The Panch (5) Badris, Kedars and Prayags of Garhwal Himalayas. Dev Bhoomi # 1

The 3 famous sets  of  5 religious  places each,  of Himalayas.

Most of the Vishnu Temples in Himalaya, are easily accessible even for the senior citizens. It is never too late to visit and get blessed by Narayana. Please try to make a trip. But the Siva temples, need lot of straining to reach and you need a guide for other than Kedarnath.

The 5 Badris of Himalayas:

The Panch Badri temple circuit consisted of only five temples, omitting Ardha Badri  and Dhyan Badri or sometimes Vridha Badri. Rarely, Narasingh Badri  is included in the Sapta Badri or Panch Badri list. Sapta Badri (Sanskrit:) constitutes a group of seven sacred Hindu temples, dedicated to god Vishnu, located in Garhwal Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The Badrinath temple , called the Badri-vishal  (altitude 3,133 m (10,280 ft)) is the primary temple among the seven shrines, followed by six others, namely, Adi Badri , Vridha Badri , Dhyan Badri ,Ardha Badri , Bhavishya Badri  and Yogadhayan Badri .

The abode of Vishnu in the Alaknanda river valley, starting from Satopanth about 24 kilometres (15 mi) above Badrinath extending up to Nandprayag in the south, is particularly known as the Badri-Kshetra in which all the Badri temples are located. Since the early times, approach to the main temple of Badrinath was only along a bridle path passing through badri van or (forest of berries). Thus, the word "Badri", meaning "berries", is suffixed to the names of all the Sapta Badri (seven) temples.

The main shrine of Badrinath is well connected by road and air but is closed during the winter season due to snow conditions, from October-November to April-May depending on the astrological  dates fixed by the Temple Committee; the Raj Purohit (Royal priest) decides the auspicious day for opening the temple phatak (doors) on Vasant Panchami day in end of April/early May while the closing day is Vijayadashami day in October/November. The other six temples are located in villages, largely in remote locations. A few of them can be approached only by trekking along bridle paths.

1 Badrinath         2 Adi Badri           3 Vriddha Badri                 4 Bhavishya Badri             5 Yogadhyan Badri                  6 Dhyan Badri       7 Ardha Badri                    8 Narasingh Badri

1. Badrinath

Badrinath is the northern Dham of the four sacred Dhams (pilgrimage centres) called Chota Char Dham. Though the Badrinath temple is believed to date to the Vedic period, the current structure was built in the 8th Century AD by Adi Shankaracharya. The other three dhams are Rameshwaram in the south, Dwarka in the west and Jagannath Puri in the east; all three temples, except Rameshwaram, are dedicated to god Vishnu. Adi Shankara’s basic intention was to unite the country under the banner of Hinduism. The temple, which had been subjected to damage due to snow avalanches and landslides, several times in the past, was last restored in the nineteenth century with the royal patronage of the Scindias and Holkars. The temple has a height of approximately 15mts with the top covered with a gold gilt roof. The temple is situated on the right bank of the sacred Alaknanda River with the colorful ‘Simha-Dwara’ at the entrance. Badrinath is also part of Chota Char Dham, four sacred temples in Uttarakhand. The others include the Shiva temple of Kedarnath and the sources of the holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna. The Badrinath legend states that Vishnu (Mahavishnu), did penance in an open space at the location of the Badrikashram or Badrinath. His consort Lakshmi (Maha-lakshmi) created shelter for him in the form of Badri tree (berry tree) to protect him from adverse climatic conditions. The sage Narada did penance here, and is believed to continue to do so to this day by reciting the divine chants called Ashta Akshara mantras (eight lettered hymns). Narada was also informed by Vishnu that his divine form assumed both Nara and Narayana..

According to the scripture Bhagavata purana, "There in Badrikashram (Badrinath) the Personality of Godhead (Vishnu), in his incarnation as the sages Nara and Narayana, had been undergoing  great penance since time immemorial for the welfare of all living entities."

The layout of the temple has three enclosures namely, the Garbhagriha (Sanctum Sanctorum), the Darshan Mandap (worship hall) and Sabha Mandap (Conference hall). The sanctum holds the central image of Badri-narayana (Vishnu), which is made in black stone and 1 metre (3.3 ft) in height. The four-armed Vishnu holds the Shankh (Conch) and Sudarshana Chakra (discus) in two arms in a raised posture and the other two arms rest on the lap in Yogamudra (meditative pose). The images of religious leaders Adi Shankara, Swami Vedanta Desikan and Ramanujacharya are also worshipped here.

