Chardham in India – Interesting things to know about Chardham

 

The divine location of Chardham in India is popular for its religious values. A lot of us might have taken a trip to the Chardham of Uttarakhand, but there are a lot of interesting facts about the four holy places in India that very few of us know about. We all know that Chardham in India includes four holy places. These places are Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.

Each of these sacred places has its own importance in our hearts. People from different parts of India and abroad. Completing the trip to Chardham in India is believed to grant salvation or moksha. Since all the four places are very old, there are a lot of things still hidden about the ancient temples.

In this blog today, we are going to share some thrilling facts about Chardham in India. We are pretty sure that you have never heard of these interesting things about Chardham before.

Interesting facts to know about Chardham in Uttarakhand

1. The shrine of Lord Badrinath was located in the Garud Caves

The present location of the Badrinath Temple was not the original location. The Badrinath idol was discovered by Adi Shankaracharya near the river Alakananda. That is where he set up the Badrinath Temple. This was near the Garud Caves located at the hot springs of Tapt Kund. However, centuries later, the King of Garhwal shifted the location of the shrine to the present location.

Badrinath tour package

2. The natural rock Shivalinga of Gangotri is only visible in winters

This is a very fascinating thing about Gangotri. There is a natural rock, which is also known as the Jalamagna Shivalinga. You can only see it during the winters at Gangotri. For the rest of the year, it remains submerged in the waters. This is why it is called Jalamagna Shivalinga. During winter when the water level is down, you can see the Shivalinga. This is also the place where Lord Shiva held Goddess Ganga in his luscious dreadlocks.

Gangotri Uttarakhand Darshan tour package

3. The water of Surya Kund is used for cooking the prasad at Yamunotri

Surya Kund is a hot water spring located near Yamunotri glacier. This hot water spring is also very sacred to the Hindus. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Surya or the Sun is the father of Yamuna. Thus, even when the lake is surrounded by the snow-clad Himalayas, you will find the water of the lake to be hot. The temperature of the lake water remains around 88 degrees throughout the year.

Yamunotri darshan tour package

4. Did you know that the hind part of Lord Shiva is worshipped in Kedarnath?

This is another fascinating fact about Kedarnath. The hind part of Lord Shiva’s body is worshipped in Kedarnath. There is a very interesting story to it. After the Pandavas won in the Kurukshetra battle, they were filled with sorrow and remorse because of the killing of their brothers. They wanted forgiveness and salvation.

Kedarnath Uttarakhand Darshan tour package

Thus, they searched for Lord Shiva but they could not find him. Finally, Bheema found Lord Shiva who was disguised as a bull. Lord Shiva didn’t want to meet them. Thus, he immersed himself into the earth, leaving his hind part behind. This is why the hind part of Lord Shiva is worshipped in Kedarnath.

5. A Shivalinga is created where Yudhishthira’s finger fell

On their celestial pathway to heaven, one of the fingers of Dharmaraj Yudhishtira fell off. At the same place, a Shivalinga was created which is equal to the size of Yudhishthira’s thumb. This is a unique and fascinating thing about Chardham.

6. An interesting story of Gauri Kund

Gauri Kund is the place where Goddess Parvati attained Lord Shiva as her husband. Located in Rudraprayag, Gauri Kund is at an altitude of 6500 feet above sea level. This place serves as the base camp for the pilgrims. According to mythology, people believe that this is the place where Goddess Parvati meditated for 100 years to get Lord Shiva as her husband.

7. The Badrinath Temple was initially a Buddhist Shrine

During the rule of King Ashoka, the Badrinath Temple was worshipped as a Buddist Shrine. According to the history books, the idol of Lord Badrinath was found by Adiguri Shankaracharya from the Narad Kund. However, apart from this, there is also another record of the origin of the Badrinath Temple.

