Uttarakhand Tour Tourism tripadvisor

Religious & Pilgrimage

India is a country that is richly gifted with heritage and mythology, to which Uttarakhand contributes the more. Uttarakhand is known as the ’Devbhumi or the Land of Gods’, pays homage to various religious sites for pilgrims. Blessed with a pure environment in the form of the mountains and the holy rivers, it truly proves out to be spiritually as well as religiously a divine experience. From hosting the pilgrimage tour, ‘Char Dham Yatra’ to offering an opportunity to witness the confluence of rivers, ‘Panch Prayag’, the pious State is also dubbed as the Land of Pilgrims. Lose yourself to this religious destination and gain atonement.

Char Dham
Nestled among the serene heights of the great Himalayas are four pilgrim-destinations namely Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, collectively known as Char Dham. These pilgrimage centers draw the maximum numbers of pilgrims each year, thus becoming the most important hubs of religious travel in the whole of Northern India. Traditionally, the pilgrimage begins from the West and ends in the East. Thus, the Char Dham Yatra commences from Yamunotri, then proceeding to Gangotri and finally to Kedarnath and Badrinath.

Each of these four sites is devoted to a specific deity. Yamunotri is dedicated to the Goddess Yamuna who goes along the pilgrims to the high altitudes of the picturesque Rawai Valley. It is believed that a bath in the waters of the Yamuna protects the devotee from untimely death. Gangotri is dedicated to the Goddess Ganga. The shrine overlooks the River Bhagirathi, another name of River Ganga – the name having been derived from the myth of the ancient King Bhagirath’s penance that succeeded in bringing her upon the earth from the heaven. Kedarnath is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is also a part of the Panch Kedar. It is the northernmost Jyotirlinga and is close to the source of the holy River Mandakini. Badrinath is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is situated on the bank of the River Alaknanda. According to legend, Lord Vishnu meditated here while his consort Lakshmi took the form of a berry (Badri) tree to offer him shade.

Before embarking on this journey, one has to be prepared to experience physical as well as mental hardships on the Himalayan roads. The Char Dham Yatra is one of the quite accessible yet most arduous journeys. The Yatra route in the state is usually bustling with activity, especially during the summer. The scenic beauty of the mountains solemnly provides strength to the pilgrims as they move towards their destination.

Shri Hemkund Sahib
Shri Hemkund Sahib is an important pilgrimage destination for Hindus and Sikhs. Hemkund is the breathtaking Lokpal lake located at an altitude of 4329 m from the sea level. The picturesque natural settings make this hill region an amazing place for rejuvenating vacations. One can reach this majestic lake through a challenging but interesting and enjoyable trek from Ghangharia. Sikhs consider this as a scared region with one of the famous Sikh Gurudwara placed in the heart of the region. A Hindu shrine dedicated to mythological hero Lakshmana is attractive for Hindu Pilgrims. This temple is built on the banks of Hemkund.

Hemkunt Sahib is nestled amidst seven snow capped peaks and marvelous snowy glaciers. The nature is reflected here with all its mighty appearance in the crystal clear alluring water. Hemkund lake is fed by the glaciers from majestic peaks known as Hathi Parvat and Saptrishi peaks. A small stream known as Himganga originates from this imposing lake. It is recorded in the holy Granth Sahib that the tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Govind Singh mediated on the serene banks of Hemkund in one of his earlier births. Guru Govind Singh is believed to be the Guru who founded all present characteristics of present Sikhism. The Gurudwara of the Sikhs on the banks of Hemkund is located at the place where Guru had meditated. Huge flocks of Sikh pilgrims pay their visit to this Gurudwara every year. Hemkunt has got mentions in the Ramayana. It is believed that the younger brother of Lord Rama, Lakshmana regained his health by meditating on the banks of Hemkunt after the severe injuries he received from Meghnath during Rama-Ravana war. The Lakshmana temple is built at the place where Lakshmana meditated to regain the health.

Rishikesh
Rishikesh, a most tranquil place in northern Uttarakhand, surrounded by hills and bisected by the wide and sluggish Ganges, is often claimed as the `Yoga Capital of the World’. Back in the 1960s Rishikesh gained instant fame as the site where The Beatles came to stay with their guru, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It is an excellent place to meditate and study yoga. Rishikesh is also a good starting Laxman Jhula point for treks to Himalayan pilgrimage centres such as Badrinath, Kedarnath , Gangotri, Yamnotri.It is rightly called the gateway to the Himalayan Shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. 7 Story Temple Situated 24 km upstream from Haridwar, at the confluence of the Chandrabhaga and Ganga,

Rishikesh has long been a spiritual centre. It is said that the sage Raibhya Rishi did severe penance here and as a reward, God appeared to him in the form of Hrishikesh, hence the name. Rishikesh has numerous ashrams, some of which are internationally recognized as centers of philosophical studies, yoga and meditation. An international yoga week is organized here every year by Uttarakhand Tourism between 2nd and 7th of February. For the adventurous, there are opportunities for white water rafting on the Ganga. The climate here is continental type but its location in the foot hills gives it a pleasant weather throughout the year. One can visit Rishikesh any time of the year.