In the sanctum, to the far right side are Nara and Narayana. Narada is kneeling in front on the right side and is difficult to see. On the left side is Kubera, the god of wealth. Garuda, Vishnu's vehicle is kneeling in front, to the left of Badri-narayana. Wings at the entrance are adorned with images of Hanuman,  and a silver Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom. In the enclosure (praakara) surrounding the temple, a small shrine is dedicated to Lakshmi, Vishnu’s consort. Nambudiri Brahmins from southern state of Kerala serve as head priests here. The corner of the praakara, has a small enclosure for Kshetrapaala, to whom you have to report your presence, before leaving the temple.  The Nara, Narayana and Kaagbhusandi peak ( a tall black stone0 can beseen in the surrounding snow clad peaks

2. Adi Badri

 Adi Badri complex of temples near Karnaprayag .The Adi Badri (30°27'27N 77°20'28E /30.4575°N 77.34111°E? / 30.4575; 77.34111) the first temple complex among the Sapta Badri temples is an ancient shrine dedicated to Vishnu and is one among a chain of 16 small shrines located in the hill ranges 17 kilometres (11 mi), beyond Karnaprayag (confluence of Pindar River and Alaknanda River in Chamoli district. Seven temples of this chain were built during the late Gupta period (5th century to 8th century).According to tradition, Adi Shankara is attributed as builder of all the temples. Adi Shankara is believed to have sanctioned these temples in order to spread Hinduism to every remote part of the country. In ancient times, when approach to the main shrine of Badrinath was closed due to weather conditions, pilgrims worshipped Vishnu at this temple. Adi Badri, also known as Helisera according to revenue records, is a tiny temple complex enclosed within a space of 14 metres (46 ft) X 30 metres (98 ft). The height of the temples vary from 2–6 metres (6.6–20 ft). The chief temple is dedicated to god Vishnu, which is built over a raised platform, with a small enclosure in a pyramidal form. The sanctum holds black stone 1 metre (3.3 ft) image of Vishnu. The image depicts Vishnu holding a mace, lotus and chakra (discus). Brahmins from South India serve as chief priests in the temple.

Adi Badri is located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Chandpur fort or Garhi located on the hilltop, which was built by the Gorkha kings to fight the British. Adi Badri is an hour's drive from Karnaprayag and close to Chulakot on the way to Ranikhet. On shifting of Badrinath ( also known  as Raj Badri), in the future, as predicted by Adi Shankaracharya,   to Bhavishya Badri, Adi Badri will be called the Yog Badri.

3. Vridha Badri

Vriddha Badri - an austere shrine, is  located in the Animath village  ( 1,380 m (4,500 ft), above sea level) 7 km (4.3 mi), from Joshimath on the Rishikesh –Joshimath-Badrinath road. The Vridha Badri  legend says that Vishnu appeared in the form of a Vridha or old man before sage  Narada who performed penance here. Thus, the idol installed at this temple is in  the form of an old man. According to legend, the image of Badrinath was carved by the divine craftsman Vishwakarma and worshipped here. At the advent of Kali yuga, Vishnu chose to remove himself from this place, later Adi Shankara found the partly damaged image in Narad-kund pond and established it at the central Badrinath shrine. According to legend, Badrinath was worshipped here by Adi Shankara, before his enshrinement at the Badrinath temple. The temple is open throughout the year. Brahmins from South India serve as chief priests in the temple.

4. Bhavishya Badri

Bhavishya Badri,  2,744 metres (9,000 ft), above sea  level is located in a village called Subhain at a distance of 17 kilometres  (11 mi) from Joshimath, beyond Tapovan and approach is through dense forest, only  by trekking. It is situated on an ancient pilgrim route to Mount Kailash and  Manasarovar, along the Dhauli Ganga River. It is situated on the way from  Tapovan to Laata in the Niti valley. Bhavishya Badri is connected by a  motorable road upto Saldhar,19 kilometres (12 mi), from Joshimath, beyond which a  6 kilometres (3.7 mi) trek is undertaken to reach the shrine. According to the legend of Bhavishya Badri (literally "Badri of the future"), when evil transcends the world, the mountains of Nara and Narayana would block up the route to Badrinath and the sacred shrine would become inaccessible. The present world will be destroyed and a new one established. Then, Badrinath will appear at the Bhavishya Badri temple and be worshipped here, instead of  the Badrinath shrine. The shrine of Narasingh Badri at Joshimath is  closely associated with the legend of Bhavishya Badri .  Currently, the Bhavishya Badri has an image of Narasimha, the lion-faced  incarnation of Vishnu. There is no constructed temple here.

