In 2010 we had been to Yamnotri & Gangotri along with my sister’s family and that time only we decided that next year we would visit Kedarnath & Badrinath. But due to some health problem it was not materialised.
But in June 2012 we were fortunate to plan the visit to Kedarnath & Badrinath with my sister’s family who also dropped their plan to visit Kedarnath & Badrinath because of us. This time my younger brother’s family and my parents also joined us. So a big group of 13 members was ready to visit. We booked 13 seater Tempo traveller @ ₹ 6000/- per day for five days from Dehradun.
We all reached my In-law’s house on June 10th, 2012 & next day morning at 6.30 AM we started our journey for Kedarnath.
Journey Begins …………
Around 7.30 we reached Rishekesh .After completing some paper formality at transport office for our commercial vehicle for char dham yatra we left around 8.00 AM from there to our destination.
Rishikesh is surrounded by Shivalik ranges on three sides and also known as gateway of Himalaya. The place gets its name after lord Vishnu, who is also known as Hrishik & ish means master of God. Harishik & ish join together made “ Harishikesh “
Natural Beauty of Uttrakhand
Kedarnath is around 270 Kms from Dehradun including 14 kms trekking from Gori Kund. On the way we crossed Muni ki Raiti which is around 03 kms from Rishikesh . From Muni ki Raiti the road is divided into three ways. Left road goes to New Tehari via Narendranagar, right road heads towards Neelkanth & straight road goes to Devprayag – Kedarnath / Badrinath.
On the way one can see colourful rafts on Jeeps moving towards Shivpuri / Byasi . We stopped at “Byasi” for our breakfast which is 32 kms away from Rishikesh.
Colourful rafts on Jeep
Byasi is popular destination for adventure sports like rafting, rappelling, rock climbing etc.
After having our Breakfast we started our further journey, after 35 kms from Byasi we reached Devprayag.
Byasi
Devprayag is one of the “Panch Prayag” where Bhagirathi from Gangotri & Alaknanda from Kedarnath meet and form “GANGA”. It is the birth place of Ganga. We captured few pictures of the sangam of two rivers from the road only and moved further.
Devprayag
Road towards Srinagar
After 35 kms we reached Srinagar. It is one of the biggest towns situated in the foothills of majestic Himalayas and on the banks of Alaknanda River set up the historic town of Srinagar.
Srinagar Market
From Srinagar a road branches off to Pauri and Kotdwar. It has been the capital of Garhwal kingdom until the arrival of British. The modern Srinagar was established by British in 1857 -99 by E.K. Pauw – Deputy Commissioner.
Srinagar got urban status in 1931 & it is the home of Garhwal University which is known as Hemwanti Bahuguna University also.
Srinagar
Srinagar received its name from Sri Yantra, a mythical giant rock, so evil that whoever set their eyes on it would immediately die. The rock was believed to have taken as many as thousand lives before Adi Shankaracharya, in the 8th century AD, as a part of an undertaking aimed to rejuvenate the Hindu religion across India, visited Srinagar and turned the Sri Yantra upside down and hurled it into the nearby river Alaknanda. To this day, this rock is believed to be lying docile in the underbelly of the river. That area is now known as Sri Yantra Tapu.
On the way to Srinagar we saw a broken bridge which was built recently across Alaknanda and damaged too during construction. Six labourers die during that time thereafter the construction was not restarted.
Broken bridge
We all were enjoying our journey in our own ways as some were busy in clicking pictures of the natural beauty of Uttrakhand , some were sleeping as we got up early in the morning & kids were busy in singing and playing cards.
After 35 kms from Srinagar we reached Rudarprayag , named after Shiva (Rudra). Here Alaknanda river from Badrinath and Madakani river from Kedarnath meet.
From Rudarprayag the road separated for Kedarnath & Badrinath, left road goes to Kedarnath & right one towards Badrinath.
Dhari devi temple on the way
Raising the Dhari devi temple on pillars to prevent it from sinking because of the construction of the Dam.
We took the Kedarnath road & about 10 kms later we crossed Tilwara. At Tilwara , road coming from Tehri meets the main road coming from Rishekesh to Kedarnath / Badrinath.
It was around 3.00 or 3.30 pm , we started feeling hungry so we stopped at a restaurant, had our lunch which was ok sort of in taste and proceeded further. After sometime we reached “Agastmuni”
Tilwara
Lunch Near Tilwara
Agastmuni is situated at the height of 1000 meters above the sea level. Rishi Agadya meditated here. It is famous for Agasteshwar Mahadev temple. A large fair is organised on the day of Baisakhsi every year.
About 15 kms ahead we reached Kund , from here right road goes to Ukhimat – Chopta – Badrinath . We took this road while coming back from Kedarnath for our Badrinath visit. Ukhimat – Chopta road is full of scenic beauty and has breath-taking views. I will write in detail about it in my coming post.
After 5 kms we reached Guptkashi which is situated at the height of 1320 meters above the sea level. It is believed that after Mahabharat , Pandavas wanted to meet Shiva and seek his blessing but Shiva didn’t want to meet and evaded from Guptkashi to Kedarnath,where pandavass met them later.
