Friday, September 11, 2020

Reliving Char Dham 2019



About this Blog post: 

Ever since I started travelling, I have embarked on many tours; some with friends, some with family; some alone and some through Tour organizers. While I have enjoyed all these, some tours stand out and one amongst them is our Char Dham Yatra in Sep 2019, which started this same day last year, 2019. 

Looking back, I would rank this as ‘the’ tour, the Mother of all tours as it involved enormous planning, preparation, coordination, fitness level and determination. Even now on days when I struggle to sleep at night, when I go over those days- on the banks of such holy rivers as Ganga or the shivering Tharpana done at Badrinath, I will never know when I was lulled into sleep! Such is the impact it had on us, that given an opportunity, we would like to undertake the same yatra again. I have captured all those fine moments immediately on our return in my blog, which can be reached at: 

https://kapalicanvas.blogspot.com/2019/10/wandering-through-himalayas-char-dham.html

I would like to relive those wonderful days of last year and so I am planning to walk through the same road but only with memories captured through some selected photos of hundreds taken on that yatra, taking care to ensure that I do not repeat what I have already shared. 

This I am planning to post in my Picture blog under the caption of “Reliving Char Dham 2019”, on a daily basis. Here we go:

Day-1 : 11-Sep-2019:


Flight to New Delhi
Flight to New Delhi


Off to Dehradun

Amongst Currencies at Dehradun airport, on the way to the land of Rishis

Smooth drive from Dheradun to Rishikesh

First Feel of Ganga Matha on this Yatra

Happy faces after the holy Dip at Rishikesh

Day-2 : 12-Sep-2019:

Travel from Rishikesh to Barkot

Invoking Vinayaka's Blessings at Rishikesh before proceeding to Barkot


Ever accompanying streams


Fascinating water paths


Winding water bodies


Frothing streams


Cloud capped mountains


Amazing Green


Natural falls

Falling for the falls


Backed by nature


Neivedyam before Prasad distribution (Lunch)


Lunch time

More gushes after lunch


Briefing on arrival at Barkot

Cottage under picturesque setting - Barkot


Clean Rooms at Barkot


In the Constant Company  of Yamuna - outside the cottage


Tete-a- tete with Yamuna


Tryst with Yamuna at Dusk


After the holy dip in Yamuna

Day-3 : 13-Sep-2019:

Schedule: Yamunotri

Early Morning travel from Barkot


As we climbed up 


Jankichatti


Waiting Ponies

Mobbed by Doliwallahs


All set to go


Road Ahead... KMs to go !!


On a Doli

Facilities in Place

Winding path

Treacherous terrain

Pony traffic



Never short of streams


One KM done !


Pithu - another option to go up


Another KM devoured

Steep climb challenges for Dolis



Close encounters with oncoming traffic


climbing fast- One more KM done!


Crowd undeterred


Winding gorges, adamantly accompanying yatris


Asked to walk few steps to get the gains of the holy visit!


Keeping track of the partner !!


Path travelled so far


Doliwallahs carrying the yatri


Doli wallah sweat a steep climb


Oncoming traffic


Nearing... Only one more KM 


Did we climb this high ??? 


Sitting pretty while the poor doliwallah sweats 


Holy Dham sighted 


Gushing Yamuna leading yatris to the Dham


Tapta Kunda- With hot water at that height !


After the enlightening dip in the Tapta Kunda, Yamunotri

Yamuna Matha



Satisfaction writ large after dharshan


Amazingly feeling secured with the Holy Dham's backing


Yamuna River


Tricky return ride (or slide?)


Our vehicle to the Holy Dham - Doli



Our Palanquin bearers - the great Doli wallahs


Back to base at Jankichatty


Yamuna Matha ki Jai !

Day-4 : 14-Sep-2019:

Schedule: Uttarkashi

Breakfast at Barkot


Team waiting to depart


Capturing as much of Barkot.....


Barkot unmatched !