5. Yogadhyan Badri

Yogadhyan Badri, also called Yoga Badri, is located at Pandukeshwar (30°38'2?N 79°32'51?E? / ?30.63389°N 79.5475°E? / 30.63389; 79.5475) at the elevation of 1,829 metres (6,000 ft), close to Govind Ghat and is as ancient as the main Badrinath temple. Pandukeshwar is located on route from Govind Ghat to Hanuman Chatti, 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) away from Hanuman Chatti. Legend has it that King Pandu, father of the five Pandavas - heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, meditated here to god Vishnu to cleanse him of the sin of killing of two mating deer, who were ascetics in their previous lives. The Pandavas were also born here and Pandu died and attained salvation here.  Pandu is believed to have installed the bronze image of Vishnu in the Yogadhyan Badri shrine. The image is in a meditative posture and thus the image is called Yoga-dhyan (mediative) Badri. The idol is life size and has been carved from Saaligram stone. According to legend, the Pandavas, after defeating and killing their cousins Kauravas in the Mahabharata war, came here to repent. They handed their kingdom of Hastinapur to their grandson Parikshit and went to perform penance in the Himalayas.

Copper plate inscriptions found here indicate rule by early Katyuri Rajas and the region was known as Panchal Desh, now officially designated as Uttarakhand. One inscription extols the grant of land given by King Nimbarana. Another historic location is the Suryakund, on top of Milam glacier, which is a hot water spring, where Kunti - mother of Pandavas gave birth to her  son Karna, fathered by the sun-god Surya. Kunti was married to Pandu at Pandukeshwar. Yogdhyan Badri is also considered the winter abode for the Utsava-murti (festival-image) of Badrinath, when the temple of Badrinath is closed. Hence, it is religiously ordained that a pilgrimage will not be complete without offering prayers at this place. Bhatts (priests) from South India serve as chief priests in the temple.

The other lesser referred Badris are:

6. Dhyan Badri

Dhyan Badri (2,135 metres (7,000 ft), above sea level) is located in the Urgam valley, close to Kalpeshwar (30°25'44?N 79°25'37?E / 30.42889°N 79.42694°E / 30.42889; 79.42694) on the banks of river Alaknanda. It can be reached from Helang Chatti by a 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) trek enroute to Joshimath from Badrinath. The legend of Dhyan Badri (meditating Badri) is linked to the Urvarishi, son of King Puranjaya of the Pandavas lineage who meditated in the Urgam region and established the temple for Vishnu. The image of Vishnu is four-armed, made of black stone and in a mediatative posture. There is also a temple to god Shiva built by Adi Shankara. Kalpeshwar, one of the Panch Kedar sacred temple of Shiva, is situated 2 kilometres (1.2 mi), away. The temple is sometimes included in the Panch-Badri list. Brahmins from South India serve as head priests in the temple.

7. Ardha Badri

Ardha Badri, located on the Joshimath-Tapovan road is in a remote village and can be approached only by trekking along a steep bridle path. As the size of the idol is small, the temple is called Ardha Badri (literal meaning half Badri).

8. Narasingh Badri

The existing temple of Narasimha (Narasingh) at Joshimath (30°33'3N 79°33'30E / 30.55083°N 79.55833°E / 30.55083; 79.55833), also called as Narasingh Badri or Narasimha Badri, is closely linked to the Bhavishya Badri legend, even though usually it is regarded as not one of the famous Panch Badri or Sapta Badri. Sometimes, it may be included in the Sapta-Badri list instead of Ardha-Badri or Panch-Badri list instead of Dhyan Badri. The chief image of Narasimha is made out of the Saaligram stone, in the eighth century during the reign of king Lalitaditya Yukta Pida of Kashmir. Some believe the image is self-manifested (swayambhu). The image is 10 inches (25 cm) high and depicts the god sitting in the lotus position. It is believed that one arm of the image is getting emaciated with time and finally fall off. When the arm disappears, the main shrine of Badrinath will be closed to the world and Lord Badrinath will shift to Bhavishya Badri shrine. With this cataclysmic event, Kali yuga will end ushering in the Satya yuga. Then the Badrinath shrine would get re-established. When the chief Badrinath  shrine is closed in winter, the priests of Badrinath shift to this temple and continue their worship to Badrinath here. Along with the central Narasimha image, the temple also has an image of Badrinath.

