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Uttarakhand, also known as Uttaranchal it is a state in the northern part of India. Since there are so many Hindu temples and pilgrimage sites spread out over the state, it is sometimes referred to as the "Devbhumi" (literally, the "Land of the Gods"). The Himalayas, the Bhabar, and the Terai areas of Uttarakhand are noted for their pristine natural surroundings. It shares boundaries with the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh to the south, the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north, the Sudurpashchim Province of Nepal to the east, and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north and west. There are 13 districts overall spread across the state's two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon. Dehradun, the state's biggest city and a train hub, serves as Uttarakhand's winter capital. The summer capital of Uttarakhand is Bhararisain, a town in the Chamoli district. Nainital is where the state's High Court is located.
The Sanskrit words uttara, which means "north," and khanda, which means "land," are combined to form the name Uttarakhand, which translates to "Northern Land." Early Hindu texts refer to the area as "Kedarkhand," which includes modern-day Garhwal, and "Manaskhand" (present day Kumaon). The middle section of the Indian Himalayas was known as Uttarakhand in the ancient Puranic language.
Almost everything in Uttarakhand is beautiful, including the majestic Himalayas, the holiest of rivers, spiritual mysteries, breathtaking landscapes, endless colorful play of nature, exciting history inscribed on ancient stones.
Without mentioning the inhabitants of this beautiful nation, a description of Uttarakhand's compelling beauty would fall short. These people are as diverse as the state's natural components and are straightforward, helpful, and hardworking. Indigenous tribal tribes coexist harmoniously while also preserving their individual customs. For anthropologists, historians, ornithologists, linguists, geologists, and anybody else interested in their field, Uttarakhand is a treasure trove in addition to being a popular tourist destination. There is no enough word to describe the beauty of this peacfull and religious place.
There are many places to visit in Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand is also called as heaven and there are many good places where you can go to experience heaven, we will tell you from our experience which place you can visit to enjoy heaven. Although Uttarakhand is famous for visiting everywhere, but let's take a look at the best tourist places in Uttarakhand.
Char Dham is located in the districts of Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Chamoli in the Garhwal division of the state of Uttarakhand, India and the four dhams of this circuit are: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Out of these, Badrinath Dham is also the northernmost of the four Dhams of India. Devotees are always welcome in Uttarakhand, also known as Devbhoomi or the Land of Gods, which is home to numerous temples. The Char Dham Yatra is one of the most well-known of the numerous religious sites and circuits that pilgrims travel through Uttarakhand. This Yatra, or pilgrimage, takes place in the Himalayas and visits the four holy sites of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Four is referred to as "char" and places of worship are referred to as "dham" in Hindi. This entire journey takes 8 to 10 days.
Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath are the holiest places for Hindus according to Indian scriptures. They are also known as Char Dham. The scriptures claim that those who are successful in coming here are not only cleansed of their sins from this birth but also become free from the bondage of life and death. It is also said in relation to this place that it is the same place where the earth and heaven unite. Devotees perform Jalabhishek at Kedareshwar by taking holy water from here.
Pilgrims travel in large numbers to the Chota Char Dham from all around South Asia and the diaspora. Today, the pilgrimage season, which runs from around 15 April until Diwali, draws hundreds of thousands of people to the circuit (sometime in November). The two months leading up to the monsoon, which typically arrives in late July, are when the season is at its height.
At Bandarpoonch's western end is the revered Yamunotri temple. Traditionally, the Char Dham Yatra's first stop is Yamunotri. From Janki Chatti, Yamunotri is 6 kilometres of ascent. Maharani Guleria of Jaipur built the Yamuna temple in this area in the nineteenth century. On the western side of Bandarpoonch peak is where this temple (3,291 m) is located (6,315 m). Yamuna was Surya's daughter, and Yama was his son, according to myth. This is the rationale behind Yama's lack of strict punishment for those who take a reverent bath in Yamuna, his sister. A kilometre away from Yamunotri, the location of Yamuna's origin, the Yamunotri Glacier is located at an elevation of 4,421 metres.
Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal built the Yamuna temple, which is located on the Yamuna's left bank. The god is crafted from black marble. Similar to how the Ganges has been given holy mother status by Hindus, the Yamuna is credited with fostering and advancing Indian culture.
A short distance from the shrine are hot springs. The Surya Kund is the most crucial kund. Before doing puja to the god, one worships the Divya Shila, a shila located close to the Surya Kund. Using these hot water springs, devotees make rice and potatoes that are then bound in muslin fabric for offering at the temple. In order to provide prasadam, the cooked rice is brought home.
Gangotri is located 9,980 feet (3,140 metres) above sea level. The Gangot itself serves as the source of the Bhagirathi river. The Ganges River, which is revered and significant spiritually in India, originates at Gangotri. In Gangotri, Ganga is referred to as Bhagirathi. This river was given the name Bhagirathi in honour of King Bhagirath, according to myth. The legends also claim that King Bhagirath brought Ganga to the planet by performing penance. The Ganges River originates in Gomukh.
