TOUR ITINERARY:

DAY 01: DELHI – HARIDWAR (222 KM: 6 TO 7 HRS)

Arrive New Delhi and we'll drive to Haridwar. On arrival at Haridwar, check in to your hotel. In the evening, proceed to Har Ki Pauri to enjoy Ganga Aarti on the banks of Ganges. Dinner and Overnight stay at Haridwar. (Dinner)

DAY 02: HARIDWAR – GUPTKASHI (205 KM / 7 TO 8 HRS)

After early morning breakfast check out from the hotel and drive for Guptkashi. On arrival check in at hotel. Rest of the day free to explore the Guptkashi town. Dinner and Overnight stay in Guptkashi. (Breakfast & Dinner)

DAY 03: GUPTKASHI – SONPRAYAG – KEDARNATH (30 KM + 20 KM TREK)

Early morning after breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Sonprayag. From where, you will start your 20 km trek to Kedarnath. You can hire a Doli or a horse, for your trek (On Own Cost). Mandakini, one of the main tributaries of the Ganges originates at Kedarnath and flows through Gaurikund .On arrival check in to the Hotel, Dinner and Overnight Stay at Kedarnath. (Breakfast & Dinner)

DAY 04: KEDARNATH – SONPRAYAG – GUPTKASHI (20 KM TREK + 30 KM / 52 KMS DRIVE)

Early morning you get up before dawn and after taking bath you are at the temple by 4:45 am for the 'Abhishek’ to Kedarnath Shiva. After darshan and puja you come out of the temple and return to the Hotel. Later you'll start the return trek of 20 km from Kedarnath to Sonprayag. The vehicles wait for you in Sonprayag Car Parking and you’ll drive to your Hotel. Dinner and Overnight at Guptkashi. (Breakfast & Dinner)

DAY 05: GUPTKASHI – JOSHIMATH – BADRINATH (200 KM: 7 TO 8 HRS)

This morning, check out of the hotel at 08:00 am and drive to Badrinath via Joshimath. After driving through some wonderful Ghat road you arrive at Badrinath. On arrival check into the hotel. After some rest and refreshments you are all set to go to Badrinath Temple for darshan in the evening. But first you have to go to Tapt Kund (Hot Spring), take bath and then go to the temple. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple of Shri Badrinath Ji is 15 meters in height, built in the form of a cone with a small cupola of a gilt bull and spire. Later back to hotel. Dinner and Overnight stay at hotel. (Breakfast & Dinner)

DAY 06: BADRINATH – JOSHIMATH – BIRAHI/RUDRAPRAYAG/SRINAGAR (92 KM: 3 HRS/165 KM: 5 TO 6 HRS/195 KM: 6 TO 7 HRS)

This morning, go for Badrinath darshan. After darshan return back to hotel, breakfast at hotel and proceed for Badrinath local sightseeing visit Mana Village, Vyas Gufa, Ganesh Gufa, and Mata Murti temple. Afternoon driver back to Rudraprayag via Karanprayag. Rudraprayag is a small pilgrim town on the holy confluence of river Alaknanda and Mandakini. On arrival check in at hotel. Rest of the day free to explore. Dinner and Overnight stay at hotel. (Breakfast & Dinner)

DAY 07: BIRAHI/RUDRAPRAYAG/SRINAGAR – RISHIKESH – HARIDWAR (230 KM: 7 TO 8 HRS/165 KM: 5 TO 6 HRS/135 KM: 4 TO 5 HRS)

Early morning, after breakfast, you drive downhill to Rishikesh a spiritual city and the Yoga capital of the world. On reaching Rishikesh you'll do the Rishikesh sightseeing visit Ram Jhula OR Laxman Jhula. Evening drive to Haridwar. On arrival check in at hotel. Dinner and Overnight stay at hotel. (Breakfast & Dinner)

DAY 08: HARIDWAR – DELHI (225 KM / 6 TO 7 HRS)

Morning breakfast at hotel, and you are on your last lap of this Dham Yatra journey. Drive back to Delhi. On reaching Delhi transfer to Railway Station/Airport. (Breakfast)

Above itinerary is only indicative, IRCTC and handling agent reserve to change in view of operation problem / local circumstances.

SIGNIFICANCE BADRINATH

The main entrance gate of Badrinath temple is colourful and imposing popularly known as Singhdwar. The temple is approximately 50 feet tall with a small cupola on top, covered with a gold gilt roof.

The Badrinath temple is divided into three parts :

1. The Garbha Griha or the sanctum sanctorum

2. The Darshan Mandap where rituals are conducted and

3. The Sabha Mandap where pilgrims assemble.

At the Badarinath Mandir Gate, directly opposite the main Idol of Lord himself, is seated idol of Bird Garud, vehicle / carrier of Lord Badarinarayan. Garud os seen is sitting position and in prayer with his hands folded. The walls and pillars of the mandapa are covered with intricate carvings.

The Garbha Griha portion has its canopy covered with a sheet of gold and houses Lord Badari Narayan, Kuber (God of wealth), Narad rishi, Udhava, Nar and Narayan. Out of the 15 idols the most attractive is the one-metre high image of lord Badarinath, finely sculpted in black stone.

KEDARNATH

There are more than 200 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand itself, the most important one is Kedarnath.

The Temple at Kedarnath presents an imposing sight, standing in middle of a wide plateau surrounded by lofty snow covered peaks. The temple was originally built in 8th century A.D. by Jagad Guru Adi Shankaracharya and stands adjacent to site of an even earlier temple built by the Pandavas. \

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Kedarnath temple has exquisite architecture Built of extremely large, heavy and evenly cut grey slabs of stones, it evokes wonder as to how these heavy slabs were moved and handled in the earlier centuries. The temple has a Garbha Griha for worship and a Mandap, apt for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors.  A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form.