Enjoying the environs


With Yamuna


Camp site


Tents under natural roof


Bye Yamuna !!


Pravachan during travel


Decent accommodation at Uttarkashi


Strategically located room overlooking the flowing Bhageerathi


Bhageerathi view from Balcony


Lunch in progress


What cold... ? Bhageerathi Snanam


Uttarkashi Vishwanath temple sighted


Uttarkashi Vishwanath temple entrance


Pravachan at Uttarkashi Temple


Audience in rapt attention to the delightful pravachan


Delicately designed Mathaji temple


Sakshi Gopal Sannadhi


Tilting Sivalinga with Markandeya


With Yatra Director, who made a lot of difference



Day-5 : 15-Sep-2019:
Schedule: Gangotri

Adamant river accompanying a 3 AM departure


In the company of silver streams


Changing colours


Close to habitats, at times


Silent force


Route lined up with colorful attractions


Summer place of the Deity


Reached .... at last !!


At Dev Bhoomi


Small distance but with facilities for needy


South Indian 'Idly' !


The Holy Dham



First Click with the place we yearned for
 

After a satisfying dharshan

Getting ready



Waiting for other yatris



Bhageerathi beckons


Fast and Furious


Frightening but adorable


Panditji performing the rituals on the banks of Bhageerathi



After honoring the ancestors


Bhageerath Sthal


Delighted Group

Day-6 : 16-Sep-2019:
Schedule: Travel from Uttarkashi to Joshimutt

Tryst with nature continued, as we travelled through the day


Breakfast with an young 80+ old Yatri

Deep Gorges


Wonderful heights inviting for snaps


Too beautiful to resist a selfie


Water, water everywhere 


Passing through towns


Near one of the prayags


Frightening to pass through


Rudraprayag


KARNA PRAYAG_ Joining of alakananda and Pindar river


Tea Time break






Running silently 


Gathering speed


Dam 

Cosy room afetr a tiring 15 hour travel


Day-7 : 17-Sep-2019:

Schedule:  Sankara Math (Joshimath), Joshimath, Vishnuprayag, Pandukeshwar, Mana Village, Badrinath


Neelkanth Morning View



Wading through dark alleys of Joshimath


2500 year old tree at Sankara Mutt


At the famed 2500 year old tree

Traditional  Siva temple

Clear Signs to Yatris


Sankara Math at Joshimath


Ambal


Bhagawathi Amman


To the Cave which was locked


Front elevation of Sankara Math at Joshimath


Panoramic view of Joshimath from Sankara Math

Joshimath (Divya Desam)

Holy Joshimath sighted


At the Divya Desam


Side entrance


Chanting of Narasimha pranama

Strong Background



Vasudeva Sannadhi


Elegant view of the tower


Captivating aerial view of Joshimath town

Vishnuprayag:

Vishnu Prayag entrance


Dauli Ganga meeting Alaknanda

At the Vishnuprayag Sangamam


Significance of Vishnuprayag Sangam



About Vishnuprayag



Pandukeshwar temples:

Pandukeshwar Temples welcome


Way to Go


Panoramic view enroute


Risky Trek


Usual friend


Pandukeshwar temples- Birth place of Pandavas


Official Info

Hanuman Chatti:

Hanuman Chatti where Hanumanji  is believed to takes over the welfare of Badri pilgrims


Awaiting Dharshan , before proceeding to Badri


Mana Village:
Walk to Mana Village


Mana, last Indian village before the Tibetian border


At the village


Cabbage cultivation on one side


Long walk


Blessed to be at the birth place of the great epic Mahabharatha !


Inside the Guha of sage Vyasa


Tea shop with a  Tamil board 

At the 5326 year old cave


Miles to go !