On the way we crossed Nala, a place where goddess durga is worshipped in the form of Lalita Devi & than reached Phata. Phata is a place where one can have the helicopter visit to Kedarnath .
Helicopter service at Phata
On the way to Kedarnath we crossed through Sonprayag where Basuki river & Mandakani river meet. Because of the Gate system (which allows only one side traffic at one time) , we got stuck almost for one hour there in traffic jam.
Stuck in traffic jam because of gate system at 05 kms before Gauri Kund
Finally we reached our destination Gaurikund at 8 pm.Gaurikund is about 255 kms from Dehradun and 5 kms from Sonprayag.
We checked in a hotel ( don’t expect any luxury here). All the hotels have same charges , charges during the season is around ₹ 500/- and during off season around ₹ 100/-.
Gauri Kund is the place where Goddess parvati meditated to attain Lord Shiva.
Immediately after check –in we went out for dinner so that we could have a sound sleep and gear up for our further journey which we had to start by 5.00 AM next day.
Post on Kedarnath in next couple of days.
Lovely kedarnathji logs today, memories refreshed …location of monika hotel is very beautiful, we have stopped many times there… waiting for next part…
Thanx for going throughthe post & leaving the comments.
Great travelogue with comprehensive details for all who want to visit there. It is unfortunate to know about the fallen bridge and I see these things in India all over. A bridge in Uttarkashi over Assiganga fell off at the opening ceremony day. First they spend years to make things and then substandard structures never see a single day of functionality.
thanx for going through so minutely.
So here comes the info-rich, step-by-step guide by Mahesh. :-) This story has been in works for long so very glad to see this published.
I am curious to read the trek, since the troupe has kids, so that I can plan accordingly. Very happy to see your story here, after a long time Mahesh. Now to Kedarnath.
@ Deepak – Yes, back to back two stories on Kedarnath.
Thanx for your sweet words. As the kids have good stamina because of their active participation in sports except the elder one as she is slightly overweight so she felt uneasy while coming down.
It is advisable to get into the habit of brisk walking before you plan for the trek.
Indeed a wonderful travelogue.
I have few queries on the road condition. How good is the road for us, who normally drives in plain. I had self-driven to Mussoorie & Kemty False few times and as such didn’t find it difficulty in hill driving…do suggest, whether we can drive from Gurgaon, as well as a minimum number of days required for this trip.
Look forward to your next post eagerly.
Road conditions are good and somewhere average but not bad.One can easily drive but won’t be able to enjoy the natural beauty while driving.
“No. of days required from gurgaon”
______________
Yamnotri/Gangotri-6 to 7 days
Badrinath/kedarnath-8 to 9 days
Char dham yatra- 14 days approx.
Hi Mahesh,
Great informative post about the journey to Kedarnath. Lots of trivia. I have never been beyond Rishikesh. When I do, this post will really help.
So posts on Kedarnath are raining.
Crashing bridges, sunken roads – really sad, what to say.
Looking forward to incoming posts.
Thanks Nirdesh !!!!
Sir,
What a coincidence. We started kedarnath Yatra on 11.06.2011 and your group on 10.06.2012. Exacty after 1 year i.e. 365 days (2012 being the leap year).
Now two travel logs on Kedarnath and Badrinath are running on Ghumakkar in two main languages simultaneously. Readers can’t complain now.
Traveling with family is always a pleasure. Travel log is well written and all the pictures are so clear..
Thanks for liking the post !!!!
Mahesh Semwalji… after long time I am seeing your travelogue..
very detailed and with good fotos…
waiting for next part
Thanks !!!!
Better to be late than never :-)
Joke apart , Oct. – Feb I was busy with conferences / meetings etc.
Next part will be very soon………
good post.
Thanks Ashok !
wonderful & full of information post.. Decoration of pictures are vry nice….
My one relative lives in srinagar & i have stayed in srinagar for some hours during my badrinath yatra… Thanks a lot
Thanks for your sweet words !
Very good & informative narration Mahesh Ji, specially for the people who wants to go with their families to have blessings of Kedarnath Ji.
Glad to know that you found the post helpful.
Thanx for leaving comment.
Hello Sir,
I am planning to go Kedarnathji- badrinathji with two small children , should I take a taxi from haridwar or travel by GMOU bus ? please suggest
with small kids its advisable to go by rented car.
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Hello Mahesh ji,
Nice detailed post.We are planning to visit Badrin at and Kedarnath in July first week.Grateful if you please provide me with tempo traveller contact number and ur experience with them in case u still have the contact details.Or if anyone in Ghumakkar reading my comment if you can provide me any good reliable taxi person contact.We are 04 adults 02 kids 01 senior citizen thinking of taking tempo traveller from Dehradun.
Thanks and Regards,
Abheeruchi
I use to take taxi from Dehradun (Gangotri Taxi ) . owner name is Pankaj. Take my name he knows me little bit & give you discount. Details are given below :-
Mobile No : 09412053977,07830100001,09720335476
E-mail: pankaj.gangotritravels@gmail.com
Thank you so much Mahesh ji for quick response in providing information.
Thanks again.God bless you.
Abhee