Some of the accounts state that there was a Buddhist Shrine before Adiguru Shankaracharya discovered the idol of Lord Badrinath. Also, if you look at the architecture, the brightly painted facade of the Badrinath Temple is identical to the Buddhist Vihara (Temple).

8. The origin of Lord Vishnu’s name as Badri

Lord Vishnu’s name as Badri was originally derived from Goddess Laxmi’s incarnation of a berry tree. The legend is, when Lord Vishnu went to the mountains for his penance, his wife Goddess Laxmi became a berry tree to protect him from the heat of the sun. Goddess Laxmi also stood by him for years to offer him the shade and years later she turned into a huge berry tree. The tree was also named Badri Vishal and her consort Lord Vishnu became, Badrinath.

9. Tapt Kund, aka a sulfur water spring, has medicinal properties

In the Badrinath Temple, there is a hot water spring comprising sulfur. It is also known as Tapt Kund. This hot water spring has medicinal properties. People also believe that this hot water spring is also the home of God Agni, the lord of fire. Before visiting the Badrinath Temple, people take a dip in the holy waters of the Tapt Kund. The temperature of the water remains as hot as 55 degrees Celcius all throughout the year.

10. It is not allowed to blow Shankh in Badrinath Temple

Even though the Shankh is one of the most favorite instruments of Lord Vishnu, you are not allowed to blow Shankh inside Badrinath Temple. The story is, when sage Agasthya was slaying the demons in Kedarnath, two of the most infamous demons, Atapi and Vatapi fled away from there. Atapi remained hidden inside the Mandakini River, while Vatapi hid inside the Shankh. Since then, people believe that if anyone tries to blow the Shankh, the demon will come out.

Also, the science behind not blowing the Shankh is, since the Badrinath Temple remains covered in snow most of the time of year, blowing the Shankh will create an echo. This is a unique phenomenon that creates turbulence in the ecology and can cause ice storms. Thus, it can endanger human life.

These are some interesting facts about Chardham in India. My Tirth India offers the most affordable and customizable deals on the Chardham Yatra tour package. Also, you can opt for the Helicopter services at Chardham.

 

The top 25 holy places in India – Religious tourist destinations you should explore

Speaking about the holy places in India, the country itself is a land of multiple religions. This is what makes it one of the best tourist destinations in the world. People from around the globe come to visit India because of its diversity, rich culture, heritage, and natural beauty.

India is the home to multiple religious places and the holy places are a must-visit. There is no doubt that the country is beautiful. However, if you want to get to know the core of India, then you have to visit the sacred places and tourist destinations. These are the places that make up the heart of India.

On that note, this blog will present to you the top 25 holy places in India. The best part is, these sacred places are also regarded as the best tourist destinations in India.

 

SL NO.

Holy Places

City

State/Country

Communication

1 Kedarnath Rudraprayag Uttarakhand Cabs and car rental services
2 Badrinath Chamoli Uttarakhand Local cab services, prepaid taxis
3 Tirumala Tirupati Balaji (Venkateshwara Temple) Tirupati Andhra Pradesh Bus, prepaid taxi, jeep, auto
4 The Golden Temple Amritsar Punjab Autos, cycle rickshaws, bus service,
5 Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Ahmednagar Maharashtra Trains, cabs, taxis, and private buses
6 Dwarka – Somnath Ahmedabad Gujarat Bus service, cars, trains
7 Kailash Mansarovar   Tibet/China Private bus, jeep, safari, helicopter
8 Haridwar-Rishikesh Haridwar-Rishikesh Uttarakhand Trains, bus service
9 Manimahesh Chamba District Himachal Pradesh Car rental, tempo, volvo bus service
10 Vaishno Devi Katra Jammu & Kashmir Taxis, trek, ponies, helicopters
11 Amarnath Pahalgam, Anantnag Jammu & Kashmir Trek, bus, helicopters
12 Murdeshwara, Gokarna, Udupi Uttara Kannada Karnataka Trains, taxis, private cars
13 Jamnagar, Dwarka Ahmedabad Gujarat Taxis, cars, trains, bus service, cabs
14 Darjeeling Kalimpong Kurseong   West Bengal Toy trains, taxis, bus service
15 Mahabaleshwar-Omkareshwar Temple Ujjain Madhya Pradesh Cars, flight, buses, trains
16 Hirimba Temple-manu temple Manali Himachal Pradesh Volvo bus, cars
17 Varanasi   Uttar Pradesh Local buses, trains, taxi, cabs
18 Rameshwaram Temple Ramanathipuram Tamil Nadu Bus, taxi, car, train, local cabs
19 Jagannath Temple Puri Odisha Local buses, trains, prepaid cabs
20 Kolkata   West Bengal Bus, taxi, cabs, auto
21 Mathura Vrindavan Uttar Pradesh Trains, bus services, cabs
22 Guwahati   Assam Bus, taxi, car, train, flight
23 Gangtok   Sikkim Bus service, taxi, jeep
24 Jaipur Ajmer Sharif Ajmer Rajasthan Local bus, train, taxi, cabs
25 Bhimashankar Shirdi Girineshwar Aurangabad Maharashtra Buses, taxi, cabs, private car rentals

