Joshimath Latest Update: The sinking temple town of Joshimath continues to grapple with more predicaments with every passing day. From hundreds of families being displaced, demolition of buildings to potential power crisis, the picturesque town is battling the issue of land subsidence. Recently, experts have said that unplanned and uncontrolled construction in the name of development in Uttarakhand has brought Joshimath on the brink of sinking and have demanded to declare Himalayas as eco-sensitive zone. Also Read: Chardham 2023: Holy Portals Of Badrinath To Open On April 27; Cap On Pilgrims Likely Amid Joshimath Crisis
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Joshimath, the temple town is said to be the gateway and the only route to the holsy town of Badrinath. Several pilgrims takea night halt at Joshimath before embarkin on their onward journeyfor the Char dham yatra. But as several places have been marked under danger zone , questions loom larg about the seamless route for the yatra.
Char Dham torrent
is consideration an Adisiddhapeeth- a place renowned for its mystico-magical power and hence considered conducive to the practice of spiritual-meditational exercises, tantric ritual or penance. There are interesting tales attached to its name. Badri is the Sanskrit word for a common berry, ber, usually offered to Shiva. The faithful believe that a gigantic badri tree is situated here which is not visible to mortals in the age of Kali.Considered one of the Char Dham or four principal places of Hindu worship, Badrinath is perched comfortably at an altitude of 3,122m on the slopes of a U-Shaped valley, protected from avalanches by a rocky projection above. Nilkanth stands by like a sentinel, and below the temple flows the crystals-clear torrent of the Vishnu Ganga. A short distance and a hard climb away from the main shrine are the Vyas and Ganes gufas (cave). The Mahabharata, according to tradition, was composed and dictated there.
Yamunotri situated at an elevation of 3235 meters above sea-level and source of the second Life giving river in north india, the Yamuna , the main tributary of the holy Ganges.The Temple is Dedicated to Goddess Yamuna which is represented by a black marble Idol in the temple.Famous for its thermal springs and glaciers, it is one of the most important chard hams in Uttarakhand.The temple opens every year in the month of end /April or early may on Akshya Tritiya and closes in End October or early November on Yama Tritiya.The normal chardham Yatra begins from visiting the Yamnotri temple.
The torrent traveled downriver, picking up pace as it tore through a bridge and two hydropower plants, nine and 15 miles away from the rockslide. More than 200 people are believed to have been consumed by the lethal sludge. Most of the bodies are missing somewhere in the gray crater it left behind.
Monsoon rain poured torrentially throughout India the week prior to the flood. Twice as much rain fell in the first two weeks of June, 2013 as had fallen in the same fortnight in any of the prior 60 years. It fell with ferocity in the mountains of Uttarakhand. Just before the storm washed it away on June 16, a rain gauge at Chorabari Tal set up by Indian researchers recorded 13 inches of rainfall in a 24-hour period. Despite scant long-term weather records for the region, studies show that such a downpour was rare, and perhaps unprecedented. One research paper calculated that an equally wet month probably occurs less often than once a century.
The Chardham yatra in Uttarakhand has even displaced the major Char Dham yatra comprising of Badrinath, Rameshwaram, Puri and Dwarka in terms of popularity with millions flocking to these pilgrimage sites. The terrain is challenging. Apart from a sense of religious fulfillment, one also gets satisfaction in being able to complete such a tough pilgrimage. Before you set output together all information and one set comprises of knowing the route that takes you across scenic mountainous regions of Uttarakhand, Land of Gods. It is traditional Hindu practice that the circumambulation follows a clockwise pattern. Therefore, the Chardham yatra commences with Yamunotri being the first stop followed by Gangotri, Kedarnath and, finally, Badrinath. This is how the pilgrimage is undertaken on the commonly followed route map. More details below.
Kedarnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga in India, the abode of Lord Shiva at a height of 3586 metres in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. The shrine is located alongside the Mandakini River, which gushes forth in a noisy torrent while the surroundings are absolutely peaceful and calm. The present temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century but the place is as old as time, finding mention in the Mahabharata.
Badrinath is home to Lord Vishnu. Badrinath is the name by which he is known here since he meditated for millenia under the Badri tree, which, actually, was the form assumed by Mata Laxmi to protect him from the elements. Located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 3133 metres on the banks of the torrential Alaknanda, Badrinath is of special importance since it is also one of the major char Dham pilgrimage destinations.
Situated in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, Kedarnath is the most remote pilgrimage spot in the yatra. It is believed that originally the temple of Kedarnath was built by Pandavas. And Adi Shankaracharya got the present structure constructed in the 8th century adjacent to the old temple site. The grey stone structure is an architectural marvel because of its imposing design and its ability to survive for so many centuries in such a harsh terrain.
Badrinath is considered one of the most holy places in Hindu religion. One of the 108 Divya Desams, Badrinath temple is part of both Char Dham and Chota Char Dham. Adi Shankaracharya found the idol of Lord Badri in Alaknanda River and put it up in a cave near the Tapt Kund. In 16th century, a Garhwal King got the temple erected, which has been renovated many times as a result of natural calamities. Sandwiched between Nar and Narayan peaks, the beauty of Badrinath Dham is further enhanced with the glorious background of Neelkanth peak.
Concise Sketch for the Road Travel to Chardham6 hours Delhi to Haridwar: 210 km
7 hours Haridwar to Barkot: 220 Km
7 hours by road and trek 7 km (can take more than 2 hours) Barkot to Yamunotri: 36 Km + 7 km
4 hours Barkot to Uttarkashi: 100 Km
4 Hours Uttarkashi to Gangotri: 100 km
7-8 hours Uttarkashi to Rudraprayag: 180 km
4 hours Rudraprayag to Kedarnath drive: 74 Km and 20 Km trek (greater part of the day)
7 Hours Rudraprayag to Badrinath: 160 km
11 hours Badrinath to Rishikesh: 297 Km
6 Hours Rishikesh to Delhi 230 km
These are rough estimates. Be prepared to any eventuality that may cause delays like traffic jams on the narrow mountainous roads.
0500 Hrs Check out from Dehradun Hotel 0600 Hrs Departure from Sahastradhara Helidrome to Kharsali 0630 Hrs Arrival at Kharsali Base. This is officially the starting day of the Chardham yatra. Guests will be picked up from Hotel by Heli Company at 0500 hrs, to be taken to Sahastradhara Helidrome. Heli Company has its own heli-base in Kharsali, where our ground crew would be ready to welcome them. Crew shall escort the guests to the hotel, which is at a walking distance of 10-15 minutes. Guests will be taken for darshan by Palki/Pony, after breakfast around 0800 hrs. Time taken for Yamunotri Temple Darshan: Approximately 06 hrs (roundtrip). Yamunotri trek is 06 km one-way. Sight-seeing at Kharsali: Hot Spring at Yamunotri Temple, Yamuna Mata Temple, Shani Temples. 2ff7e9595c
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