Places to Visit in Badrinath and Kedarnath
The two holy destinations of Kedarnath and Badrinath have to be two of the most highly revered destinations in the Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand. While Badrinath is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his Badri avatar on the other hand Kedarnath is dedicated to Lord Shiva in his Kedar form. Being situated among the lush valleys of Badrinath and Kedarnath these two regions are replete with numerous other places to visit and can be visited via a comfortable Badrinath Kedarnath helicopter trip. A visit to these Do Dhams will prove to be incredibly rejuvenating and refreshing and is also believed to grant the pilgrims moksha or a much needed liberation from the karmic cycle of birth and rebirth. If you are planning on visiting these two Dhams, then make sure to have some spare time to explore the surrounding areas for a deeper spiritual experience.
Here are some places where you can visit in and around Badrinath and Kedarnath:
Badrinath Visiting Places:
Situated in the district of Chamoli and at an elevation of 3,300 metres above sea level, the serene destination of Badrinath is popular for its temple of Badrinath that attracts a number of pilgrims and devotees not only from India but abroad as well. Literally speaking, Badrinath is named after a berry called ‘Badri’ or jujube tree which used to grow abundantly in this region. This site was reestablished by Adi Shankaracharya during the 7th century AD when he was attempting to revive the feeling of Hinduism and spirituality. The place witnesses a massive turnout of devout Hindus every year when the temple Kapat is opened for Darshan during the months of either late April or early may.
Charanpaduka
Situated at a hiking distance of just 3 kms from the main temple of Badrinath Dham, this holy spot containing the alleged footprints of Lord Vishnu.This place can be reached after covering a journey of almost half n hour and offers some of the mostspectacular views of the surrounding. It is a popular belief and has also been mentioned in BhagavataPuranathat a minister to Lord Krishna named Uddhav took the foot prints of Lord Vishnu to get rid of his sinful doings. The foot marks is housed inside a small rock structure at an elevation of 3,380 metres above sea level and is the point from where you can achieve an incredible sense of peace and calmness.
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Vasudhara Falls
Gushing from a height of almost 400 feet and at a distance of 9kms from the main temple of Badrinath where the first 3 kms is drivable and the remaining 6 kms can be reached after covering a hiking journey, this fascinating falls offers some of the most picturesque and scenic views if the Badri Valley below. The water of this fall sis believed to contain naturally occurring medicinal properties that can cure all the physical and mental ailments that anyone may be suffering from. It is a popular belief that people who have pure and clean hearts get to experience the true serenity and peace that this falls has to offer.
Vyas Gufa
Located at almost a distance of 5.5 kms from the quaint village of Mana and located on the banks of the holy river Saraswati this cave is one of the most loved tourist attractions in Badrinath. The significance of this place lies in the fact that this was the cave where Sage Vyas had composed one of the most iconic Indian epic – Mahabharata with the help of Lord Ganesh. Another cave that is located in extremely close proximity to this cave is the Ganesh Gufa which is the spot where Lord Ganesh is believed to have inscribed the entire text.
Tapt Kund
Located in close proximity to the main temple of Badrinath, as the name suggests TaptKund is a thermal hot water spring which is said to contain some naturally occurring medicinal properties thatis said to remove all the physical and mental ailments of the devotees and pilgrims who take a dip in its waters. Parts of this water is used to make Prasadam for the devotees visiting the temple in the form of rice and potatoes while the other half is used by pilgrims for taking a holy dip before entering the temple as a part of their ritual.
KedarnathVisiting Places
Located at an elevation of 3,583 metres above sea level and flanked on one side by the snow clad peaks, this holy Dham is situated in the district of Rudraprayag close to the Chorabari glacier. This is the Dham which was badly affected as a result of the unexpected and disastrous flash flood that destroyed some parts of the temple and a number of homes that were located in the valley of Kedar. Visiting this place is a wonderful experience and is cherished by every pilgrim visiting here.
Vasuki Tal
Located at a hiking distance of 8 kms from the
main temple of Kedarnath and perched atop an incredible height of 14,200 feet abovesea level, Vasuki Tal is one of the most iconic and legendary high altitude glacial lake. According to Hindu mythological accounts it is a popular belief that during the eve of Rakshabandhan Lord Vishnu is said to have taken a bath at this holy, crystal clear, glimmering waters. Apart from the wonderful sceneries you can also feast your eyes on some of the most one of a kind and unique Himalayan flowers that line all around the lake which is known as Brahma Kamal.
Shankaracharya Samadhi
Situated right behind the temple of Kedarnath, as the name suggests, Shankaracharya Samadhi is dedicated to the person responsible for propagating Advaita philosophy and establishing the Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand along with numerous other matths. This place is believed to be spot where Adi Shankaracharya is said to have achieved his nirvana. During your visit to Kedarnath dham you have the option of paying homage to the great sage, saint and philosopher.
Augustmuni
Located in the district of Rudraprayag and falling on your way to the holy destination of Kedarnath, Augustmuni is named after the great and iconic sage Rishi Agastyamuni. The quaint village of Phata which also houses a grand helipad is situated at a distance of 50 kms from here. Surrounded by the lush greenery, rollingmeadows and serene undulating mountains this place is known for its vibe of deep spirituality as well as its raw natural beauty. Awell-knowntemple named Agasteshwar i.e. Dedicated to sage Agastya is a must visit here and turns into a vibrant scene during the holy occasion of Baisakhi.
Sonprayag
This quaint hamlet is located on the banks of the holy river Mandakini and is situated in the district of Chamoli. Sonprayag is located on the junction point for pilgrims from where the road diverts into two parts, one going towards Badrinath while the other going towards Kedarnath. Apart from this, Sonprayag is also known for its sheer beauty, unadulterated magnificence and is set against a mesmerizing frame of the snow peaked Himalayas. The entire place is replete with impressive and lush greenery, unmatched divinity and evokes a feeling of deep spiritualism.
