Kedarnath
- One of the most revered temple towns of India
- Home to the sacred Kedarnath temple
- A scenic destination located high up in the Himalayas
- A trekker's paradise
- Famous for Rudra cave, where PM Narendra Modi had meditated
One of the most revered temple destinations of India, Kedarnath town is nestled in the mighty Garhwal Himalayas. The town, built around the revered Kedarnath temple, is located at an altitude of 3,580 m, near Chorabari glacier, which is the source of the Mandakini river. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the ancient temple has exquisite architecture and is built of extremely large but evenly shaped grey stone slabs. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his “Sadashiva” form. The Kedarnath temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is a part of Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in India. Behind the Kedarnath temple, stand the Kedarnath peak, Kedar Dome and other Himalayan peaks.
The historical name of this region is “Kedar Khand” and legend says, the Pandavas from the epic Mahabharata, after having defeated the Kauravas, felt guilty of having killed so many people and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. The Lord eluded them repeatedly and took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. The Lord dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface at Kedarnath. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four other places and are worshipped there as his manifestations. The arms of the Lord appeared at
Badrinath
A holy town; part of the Char Dham Yatra
Scenic Himalayan vistas
- Natural wonders like hot springs
- Where history and mythology come alive
The Badrinath Temple also known as the Badrinarayan Temple, located in Uttarakhand’s Badrinath town, is one of the Char Dhams (four important pilgrimages) in the state. There are four pilgrim-destinations namely Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, collectively known as Char Dham. These pilgrimage centres draw large number of pilgrims each year, thus becoming the most important hubs of religious travel in the whole of Northern India.
Badrinath is located at an elevation of around 3,100 m. Located in the Garhwal Himalayas, on the banks of the Alaknanda river, this sacred town lies between Nar and Narayana mountain ranges. The temple is believed to have been established by sage Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. With Lord Vishnu as its presiding deity, the temple remains open for six months in a year. In winter it becomes inaccessible due to heavy snowfall. To register for a pilgrimage,
Gangotri
- Sacred town dedicated to Goddess Ganga’s temple
- One of most popular spiritual destinations in North India
- One of the four stops of Char Dham pilgrimage
- A natural paradise
- Start point of several high-altitude treks
One of the char dhams (the most sacred pilgrimage circuits in northern India with four holy destinations), Gangotri, in Uttarkashi, is a small town with the temple of Goddess Ganga at its heart. A 12-hour drive from Rishikesh, Gangotri is nestled among lofty Garhwal Himalayan peaks, glaciers and dense forests, and is one of highest pilgrimages in India (approx 3,415 m). Other than its divine atmosphere, Gangotri offers stunning vistas all around. According to Hindu legends, the most sacred of all rivers, Ganges (or Ganga), descended from heaven to earth at Gangotri, when Lord Shiva released the mighty river from his locks. The actual origin of the river is at Gaumukh in the Gangotri glacier, 19 km away from Gangotri and is accessible by trekking. After it originates from Gaumukh, the river is known as Bhagirathi and it acquires the name ‘Ganga’ after the river Alaknanda merges into it near the town of Devaprayag. Kapat is open now for darshan
Yamunotri
- One of the Char Dhams (four pilgrimages) in the great Himalayas
- Said to be the source of River Yamunotri
- Stunning landscape with icy peaks, glaciers and hot springs
- Popular among trekkers
Yamunotri is a part of Char Dham (along with Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath), the four most revered Hindu pilgrimages in the Himalayas. The small mountain hamlet, with the Yamunotri Temple at its centre, attracts thousands of devotees every year and is the commencing point of the Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage (May to October), which proceeds from Yamunotri to Gangotri and finally to Kedarnath and Badrinath. Lodged in a narrow gorge, close to the source of the Yamuna, the Yamunotri Temple is dedicated to Yamuna, the second-most sacred river after the Ganges. A dip in River Yamuna is said to protect one from untimely death. Devotees either walk or ride a palanquin or a pony to reach the temple (around 3,233 m above sea level) from Janki Chatti, a steep trek of about 3 km that takes about 3 hours.
The Garhwal region hosts some of the holiest shrines of Hinduism, including Badrinath Temple, Kedarnath Temple, Yamunotri Temple, and Gangotri Temple, collectively forming the revered Char Dham circuit. These sacred sites are nestled in the Himalayas and attract millions of devotees every year seeking blessings and spiritual fulfillment.
Popular Religious destinations in Garhwal region
In the Kumaon region, spiritually significant sites like Adi Kailash, Baijnath Temple, and Baghnath Temple hold immense mythological and cultural importance. These temples, surrounded by scenic valleys and rivers, offer a tranquil setting for devotees looking to combine pilgrimage with nature exploration.
The revered temples dedicated to Lord Shiva are situated all over the Uttarakhand. The famous Panch Kedar temples are a group of five temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Kedarnath Badrinath Yatra is another important pilgrimage partaken by the pilgrims. Hemkund Sahib is a revered Sikh pilgrimage in Uttarakhand located near Valley of Flowers.
Pilgrimage tourism in Uttarakhand also supports local culture, traditional hospitality, and seasonal fairs that celebrate faith and devotion. With improved infrastructure, guided tours, and helicopter services to remote shrines, spiritual journeys have become more accessible for elderly pilgrims and families wishing to undertake sacred yatras comfortably
