Backdropped by the icy Himalayan peaks, Kedarnath is situated near the Chorabari Glacier, the Mandakini River’s source. At an altitude of 11,755 feet, Gaurikund is the closest roadhead to Kedarnath, situated approximately 18 kilometres away. The temple’s revered stone hump has a mythological origin that dates back to the epic Mahabharata, where the Pandavas sought Lord Shiva’s forgiveness after defeating the Kauravas, who were pursuing all of their own family members.
However, Lord Shiva’s refusal to pardon them made the Pandavas even more determined to ask for forgiveness. Shiva changed into a bull and came to earth to avoid them. In his hurry, he left his hump at Kedarnath, not far from the Chorabari Glacier, where an Adi Shankaracharya temple from the eighth century marks the location. The other four “Panch Kedar” shrines honour the remaining portions of the bull’s body. The bull’s face at Rudranath, its arms at Tunganath, its navel at Madhmaheshwar, and its hair at Kalpeshwar. Make sure the Chardham holiday package you choose includes a visit to the Kedarnath temple before making your reservation.

Importance of Kedarnath
The proximity of the Kedarnath Temple to the Chorabari Glacier, the source of the Mandakini River, gives it one of the most dramatic settings among Hindu temples. One of the twelve Jyotirlingas, Kedarnath attracts Hindu pilgrims all summer long with its deep gorges, apple orchards, snow-capped peaks, and terraced hill slopes. The closest roadhead, Gaurikund, is about 18 km away and is the starting point for Kedarnath. After ascending from Jangal Chatti, which is about 4 km away, the trek passes through the Rambara, Chhoti Linchauli and Badi Linchauli, crosses the Mandakini River, and heads towards the southern face of Kedarnath peak

Nonetheless, the temple has undergone numerous renovations over time. The hot springs at the base of the temple have waters as hot as forty degrees Celsius, which the locals use for bathing and laundry. The Badrinayaran idol was discovered in the Alakananda River by Adi Shankaracharya, the man who constructed the first Badrinath Temple..The King of Garhwal constructed the temple in the sixteenth century, and it has all the features of a Buddhist vihara, including intricate carvings, stone embedding, and columns. According to legend, Lord Shiva spent many years in meditation here, and the location got its name when Goddess Lakshmi provided him with shade in the shape of a Badri tree. Since the Kedar-Badri valley is still thought to be the home of Lord Shiva, many plan their yearly Chardham tour around Mahashivaratri, when the celebrations breathe new life and colour into the shrines.

Importance of Badrinath
Badrinath is one of the 108 Divya Desams, or incarnations of Vishnu, and is a sacred shrine for Vaishnavites. In addition, Yog Dhyan Badri, Adi Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Vriddha Badri, and Badrinath temple are the Panch Badri temples. Nestled in the serene Garhwal valley, on the banks of the powerful Alaknanda, Badrinath is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, at an elevation of 11,204 feet.The holy river winds through the verdant valley and flows down it, while dense forests and expansive vistas of snow-capped mountain peaks adorn the immaculate and picturesque town of Badrinath. A few of the major festivals observed in Badrinath are Mata Mruti ka Mela, Janmashtami, and Kedar-Badri Utsav. Near Badrinath, you can visit the Badri Narayan Temple, Panch Prayag Temple, Tapt Kund, which is known for its hot springs, Mana village, Bheem Pul, and Vasudhara Falls, among other places.

Being the source of the Ganges, the most revered river in Hinduism, makes the Gangotri Temple one of the holiest shrines in the nation. Legend has it that when the river gushed out of Shiva’s matted locks in heaven, the rock at this location acted as a cushion to protect the earth from the potential damage.That rock is thought to have been strategically placed by Lord Shiva to withstand the onslaught of the gushing waters. The Gorkha commander Amar Singh Thapa constructed the Gangotri Temple in the eighteenth century. Despite being the primary source of the Ganges, Gaumukh is a glacier located approximately 19 kilometres away from the Gangotri Temple.Situated at 10,170 feet above sea level, Gangotri is situated along the banks of the Bhagirathi River. The Ganga is known as Bhagirathi until it reaches Devprayag, where it merges with the Alakananda to form the Ganges. The Gangotri Temple is usually closed on Bhai Duj, which falls in late October or early November, and opens on Akshay Tritiya, which falls in May. Recalling the therapeutic and spiritual qualities of the Ganga, pilgrims return from this place with bottles filled with holy water. The Gangotri region is home to many endemic species of both flora and fauna, contributing to its rich biodiversity. Near the main shrine are a number of smaller temples that trace the mythological origins of the Ganga and reiterate its evolution

Importance of Gangotri
According to Hindu mythology, King Bhagirath received a gift from Lord Shiva in exchange for his unceasing penance, and this is how Ganga came to be. But Lord Shiva caught the Ganges in his locks, forcing it to flow through it, knowing the true power of the river and the disaster it would cause if allowed to flow down unchecked. Ganga is named Bhagirathi after her father, King Bhagirath, because of the sacred stone that bore the brunt of the gushing river that is located near the Gangotri shrine, signifying the spot where the river first touched down on Earth. The Gaumukh glacier, one of the sources of the Ganga’s origin, was present at this exact location when Amar Singh Thapa built the temple in the 18th century. However, the glacier retreated to its current location over time as a result of soil erosion and other environmental factors.

The Yamunotri Temple, one of the Chardham pilgrimages, was constructed in the 1800s not far from the sacred Yamuna River’s source. The remote village of Janki Chatti is approximately 7 km away from the temple via foot. The temple is surrounded by a number of hot springs that are suitable for swimming in. In addition, pilgrims prepare rice and potatoes there for prasad. At the temple, you can pay the local priests to arrange your puja. Yamunotri, the Yamuna River’s source, is surrounded by a stunning, expansive valley and peaks covered in forests. There is a mythological connection to the country’s second-holiest river, the Ganges. It is said that taking a dip in the Yamuna, who is thought to be Yama’s sister and Surya’s daughter, will wash away your sins.Yamunotri’s hot springs, where rice is cooked and turned into prasad and given to worshippers at the temple, continue to be its high point, though. You can gaze up at the numerous shrines, temples, and ashrams that surround the Yamunotri Temple to feel the sacred aura of one of Chardham’s most picturesque locations