 

  1. Kedarnath

Regarded as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, this is one of the most sacred places in India. The Kedarnath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Situated at an altitude of 3586 meters in the lap of the Himalayan mountain range in Uttarakhand, Kedarnath Yatra is known to be a very special tirth and pilgrimage tour for any person regardless of his/her age.

  1. Badrinath

Badrinath is another holy town in the Uttarakhand state where the Badrinath Temple is located. This is a Hindu temple that is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The unique feature of the place is it is sandwiched between the Nar and Narayan mountain ranges. Badrinath Yatra is one of the most-preferred pilgrimage tours in India. Because of the mesmerizing beauty of Badrinath, it is also one of the best tourist destinations.

  1. Venkateshwara Temple, Tirupati

The Venkateshwara Temple is located at Tirumala at Tirupati in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. This is one of the richest temples in India. It is dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara which is also a form of Lord Vishnu. The temple is also known by other names like Tirumala Temple, Tirupati Balaji Temple, and Tirupati Temple. Opt for the Tirupati package during the occasion of Vaikuntha Ekadashi to have the darshan of Lord Vishnu.

  1. Golden Temple, Amritsar

The Golden Temple in Amritsar is also known as Harmandir Sahib, which means the “abode of God”. It is ideally the preeminent spiritual site of Sikhism but the Golden Temple is also an open house of worship for all the men and women from different walks of life and faith. It has been nominated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Golden Temple Amritsar package will be the best option to experience this fairytale-like place.

  1. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Maharashtra

Shirdi, which is also known as Sainagar, is a city in Maharashtra. Shirdi is famous as the home of the late 19th-century saint Shri Sai Baba. The Sai Baba Sansthan Trust present in Shirdi is also known as the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in India. People from all over the country come to pray at the Shirdi Temple. You can obtain the Shirdi Sai Darshan Package throughout the year.

  1. Dwarka-Somnath, Ahmedabad

A perfect tour for the spiritually inclined individuals and family! Also, if you want to experience the core of India, you should have a trip to Dwarka and Somnath. Dwarka is a modern city comprising extraordinary Indian architecture within the temples. It is also popular because it was the kingdom of Lord Krishna. The Somnath Temple is located close to Dwarka on the western coast of Gujarat. Book the Dwarka-Somnath package tour to feel the heart of India. It is a very popular tourist destination.

  1. Kailash Mansarovar

The name mount “Kailash” is derived from the word Kelasa which means Crystal. The Kailash mountain range is situated near the two beautiful lakes, one is the Mansarovar and the other is the Rakshas Tal. Out of these two, the Mansarovar resides at an altitude of 14,950 feet and it is also known as the highest freshwater body in the world. The best option is the book the Kailash Mansarovar tour package of 13 nights and 14 days.

