Places to visit in Kedarnath and Badrinath
Devbhoomi Uttarakhand is comfortably nestled in the lap of Himalayas and its alluring beauty encapsulates the attention of every traveler and visitor. This home of the Himalayas also serves as a home to the extremely famous and pious temples of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri which attracts innumerable devotees and pilgrims from all across the subcontinent each year who aim at a completion of the chota char dham yatra. Apart from the temple destinations the entire region is dotted with numerous awe inspiring natural beauty and untouched charm.
If you are planning on visiting this enchanting land for Kedarnath and Badrinath yatra then you can also visit some of the other surrounding tourist destinations which will definitely make your visit worth it:
- Gandhi glacier (Kedarnath)
Located at a distance of just 3 km from the main temple of Kedarnath, Gandhi sarovar is a small crystal clear lake which is situated at the mouth of Chorabari bamak glacier. This relaxing lake is surrounded by the massive and mighty snow capped Himalayan peaks at an astounding altitude of 3,900 metres above sea level. The trekking route to this wonderful oasis is extremely simple and easy to cover. Be sure to carry some amount of food supplies and water since there are no tea stalls on the way.
- Charan paduka (Badrinath)
Situated at an elevation of 3,380 feet above sea level and at a mere distance of 3 km from Badrinath mandir, charan paduka is a must visit for all Lord Vishnu devotee. As per Hindu mythology it is said that Lord Vishnu had set foot on earth exactly at this spot. This rough and tiny temple spot is easy to reach which can be achieved just by trekking 3 kms for 1.5 hours. You will encounter several caves and boulders which dot the entire path giving it a rustic vibe.
- Vasuki tal (Kedarnath)
This high altitude sweet glacial water lake is situated at an impressive height of 14,200 feet above sea level. As per Hindu mythology the history of this place goes back to the time when during rakshabandhan Lord Vishnu took a bath in the clear waters of this lake making it an extremely holy yet pristine destination. Visitors will be greeted with blooming vibrant Himalayan flowers which encircles the entire lake. A visit here is must if you want to experience pure divinity.
- Vyas gufa (Badrinath)
Located at a comfortable distance of 5.5 km from the holy temple of Badrinath this ancient cave sits on the banks of River Saraswati which runs by the last village of India, Mana. This cave is extremely important and significant since it is believed that sage Vyas had composed the epic Mahabharata with the help of his scribe Lord Ganesha in this very cave. The best part about this cave is the fact that the cave ceiling bears uncanny resemblance to the collection of his holy scriptures.
- Triyuginarayan mandir (Kedarnath)
This ancient Hindu mandir is located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu this temple is famed for being the place where Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. This is a popular pilgrimage destination among Hindu devotees who flock here during the on seasons to witness the eternal flame which keeps burning throughout the year in front of the temple site. It is said that this flame has been burning ever since the marriage proceedings between the Lord and goddess took place.
- Brahma kapal (Badrinath)
Situated on the banks of the holy River Alaknanda, Brahma kapal is situated around the premises of Badrinath mandir. This place is of immense importance to the Hindus visiting this temple each year during their chaqr dham yatra. Located at a distance of 2 minutes from the main temple shrine, Brahma kapal is visited by numerous people looking to immerse the ahses of their deceased family members and ancestors. It is also said that Lord Brahma himself exists here.
- Shankaracharya Samadhi (Kedarnath)
This grave of Adi Shankaracharya is a huge tourist attraction in Kedarnath and is located at a comfortable distance from behind the main temple of Kedarnath. Adi Shankaracharya was an extremely popular philosopher and sage who is credited with re constructing all the four dham during the 8th century. There is also a small hot water spring which is said to have been constructed by the adi himself.