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Practical  Notes by VU2UR Arasu:

In 2009 October,when we did our second Himalayan Yatra, the foot paths in Yamunotri and Kedarnath, are now with cobbled stone in Concrete, about 6 to 8 feet wide. Very confortable for those on foot, on mules or on dandies(paalkis). The road to Badri Vishal is widened by the BRO (Border Roads Organisation of GREF).

 Both Badrinath and Kedarnath have the same temple committee. The priests at Kedarnath are Lingaayats from Karnataka, whereas they are Namboothiri of Kerala at Badri Vishal. I did not find South Indian priests in the other four Badris.   Badrinath allows entry to non-Hindus.

 The best and time saving planning for the darshan of 5 Badris, is to start from Badri Visahal or Badrinath, as it is well known., that is from the height  to lower heights.In three days you can comfortably cover the 5 badris, if you have a vehicle, with a Uttaranchal driver at your service.

 Start  in the morning after Darshan at Vishal Badri.  Come down to Pandukeshwar, about 23 km  down the road, and leave the Town of Pandukeshwar, and at the outer edge downwards, you will find a board in the form of an Arch to your left telling about Yogdhyan Badri. From here, you can walk down about 500m,through a series of steps,  to go to the Temple Complex and have darshan. Repairs and remodelling are going on. 

After the Darshan there, drive down to Joshimath, take a left turn towards Tapovan and onto Saldhar about 19 km away. If you are at Saldhar, before, say, 0900 Hrs IST, then try getting a local guide and you have to trek about 6 km in the dense forest, with views of River Dhauli Ganga, Mt. Nanda Devi occasionally, The trek is tough. At Saldhar, you get bottles of yellow oil (Apricot oil), which if smeared over your calf muscles, will reduce the strain. The main gate is located near the shopping area of saldhar. Just before this, you have a wonderful look at the hot springs, with boiling water jumping out, from the right side of road. You see the soil melted into powdery formation like Multaani Mitti.

 The Bhavishya Badri temple is yet to be built. It is in a temporary shelter, and there is only an Ashram, where you are welcomed . Do not trek after sunset, as the area has wild animals, so prepare accordingly. The footpath for this temple is also getting built now. Now, you have to trace back your path to Joshimath.

 From Joshimath, just  7 km later, (towards Pipalkoti) in the main road, you will find to your right hand side an arch at Animath village, with details of Vridhdha Badri. From the road, you can walk down by a kutcha foot path, 200m, to the temple of Vridhha Badri. This temple is most often visited by South Indian Devotees, as the priest told us there. 

 The last of the five Badris, seen this way, is Adi Badri. For this you have to come down to  Karna Prayag. Take the road to  Tharali, towards your left, upto Simli and a right turn and 13 km later you will arrive at Adi badri town. The  historical 16 temple complex is under the Archeological Deptt, and pooja is performed only at the Vishnu temple. Out of 16, there are only 14 accounted now and two might have got vandalised.  The fourteen temples with name plates, are Kubera;Lakshmi narayana; Sathyanarayana; Ganesha; Ram- Lakshman- Sita; Kali; Shiva; Hanuman, Janaki;  Gowri Shankara; Garuda; Vishnu (main); Annapoorna; and Chakrabhan.

 Photographing the main idol is NOT permitted at all, in all the temples. Be prepared for this and there will not be any disappointment..

 B.L.Manohar “Arasu” VU2UR. =========================================================================

The 5 Kedars

 Lord Shiva eluded the Pandavas repeatedly and on being detected by them assumed the form of a bull. The second Pandavas Bhima tried to pick him up, but Shiva sank into the earth and only the hump came in Bhimas's hand. Seeing their determination the lord was so pleased that he freed the Pandavas from their sin and asked them to worship his hump at Kedarnath which is the heights among the twelve Jyotirlingas. The other parts of Shiva's body, arms, face, nevel and hair locks appeared at Tungnath, Rudranath, Madmaheswar and Kalpeshwar. These four shrines along with Shri Kedarnathji are worshipped as "Panch Kedar". The Panch Kedar are the holy destination for all the Hindus. Five Kedars are:

Kedarnath           Tungnath             Rudranath           Madhmaheswar               Kalpeshwar

 1.Kedarnath

Kedar is also another name for lord Shiva - the protector and the destroyer. There are 200 ancient shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in Chamoli district itself, the most important is Kedarnath.  Shrine of Kedarnath is at the altitude of 3584 Mts.  nearby is  river Mandakini  which is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the Hindus.  The origin of revered temple can be found in great epic Mahabharat. After the wars, the Pandavas lost their peace of mind after committing the great sin of slaying their Guru and brothers and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. Lord Shiva avoided them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of bull. On being followed, He dived into the ground, leaving behind His hump on the surface. The hump is worshipped in the temple of Kedarnath in the pyramidal Shiva pinda form. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva are worshipped at other places in India and Nepal.

 Shankaracharya Samadhi  ( NOTE: AFTER THE FLOOD DEVASTATION, IN 2013, THIS IS DESTROYED)  The Samadhi of Adi Guru Shankaracharya was located just behind the Kedarnath temple. It is said that after establishing four sacred Dhams in India, he went into his samadhi at an early age of 32 years.

Chorabari Tal (Gandhi Sarovar) : A small lake from where Yudhishthir, the eldest of the Pandavas, is said to have departed to heaven. A 2 km trek from Kedarnath. The floating ice on the crystal clear waters of the lake is a fascinating sight.

Gaurikund  ( NOTE: AFTER THE FLOOD DEVASTATION, IN 2013, THIS IS DESTROYED),  The 14 km trekking base to Kedarnath and the road head, this village has a temple dedicated to Gauri and also thermal springs of medicinal value.  SINCE THIS TOWN IS DESTROYED, AN ALTERNATE ROUTE TO KEDARNATH, WITH 21.5 KM TREKKING IS BEING MADE. There was a  planning to introduce helicopter flights from near here.

Vasuki Tal: 6 km from Kedarnath. At 4135 mtr. above sea level, this lake is extraordinary, surrounded by high mountains and offering an excellent view of the Chaukhamba peaks.

Sonprayag: The confluence of Son Ganga and Mandakini rivers. Road to Triyuginarayan diverts (14 km) from here.

Triyuginarayan:  25 km from Kedarnath. The mythological venue where the wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati was solemnized. It is a short trek of 5 km from Son Prayag. An eternal flame, which is said to have been the witness to the marriage, burns in front of the temple even today.

Gupt Kashi:  Guptaksahi has a great importance quite like that of Kashi. The ancient Vishwanath temple, Ardnareswar temple and Manikarnik Kund, where the two streams of Ganga and Yamuna are believed for their redemption. Lord Shiv was not willing and so eluded the Pandavas repeatedly. He took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. Being followed by Pandavas, he dived into the ground leaving his hump on the surface. The remaining portions of God reappeared at four other places. The arms appeared at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the stomach (nabhi) at Madmaheshwar and the locks with the head at Kalepeshwar. They are all worshipped there as manifestations of Lord Shiva.  2 kms from the temple is situated Gandhi Sarovar where the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were immersed. 12 kms from here is the place from where river Mankdakini originates.

Ukhimath:  . Winter home of the deity at Kedarnath temple and the seat of the Rawal of Kedarnath. Connected by bus services to Rudraprayag and other major centres. here you find the place where Anirudh (grand son of Krishna)  had married Usha daughter of Baanasura. This place offers good accomodation managed by the Math.

Agastyamuni: 18 kms form Rudraprayag, at an altitude of 1000 mts and on the bank of river Mandakini, this is the place where Rishi Agastya meditated for years.  A temple by the name of Agasteshwar Mahadev is dedicated to sage Agastya and this temple is also of an archaeological significance, figures of Gods and Goddesses have been carved out on stones. On the occasion of Baisakhi a large fair is held and many devotees come here to worship and pay their homage to God.  For food and accommodation, a Forest Rest House and private hotels are available. Other facilities include market, bank, hospitals and telephone etc.

Chopta: Situated on the Gopeshwar Ukhimath road about 40 km from Gopeshwar at an altitude of about 2500 mtrs above sea level, Chopta is one of the most picturesque spots in the Garhwal region. It provides a breathtaking view of Himalayan ranges surrounding it. Deoria Tal At an altitude of 2,440 mt, is beautiful lake a situated on the Chopta - Ukhimath motor road. In the early morning, the snow-capped peaks are clearly reflected on the lake waters. This lake also provides an excellent venue for angling, as well as birdwatching.

The Kedar Massif: This is an outstanding massif formed by the three major mountains - Kedar dome, Bharatekuntha at 6578 Meters, is connected to Kedarnath to the East, by a long and dangerous avalanche ridden ridge. At 6000 meters it looks stunning and has several glacial flows, one of which is the Mandakini glacier running down its ridges.

Kedarnath and Kedardome, are connected by a deep ridge. Kedar dome at 6831 Meters presents a fair challenge to climbers. Kedarnath is however, a difficult peak to climb. At 6940 Meters it is just beneath the level where the oxygen layer is thin. Anyone interested in a good day trek, could take the well travelled path from behind the temple toward Bharatekuntha. About three kilometers away in the valley formed by the Kedarnath massif, is Chorabhari Tal. This lake has been renamed Gandhi Sarovar after the Mahatma's ashes were immersed in lake.

Kalimath: Situated at 6000 ft. Kalimath is the famous pilgrimage place of Garhwal. This temple belongs to Maa Kali. Dhaval river flows besides the temple.

Deoria Tal: Sari village is the last bus terminus on Chopta - Ukhimath road from where a 2 km trek leads to Deoria Tal. This is a beautiful lake at an attitude of 2,438 mts. gives the spectracular reflection of show capped peaks in the lake water Ideal spot for angling and bird watching

 2. Tungnath:

The arm of Lord Shiva came out at this place as per Kedarnath myth. The Tungnath temple is situated at an altitude of about 3680 m above sea level, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is the highest Shiva Shrine among the Panch Kedar, 3 km uphill from Chopata. The sancity of the region of Tungnath is considered unsurpassed.

The peak of Tungnath is the source of three springs that form the river Akashkamini. Tungnath is reached through a path that wends through alpine meadows and rhododendron thickets. An hour's climb from here leads to Chandrashila, 4000m, with its panoramic views.

3. RUDRANATH:

The shrine is 23 km from Gopeshwar at 2286 m. The Mukhor face of Lord Shiva os worshipped as Neelkanth Mahadev here. The temple site provides splendid views of Hathi Parvat, Nanda Devi, Nanda Ghunti, Trishuli and other peaks. Suryakund, Chandrakund, Tarakund, etc. are the holy kunds situated nearby. The scenic beauty and the spiritual piousness of the place make it scenically beautiful as well as enchanting.  Anusuya Devi temple is located on the trek to Rudranath involving an additional trek of 3 km. Another route 13 km from Gopeshwar to Mandal then trek 6 km to reach Anusuya Devi. Devi Anusuya is revered as the Godhead who blesses her devotees in their difficulties.

4. MADHMAHESHWAR:

 It is said that the navel of Lord Shiva reappeared at this shrine after disappearing at Kedarnath. Shiva is worshipped Madhmaheshwar in the form of a navel shaped lingam. This Shrine is 31 km from Guptkashi at an altitude of 3289 m. The temple can be approached by a trek through the famous Sidha Peeth of Kalimath. Wild, unparalleled scenic beauty and incredible landscapes distinguish the distance from Kalimath to Madhmaheshwar. Chaukhamba, Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks are visible from here. Gaundar, at the conflux of Madhmaheshwar Ganga and Markanga Ganga, is the last place that is worth a visit before one reaches this shrine.

5.KALPESHWAR:

The hair locks (Jata) of Lord Shiva are worshipped in this small rock temple at the height of 2134 m before the matted, tresses of Shiva enshrined in rock in the sanctum and sanctorum. The sanctum is preceded by a natural cave passage. This temple is located in Urgam valley. This shrine is a delight for the tourists with striking views of valley with terraced fields and lush green forests. The temple is reached after a trek of 12 km from Helang which is the motor head on Rishikesh - Badarinath route.

The 5 Prayags:

 Panch Prayags in Uttaranchal (Uttarakhand)

Panchprayag are the  confluences of the most sacred rivers, is considered the epitome of immortal piety. River confluences in India are considered very sacred, especially since rivers themselves are extolled as goddesses. And outside of Prayag,(near Allahabad) the great confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna  and  the mythical Saraswati , the most revered confluences are in Garhwal Himalayas, since the two mighty rivers Ganga and Yamuna and its tributaries trace their source to these mountains, the points at which they meet are sanctified as major pilgrimage centres.

1. Devprayag

Deoprayag is regarded as the most complete showcase of legends, heritage and traditions. 70 km from Rishikesh , here the Bhagirathi from Gaumukh and the Alaknanda from Satopanth unite and for most Indians, this confluence is no less holy than the Sangam at Allahabad. These three rivers flowing majestically through sculptured channels carved through the rocks have carved angular blocks of land around the confluence and the town is set into these three angles. Located at a height of only 618 m, Deoprayag is an invocation to the gods who have gfenerously endowed this spot with tremendous natural beauty. It is believed that Lord Rama and his father King Dashratha did penance here. The temple of Raghunathji houses a tall image 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. There is also a small temple popular as Bharat Mandir of Rishikesh in recluse. From here, the flow of the river downwards is called Ganges.

Traditionally, it is considered to be the place where sage Devasharma led his ascetic life, giving birth its present name, Devprayag. It is one of the five sacred confluences in the hills and is an important place of pilgrimage for devout Hindus. "Devaprayaga" means "Godly Confluence" in Sanskrit. As per Hindu scriptures, Devaprayaga is the sacred event of merging two heavenly rivers, Alakananda and Bhagirathi, to form the holy Ganges. On a terrace in the upper part of the village is the temple of Raghunathji, built of huge stones, pyramidal in form and capped by a white cupola.

Devprayag is the home of the late Acharya Shri Pt. Chakradhar Joshi (a scholar in Astronomy and Astrology) who established Nakshatra Vedh Shala (an observatory) in the year 1946. This is located on a mountain called Dashrathanchal at Devprayag. The observatory is well equipped with two telescopes and many books to support research in astronomy. It also contains about 3000 manuscripts from 1677 AD onwards collected from various parts of country. Apart from the latest equipment, it also has the ancient equipment like Surya Ghati, Jal Ghati and Dhruv Ghati which showcase the pride of Bharatiya progress in the field of astronomy. Shri Dr. Prabhakar Joshi and Acharya Shri Bhaskar Joshi (Popularly known as Guruji) are currently in charge and caretakers of the observatory.

Devprayag is full of natural beauty. Other than Sangam and Raghunath Ji Temple in Devprayag, one can visit sacred places like Mata Bhuvneshwari temple at nearby village Pundal followed by Dhaneshwar Mahadev temple, Danda Naggaraja (Lord of Snakes) temple and Chandrabadni temple.

2. Rudraprayag

Named after Lord Shiva (Rudra), Rudraprayag is situated at the holy confluence of Alaknanda & Mandakini rivers, at a distance of 34 km from Srinagar(Garhwal). It is believed that to master the mysteries of music, the sage Narad worshipped Lord Shiva, who appeared in his Rudra incarnation to bless the sage.    Rudraprayag is also known for its infamous man-eating leopard (Leopard of Rudraprayag) which is reputed to have killed over 125 people, hunted by Jim Corbett.

Rudranath Temple Rudraprayag is named after Lord Shiva and temple of lord Rudranath is situated at the confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini. According to mythology Narad Muni worshiped god Shiva here to learn music from him. The god then taught him music in his form of Rudra (Lord of Music). There is a rock where it is said that Narad Muni did his worship. It is now known as Narad Shila. Chamunda Devi Temple Chamunda Devi temple is also situated at confluence of the holy rivers ( Alaknanda & Mandakini). Chamunda as wife of Lord Rudra is worshiped here.  Koteshwar Koti means crore (10 Million) and Ishwar means god. This is again a temple of Lord Shiva made in natural caves.

Shree Tungeshwar Mahadev Ji, Phalasi  Near Chopta This temple has been here for centuries. Folklore has it that the Pandavas came here for penance. On the way from Chopta there were many small temples up to the Tunganath Temple, the remains of some are still there. On the temple wall there are many terracota style seals and Shiva-Parvati figurines. A very ancient temple held in very high esteem by many villages, right in the midst of amazing n spell-bounding natural beauty.

Kartik Swami The Kartik Swami temple is dedicated to lord Kartikeya - son of Lord Shiva. It can be reached by a 3 km trek from Kanak Chauri village, which is located on the Rudraprayag-Pokhri route, 38 km from Rudraprayag. You can have a magnificent views of the snow-clad Himalayan range from the Kartik Swami temple.