  1. Haridwar Rishikesh Mussoorie

We have already mentioned two of the best tourist destinations in Uttarakhand. However, when it comes to tourist destinations and holy places in India, Uttarakhand never fails to amaze us. You can opt for the Haridwar Rishikesh and Mussoorie tour package. These are some of the exquisite tourist destinations in India and sacred places as well. You should not miss out on the amazing beauty of nature in the Himalayan foothills. These four hill stations are very close to each other.

  1. Manimahesh Yatra

The Manimahesh Kailash peak is located 5,653 meters above sea level and it is also known as the Chamba Kailash. It stands tall over the Manimahesh Lake, which is believed to be the humble abode of Lord Shiva. The place is the Bharmour subdivision of the Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh. The peak of the mountain can be seen from the Manimahesh Lake. Book for the Manimahesh Yatra tour package to visualize this outstanding beauty of nature.

  1. Vaishno Devi, Jammu & Kashmir

Vaishno Devi, also known as Mata Rani, is the manifestation of the Hindu Goddess Mahalakshmi. The Vaishno Devi Temple is one of the most-visited holy places in India. It is present in Katra at the Trikuta Mountains in the Union Territory of Jammy and Kashmir. The best part is the trek which is 13 kilometers from the base camp of Katra. Get the Vaishno Devi Jammu Jai Mata Di package to visit the Holy Cave Shrine.

  1. Amarnath Temple, Jammu & Kashmir

Amarnath Temple, which is also known as Amarnath Cave, is a shrine located in Jammu and Kashmir. The cave is located at an altitude of 3,888 meters above the sea level and it is about 140 km from Srinagar. The Amarnath Shrine is one of the most important parts of Hinduism and it is considered to be one of the holiest shrines. The best part is, it is surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks. The Amarnath Yatra package will make your trip to Amarnath a memorable one.

  1. Murdeshwara Gokarna Udupi

Murdeshwara is regarded as a unique holy place in India because of the second largest statue of Lord Shiva. The Murdeshwara Temple is located at the shore of the Arabian Sea and it is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Gokarna is a small temple town in Karnataka which is also dedicated to Lord Shiva and it is known as the Mahabaleshwar. This is an important stop for the pilgrims, especially those who are the devotees of Lord Shiva. Udupi is close to Murdeshwar. It is at a distance of 101 Kms. The Murudeshwar Gokarna Udupi package is a great tour plan, especially for a road trip.

  1. Ahmedabad Jamnagar Dwarka

As we already mentioned in one of our packages why Dwarka is one of the holy places in India. Now, if you are traveling to Dwarka, you cannot ignore Jamnagar in Ahmedabad. Formerly known as Nawanagar, Jamnagar was established by an heir of Lord Krishna on the banks of the Nagmati River. Due to the rich and diverse history of the city, it has become one of the major tourist attractions. The Ahmedabad Jamnagar Dwarka package gives you a tour of the rich and cultural heritage of India.

  1. Darjeeling Kalimpong Kurseong

Darjeeling is one of the famous hill stations located in India in West Bengal. It is famous for the lush green tea gardens, the Kanchenjunga Mountain Range, Tiger Hills, and the Toy Train. It is regarded as a UNESCO world heritage site. Kalimpong and Kurseong are located close to Darjeeling and these two places are famous for innumerable monasteries. This is why if you are planning to have a trip to different holy places in India, opt for the Darjeeling Kalimpong and Kurseong tour packages as well.

  1. Mahakaleshwar-Omkareshwar

Mahabaleshwar Jyotirlinga is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and it is also one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. This is said to be one of the most sacred abodes of Lord Shiva. Mahabaleshwar Temple is located in the ancient city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. It is close to the Omkareshwar Temple in Madhya Pradesh. This is another renowned temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located on the banks of the Narmada River. The Mahabaleshwar-Omkareshwar package is perfect for a short pilgrimage tour.