Bhim Pul - the bridge Bhima constructed for Draupathi to cross Saraswathy river




Badrinath:


Mandakini in full flow


Alaknanda, with scary speed 


Rituals at Brahma Kapal in freezing conditions


To the Temple


Badri Vishal


Glowing Badri Vishal 

Night view of Badrinath


Day-8 : 18-Sep-2019:
Schedule:  Badrinath to Gupta Kashi

Breathtaking morning view of Neelkanth 


Clouded peaks at Badrinath


Neelkanth at Dawn 


Leaving cloudy Badri with a heavy heart 


Short climb to Vridha badri


Vridha Badri route


Climbing through dense forest


Trekking through mountain ranges


Jubilant group after a delightful pravachan and dharshan

Rudraprayag (Enroute)  

Rudraprayag- Confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Mandakini


Rudraprayag 


At the confluence - Rudraprayag 


Grand view of the rivers roaring below 


Sneaking through narrow passages




Passing through the Town

Gupta Kashi - Opted for Tent stay




Enjoying tent life in cloudy weather


Tent comforts at Gupta Kashi


Tent experiences

Day-9 : 19-Sep-2019:-
Schedule:  Kedarnath

Waiting for the Helicopter


Yatri group waiting to be called


At the helipad, about to board


Gauri Kund, view from the Chopper


Kedarnath, flight view 


Landed at Kedarnath- small walk to the temple


Nearing . . . . . 


About to reach . . . . .


Holy Dham sighted !!


A pic on the way 


First view of the Yatris, waiting to enter


Yatris getting excited as they near . . .  .


After a great Dharshan 


One more from the entrance 


Capturing memories from all corners 


Capturing memories from all corners


Before we leave . . . . 


Bye Kedarnathji 


Bye, Kedarnathji


Walking back to the Helipad


Yatris waiting for the chopper, to return to base !


Yatris waiting to return gets an opportunity to be on Kedar soil

Day-10 : 20-Sep-2019:- 
Schedule: Guptakashi temple enroute to Kirtinagar


Guptakashi


Guptakashi temple 


Yamuna and Ganga flowing into the temple pond 

Kirtinagar- Hotel with elegant look 


Comfortable Kirtinagar hotel - a big relief at the end of tiring Yatra


Elegant view from the room

Picturesque Balcony  



With Alaknanda at Kirtinagar






Kirtinagar_Photographers delight

Day-11 : 21-Sep-2019
Schedule: Devaprayag (Divya Desam) and Haridwar


Devaprayag, Divya Desam 


Mathaji, near the Sangam


Before the holy dip at the Sangam


Sankalpam, before the Holy dip


Devaprayag - Where Alaknanda and Bhageerathi meet at the Sangamam to run as Ganga  



Scenic Ganga


Ganga, winding her way 


After the coveted Ganga Snan at the hoy Sangam


With Ganga Matha


At the Sangam Ghat


Bye, Devaprayag


Mundane attractions near the river

Enroute to Haridwar



Yatra Director, Venkatesh Prabhu interacting in the bus


Parting shot from Devaprayag, as we move away


Nearing Haridwar . . . . 


Comfortable Haridwar Room


Dakshewara Mahadev Temple, Khankal, Hardiwar


Dakshewara Mahadev Temple, Khankal, Hardiwar


Prachin Mandir, Haridwar

Maha Mrityunjaya Mandir, Haridwar



Mayadevi Mandir, Haridwar



Haridwar Haarthi


Haridwar, people gathering for  Haarthi

Day-12 : 22-Sep-2019:
Schedule: travel back home

Thanks giving time

Tirtha Yatra support team


Thanking the support staff 


Team of drivers


Our vehicles to the Holy Dhams



With the Cook team


Honoring the cooks 

Showering the affection on Yatra Director with a motherly hug


With the Tirtha Yatra , Yatra Director Venkatesh Dasa

Agrani Krishna Dasa , CEO of Tirtha Yatra who made every place livelier with his pravachan


A section of Yatris

Key Takeaway and one to preserve


Ready to head homewards  


Bye Bye Dehradun



Supper at Hyderabad


Thank you All



This concludes my picturesque journey down the memory lane of Char Dham 2019

Jai Badri Vishal ! Kedarnath ki Jai !!