Basukedar   (reputedly where Shiva lived before coming to Kedarnath).It's a Shiva temple constructed by Pandava. Architecture and idols seems to be at least 1000 yrs old. A good place for meditation and dhyan yoga. This is around 35km from Agustmuni. around 1.30 hr by drive. This is actually an old track to visit Kedarnath. It is said that Lord Shiva stayed a night in Basukedar while he was travelling to Mount Kailash ( Kedarnath) this is the reason this place is called Basukedar.

3. Karna Prayag

Situated 11 km from Gauchar, the icy flow from the Pindari Glacier becomes the Pindari river, and when it meets the Alaknanda at 788 m, the confluence is known as Karnaprayag. The wooded thickets of the hills surrounding Karnaprayag were the meeting ground for Shakuntala  and  Raja Dushyanta, immortalised in Kalidasa's immortal classic and a favourite ballad ever since. The place derives its name from Karna, the son of the Queen Kunti and her fiery lover, Lord Surya (sun), Karna's lineage was kept a secret, but he propitiated the Sun God here, and acquired a pair of earrings & armour that made him invincible.

Karna Prayag is one of five sites where the confluence of rivers occurs. The five prayags are Vishnuprayag, Nandprayag, Karanprayag, Rudraprayag and Devprayag. Allahabad where the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati join, is known as Prayag, and is one of the holy places of Hindu pilgrimage. Karanprayag is believed by many to be the place where Karna of the Mahabharata, was to have worshipped the Sun God. It is the ancient temple, devoted to Uma and Karna.

It is on the way to Badrinath, on the confluence of two holy rivers Alaknanda and Pindar. It is said that Karna of Mahabharata meditated here for many years to acquire the impregnable shield, which made him a formidable warrior in the battlefield. Swami Vivekananda meditated here for eighteen days with his Guru Bhai, Guru Turianand ji and Akharanand ji. It is the sub-divisional head-quarter of district Chamoli. Roads from here go to Almora, Nainital and Jim Corbett National Park.

4. Nandprayag

22 km from Karna Prayag, Nand Prayag at 914 m forms the confluence of the Alaknanda and Nandakini (flowing from a glacier near Nanda Devi Peak) rivers. On their way to Tapovan across Kunwari Pass or on their way to Roopkund, it is popular with trekkers. It is said that the confluence is named for the pious Raja Nanda.

5. Vishnuprayag

The confluence of the impetuous Vishnu Ganga (known after this point, as the Alaknanda) and the Dhauliganga river, Vishnu Prayag, 1372m, has an ancient temple called Vishnu Kund. Vishnu Prayag is on the Alaknanda River, which is one of the two source streams of the sacred river Ganges in the Garhwal Himalayas.Alaknanda descending from the foot of the Satopanth (a triangular lake, which is located at a height of 4,402 m (14,442.3 ft), above the sea level and named after the Hindu trinity: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Bhagirath Kharak glaciers near the Nanda Devi peak, in Uttarakhand cascades over a length of 229 km (142.3 mi). The other streams are the Dhauliganga, Mandakini, Pindar and the Bhagirathi - the head stream of the Ganges.    It is said that the sage Narad worshipped Vishnu at this sanctified spot. Visitors will find the Kagbhusandi Lake bewitching with its emerald green depths giving it a still surface, while on the banks, blossoms evoke the colours of nature in all her glory.

The Alaknanda River, which originates in the eastern slopes of glacier fields of Chaukhamba, is joined by the Saraswathi River near Mana (that originates on the south from the international border), and then flows in front of the Badrinath temple, one of the most revered Hindu shrines. It then meets the Dhauli Ganga River, whose origin is from the Niti[disambiguation needed] Pass, after traveling a distance of 25 km (15.5 mi) from its source to form the Vishnu Prayag. This stretch of the Alaknanda River is called the Vishnu Ganga.   Legend narrates the worship offered by sage Narada to god Vishnu at this confluence. An octagonal shaped temple - located near the confluence - dated to 1889, is credited to Maharani of Indore - Ahalyabai. Though originally built to install a Shiva linga, it now houses a Vishnu image. A stairway from this temple leads to the Vishnu kund (kund means pool of water or lake) at the confluence, which is seen in a tranquil state.

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 Dt 10 May 2015