  1. Hidimba Temple – Manu Temple

Hidimba Temple and Manu Temple are both located in the mesmerizing valley of Manali. The temples are close to the Beas River Valley in the Kullu District. The topographical features in the nearby areas are such that it attracts a lot of trekkers around the globe. The Hidimba Temple and Manu Temple tour package in Manali allows you to explore the beautiful areas and enjoy the tranquillity.

  1. Varanasi Ayodhya

Speaking of the top holy places in India, no one can ignore Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Vidyanchal. You will get to see the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple and a lot of other temples with extraordinary architecture. The best time to visit Varanasi is the winters since the temperature is low and the cool breeze presents a memorable experience. Get your bookings done for the Varanasi Ayodhya Vidyanchal tour package today.

  1. Rameshwaram Temple, Tamil Nadu

The Rameshwaram Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in Tamil Nadu and is also one of the twelve Jyotirlinga Temples. The temple was expanded in the 12th century by the Pandy dynasty and the principal shrines were removed. It is believed that the presiding deity of Lord Shiva was established by Lord Rama before crossing the Lanka Bridge. This is one of the most important holy places in India that you should not miss out on. The Rameshwaram Tamil Nadu package is an ideal choice for a short trip to such a beautiful place.

  1. Jagannath Temple, Puri

When we are talking about the top holy places in India, how can we miss out on the Jagannath Temple at Puri? The temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath which was built in the 12th century. The culture of Orissa revolves around the Jagannath Temple Darshan tour and the best option is to book the Jagannath Temple tour and Puri package.

  1. Kolkata package

Why is Kolkata among the holy places in India? The primary reason is because of the Mahakali Temple in Kolkata which is considered to be one of the most sacred spots in the country. A wide array of pilgrims from all over the country comes to the Mahakali Temple for Devi darshan, pujas, and prayers. Thus, if you choose the Kolkata package tour, then you will be able to visit the Mahakali Temple as well.

  1. Mathura Vrindavan package

Vrindavan is one of the holiest cities in India and it is also a historical city as well. This is a very sacred place in Vaishnavism. According to Hinduism, Lord Krishna spent his childhood days here. Vrindavan is just 11 km away from Mathura. The town comprises a wide array of temples dedicated to worship Krishna and Radha. The Mathura Vrindavan package is the best option to have a complete tour of this sacred place.

  1. Guwahati Package

Located in Assam, Guwahati is the largest city in the state. It is also the largest Metropolis in northeastern India. There is a wide array of Hindu temples located in Guwahati amongst which the most popular ones are the Kamakhya Temple, the Ugratara Temple, the Basistha Temple, the Umananda Temple, and the Doul Govinda Temple. To get the feel of the heritage India and visit the “City of Temples”, opt for the Guwahati Package.

  1. Gangtok Package

Amidst the top holy places in India, Gangtok deserves a special mention because of the numerous monasteries and the Baba Mandir. Book the customized Gangtok tour packages from My Tirth India to enjoy the best experience of Gangtok.

  1. Jaipur Ajmer

Since India is a land of multiple cultures and communities, we cannot ignore the Ajmer Sharif Darga at Jaipur. Every year thousands of devotees come to visit Ajmer Sharif to spread chaadars and offer their prayers for the blessings of their loved ones. The Ajmer Sharif Darga is one of the most sacred places in India. To enjoy local sightseeing and the forts of Jaipur, avail the best Jaipur Ajmer package.

  1. Bhimashankar Shirdi Girineshwar Aurangabad

The Bhimashankar Temple is also another one of the Jyotirlingas located in Pune, Maharashtra. The other Jyotirlinga shrines include Trimbakeshwar and Girineshwar near Nasik. If you want to experience the core of Indian architecture, then you need to visit these temples. Book your Bhimashankar Shirdi Girineshwar Aurangabad tour package today!