Haridwar
Haridwar serves as the Gateway to the Char Dhams of Uttarakhand and Dev Bhomi. The ‘Panch Tirth’ or the five pilgrimages located within the periphery of Haridwar, are Gangadwara (Har Ki Pauri), Kushwart (Ghat), Kankhal, Bilwa Tirtha (Mansa Devi Temple) and Neel Parvat (Chandi Devi). Haridwar is also one of the four places; where Kumbh Mela occurs after rotation of every twelve years and Ardh Kumbh after every six years. Haridwar has not only remained the abode of the weary in body, mind and spirit, but also served as a centre of attraction for learning the arts, science and culture. Haridwar has a long standing position as a great source for Ayurvedic medicines and herbal remedies as well as its unique Gurukul school system of traditional education. Rajaji National Park is just 10 kms from Haridwar. It’s an ideal destination for wildlife and adventure lovers. In the evening, the Ghats look breathtakingly beautiful as thousands of Diyas (lamps) and marigold flowers float and illuminate the holy waters.
Haridwar as today, does not only have a religious importance, but it is also famous for The Roorkee University, at Roorkee which is one of the oldest and the most pres tigious institute of learning in the fields of science and engineering. Another university of the district i.e. Gurukul having a vast campus also provides traditional educations of its own kind.

Jageshwar
There are around 124 temples that are located in the town and these include many small stone temples and large temple complexes as well. Some of the main temples are the Dandeshwar Temple, Jageshwar Temple, Surya Temple, Kuber Temple, Chandi ka Temple, Mritunjaya Temple, Nanda Devi Temple and the Kuber Temple. The Dandeshwar Temple is the biggest of the lot and many devotes can be seen in here. Among the oldest standing temples is the Mritunjaya Temple.
Two main festivals are celebrated in the town of Jageshwar and these are the Jageshwar Monsoon Festival which is held during the month of August and the Shivarathri Mela which is held in the spring season. Airavat Gufa is a cave that is located nearby and this is also a good place to visit while staying at the town of Jageshwar. The Patal Buvaneshwar Caves located in the region are also worth visiting.

Meetha Reetha Sahib
Meetha Reetha Sahib is located at Dyuri village of Champawat district which is 72 kms from Champawat. Basically this place is well connected with almost all the major towns of Kumaon region. Once Guru Nanak ji went to visit this place and it’s said that Nanak ji have had spiritual discussion with Gorakhpanthi Jogis over there. The Gurudwara of Reetha Sahib was constructed in 1960 at the confluence of Lodhiya and Ratiya river, which is near village Deyuri. This Gurudwara also knows as Meetha Reetha because there are famous trees of sweet Reetha (Sapindus emarginatus) in the Gurudwara premises, adjoining it to the temple of Dhernath. Before the motor Road build to Bhingrara, people used to come to see this place on foot. A fair is held at the Gurudwara on Baisakhi Poornima.

Uttarakhand Tourism

Uttarakhand or Uttaranchal God's own land is a top tourist destination. We bring Uttarakhand Tourism Latest Detailed Information Online on Char Dham, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Rishikesh and Uttarakhand district such as Haridwar, Dehradun, Nainital, Almora, Chamoli, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Bageshwar, Rudraprayag and Champawat online to millions of viewers round the world.
Uttarakhand is surrounded with high snow covered peaks, natural beautiful surroundings, major pilgrims centres and beautiful valleys, jungle safaris, adventure sports, mighty holy rivers and wellness resorts a complete package for the tourists in a single platter.

There are around 152 important tourist places to visit here in Uttarakhand. Some of them are are Mussoorie the queen of hills, Nainital the lake district, Almora the switzerland of india, Ranikhet the queen's fields, Bageshwar the land of the lion, Chamoli and Uttarkashi and many more. The char - Dhams - Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath is well known with around lakhs of pilgrims visiting the holy sites every year. Haridwar one of the seven scared cities in India lies in the foothills of Shivalik ranges. Hemkund Sahib, Lokpal, Nanakmatta, Meetha Reetha Sahib and Piran kaliyar very sacred and holy place visited by lakhs of pilgrims from all over the world.

Uttarakhand is also a paradise for adventure sport tourists, they may choose mountaineering in Bhagirathi, Chowkhamba, Pindari, Sahastrataal, Milam, Kafni, Khatling and Gaumukh. The tourists can enjoy the beautiful shiny peaks fully covered with snow, lush green jungles, alpine meadows, glaciers and scenic surroundings along with the excitement of the adventure sports. In Uttarakhand, tourism for trekking and skiing, tourists may choose from Auli, Dayara bugyal , Munsyari and Mundali. Water Sports like Rafting , Bungee Jumping, Boating, Angling, Aero Sports and Hand Gliding and Paragliding in Pithoragarh, Nainital, Rishikesh Yoga Capital of the world and Pauri Garhwal. Uttarakhand is rich in exotic flora and fauna and is well known for eco tourism and wildlife tourism. Some of the well known national park sanctuaries are The Corbett, The Rajaji National Park and the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary.