhyamaheshwar, Tungnath, Rudranath and kalpeshwar.
It is popularly believed that the Pandavas, after their victory in
the Mahabharata wished to pay homage to lord Shiva to atone for gotra
hatya – killing their kin, the kauravas. At kedarnath, seeing the
Pandavas coming, lord Shiva disguised himself as bull. However the
Pandavas saw through this disguise. Realizing that the disguise has not
worked the
Madhyamaheshwar and Tungnath.
Rudranath and
kalpeshwar however remained cave temples.
bull tried to thrust itself into the ground. Bhima tried to
hold the bull to prevent it from vanishing. In the struggle that ensued,
Shiva got torn into separate parts that manifested themselves at
various locations in kedarkhand. The forehead appeared at Pashupatinath
in Kathmandu; the hump at kedarnath; the torso including the navel at
Madhyamaheshwar; the arms at Tungnath; the face manifested itself at
Rudranath and the legendary matted locks of Shiva at kalpeshwar. The
five sites that fall in India are referred to as Panch kedar. It is held
that the Pandavas and their descendents built the temples at kedarnath,
Panch Prayag Tour Package (9 Nights / 10 Days)
Day 01 : Delhi - Haridwar (220 Kms / 6 Hrs)
in the early morning after breakfast drive to Haridwar lunch on th way
and continue drive to haridwar chick in to hotel over night stay at
haridwar.
Day 02 : Haridwar - Devprayag (100 Kms / 5 Hrs)
Morning after breakfast drive to Devprayag chick in to hotel and lunch
after lunch sightseeing at Devprayag and dinner over night stay at
Devprayag.
Deoprayag is regarded as the most entire showcase of legends, tradition
and society. 70 km from Rishikesh , here the Bhagirathi from Gaumukh and
the Alaknanda from Satopanth join and for most Indians, this meeting is
no less holy than the Sangam at Allahabad. These 3 rivers flowing
royally through sculptured channels carved through the rocks have carved
angular blocks of land around the confluence and the city is set into
these 3 angles. To be found at a height of only 618 m, Deoprayag is an
invocation to the gods who have kindly endowed this spot with remarkable
natural beauty. It is believed that Lord Rama and his father King
Dashratha did penance here. The temple of Raghunathji houses a tall
picture of Lord Rama made of black granite. The most celebrated event at
Deoprayag is the congregation of devotees, who come here to worship at
Raghunath temple.
Day 03 : Devprayag – Rudraprayag (66 Kms / 4 Hrs)
In the early morning after breakfast drive to Rudrapryag chick in to
hotel and lunch sightseeing tour in Rudraprayag and dinner over night
stay at Rudrapryag.
Rudraprayag is the joining point of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. The
place get its name from Lord Shiva, also known as Rudra. Hindus trust
that the sage Narad worshipped Lord Shiva here to be blessed with the
mastery of music mysteries. Rudraprayag also commemorates the event when
Sati, consort of Lord Shiva, took rebirth after her self immolation.
The shrine of Kedarnath is at 84 km from Rudraprayag while Badrinath
shrine is at 159 km from here.
Day 04 : Rudrapryaj – Karanprayag (33 Kms / 3 hrs)
Morning after breakfast drive to Karanprayag chick in to hotel and lunch
after lunch sightseeing at Karanprayag and Dinner over night stay at
Karanprayag.
The icy flow from the Pindari glaciar becomes the Pindari river, and
when it joins the Alaknanda at 788 mts, the confluence is recognized as
Karnaprayag. The wooded thickets of the hills surrounding Karnaprayag
were the meeting ground for Shakuntala and Dhyanta, immortalised in
Kalidasa's immortal classic of the same name and a preferred ballad ever
since, There is a temple dedicated to Karna here, the son of queen
Kunti and her fiery lover, Lord Surya. Karna's lineage was kept a
secret, but he practiced austerities before his father and was granted
the boon of a pair of earrings and armour that made him invincible,
finally, he fell in the bettle the Pandavas and Kauravas, but he remin a
tragic hero for in life he never had the legitimacy he desired. Other
temple at the confluence are dedicated to Narayan, Gopal, Shiva and Uma.
Day 05 : Karanprayag – Nandprayag (35 Kms / 3 Hrs)
Morning after breakfast drive to nand prayag chick in to hotel and lunch
after lunch sightseeing at nand parayaj and dinner over night stay at
Nandprayag.
Green Nandakini River, creating from a glacier near Nanda Devi, receives
the lighter coloured Alaknanda at Nandprayag with the confluence
noticeable by a brightly colourful, triangular concrete block. Steps
lead down to the banks of both rivers. Fable has it that this prayag was
previous recognized as Kanvasu, later than Maharishi Kanva who had his
ashram here. It was only after King Nand maked a Maha Yagna here that it
took on the name of Nandprayag. Nandprayag is unique in that there is
no temple on its ghats. Earlier period, a temple dedicated to Nanda Devi
got washed away along with its priest in a flash flood. However, the
close to shrines of Gangeshwar Mahadev, Chandika Devi and Gopalji are
worth a visit.
Day 06 :Nandprayag – Vishnuprayag – Joshimath (40Kms / 3 Hrs)
Morning after breakfast drive to Joshimath lunch at Bishnuprayag
sightseeing and drive to Joshimath chick in to hotel Dinner over night
stay at Joshimath.
Formed by the meeting of the impetuous Vishnu Ganga (recognized, after
this point, as the Alaknanda) and the Dhauliganga rivers, Vishnu Prayag,
1,372 mts. has an very old temple here by a pool known as Vishukund. It
is said that the sage Narada worshipped Vishnu at this holy place, and
the Lord, pleased with his austerities, had given him his blessings.
Visitors are find the Kagbhusandi lake bewitching with its bright green
depths giving it a still surface, while on the banks, blossoms evoke the
colours of nature in all her magnificence. The lake can be move toward
from either Bhundar village near Ghangaria or from Vishnu Prayag.
Day 07 : Joshimath – Badrinath (44 Kms / 5 hrs)
Morning after breakfast drive to Badrinath chick in to hotel and lunch
after lunch, Later at evening visit Badrinath Temple for Aarti. Over
night stay at Badrinath.
Day 08 : Badrinath – Mana – Joshimath (44 Kms / 4 Hrs)
Morning breakfast after having a bath in the Taptkund have the Darshan
of Badrivishal. Brahamakamal is significant for Pinddan Shraddh of
ancestors). There are other interesting sight seeing spot like Mana,
Vyas Gufa, Maatamoorti, Charanpaduka, Bhimkund and the "Mukh" of the
Saraswati River. Just within the three kms of Badrinathjee, Later drive
to Joshimath. Check in Hotel. Dinner over night stay at Joshimath.
Day 09 : Joshimath - Rishikesh (254 Kms / 7 Hrs)
Morning after breakfast drive to Rishikesh. Via Devprayag check in hotel at Rishikesh. Dinner and over night stay at rishikesh.
Legend has it that arms of shiva appeared in Tungnath after he took the
form of a bull.according to Skanda purana shiva tells parvati that
whoever has Darshan and seeks the blessings of Tungnath attains sadgati
or spiritual salvation regardless of the place of his death.
Day 10 : Rishikesh – Delhi 250Kms / 6 Hrs)
Morning after breakfasts drive to Delhi, Lunch en route and continue drive to Delhi tour End