Gangotri is revered as the source of salvation in Hinduism. This is the rationale behind why followers of the Hindu religion donate their ancestors' Shradh and Pind according to the lunar calendar.
Devotees visit the ghats constructed on the banks of the Bhagirathi River to take baths and perform other rituals after offering prayers and worship in the temple. The holy water from the Bhagirathi river is carried home by pilgrims. This water is used in auspicious rituals and is regarded as holy. Additionally, Kedarnath and Rameshwaram temples accept offerings made with Ganges water that is drawn from Gangotri. Gangotri Dham is the Chardham Yatra's following significant Dham. This temple honouring Goddess Ganga is located in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district along the Bhagirathi River.
Jalabhishek ritual that takes place along the Jyotirlinga that runs from Yamunotri to Kedarnath. According to the Vayu Purana, Lord Vishnu came to live on earth for the benefit of humanity. In Badrinath, he made his first steps. Lord Shiva used to reside here. But he left this location for Narayan and moved to Kedarnath. Kedarnath holds a significant position in the Panch Kedar Yatra because of this. Kedarnath also exemplifies the spirit of renunciation in addition to this.
Adi Shankaracharya entered samadhi here when he was 32 years old. He had previously named Veer Shaiva Kedarnath's Rawal (chief priest). Currently, the number 337 Rawal from Ukhimath, where Lord Shiva is transported during the winter, is in charge of running the Kedarnath temple. In addition to this, the Pandits living in the area of Guptkashi are aware of this temple's activities. These Pandits divide this space into various sections from an administrative standpoint. to avoid any complication.
Badrinath Dham, which is located at an elevation of 10,276 feet (3,133 m) above sea level, is tucked in between the Nar and Narayan mountains. This temple is even more beautiful because of the Alaknanda river. At this location, Lord Vishnu is said to regularly practise meditation. Goddess Lakshmi appeared as a Bair (Badri) tree to cover Laxminarayan. However, the Bair tree is only occasionally seen right now, but Badrinarayan is still there. Here, Narada—whom these two have no other devotees—is also honoured. Badrinath Dham is the fourth and final Dham of the Chardham Yatra. The most revered and popular Dham in the subcontinent is Badrinath Dham. Every year, more than 10 lakh devotees go to the Badrinath temple. On the banks of the Alaknanda River, between Nar and Narayan Parvat, is this temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The only Dham that is included in both Chardham and Chhota Chardham is this one.
A one-meter-tall black stone statue of Lord Vishnu is found inside the Badrinath temple, surrounded by other gods. The Lord Vishnu idol that is situated here is thought to be one of the eight Swayambhu or self-manifested Kshetra Murtis that Adi Shankaracharya founded.
'Haridwar' is a famous ancient pilgrimage place for the followers of Hinduism. Here the Bhagirathi Ganga comes out of the hills for the first time in the plains. The route from this place leads to the famous pilgrimages of Lord Vishnu and Shiva named 'Badri Narayan' and 'Kedarnath', situated in the northern part of the Ganges.
Haridwar, the gateway to the gods, is located on the right bank of the holy Ganges and is considered one of the seven holy cities of India. The Char Dham, or the four major pilgrimages to Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, are also accessible from Haridwar. Three gods, Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh are claimed to have blessed Haridwar with their presence. According to legend, Lord Vishnu imprinted his foot on the stone of Har ki Paidi's upper wall, where the holy Ganges always touches him.
The city is located at the base of the Shivalik mountains, on the right bank of the Ganges river.
Hindus revere Haridwar as a sacred location that hosts significant religious gatherings and acts as a gateway to several major places of worship. The Kumbha Mela, which takes place in Haridwar every twelve years, is the most important of the festivals. Millions of pilgrims, worshippers, and tourists assemble in Haridwar during the Haridwar Kumbh Mela to take part in traditional bathing on the banks of the Ganges in order to atone for their sins and achieve moksha.
The capital of Uttarakhand is Dehradun. The Dehradun Municipal Corporation oversees it, and the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly has its winter sessions in the city, which serves as the district's administrative centre. Located in the Garhwal area, where the Divisional Commissioner's office is located.
Dehradun is being built as one of the "Counter Magnets" of the National Capital Region (NCR), which is being used to create a smart city in the Himalayas and provide an alternative centre of growth to help with the migration and population increase in the Delhi metropolitan region. After Kathmandu and Srinagar, it is the Himalayas' third-largest city. It is easily accessible and close to popular summer and winter hiking destinations like the Valley of Flowers at Dodital, Dayara Bugyal, Kedarkantha, Har Ki Dun, and Hemkunt Sahib for camping and panoramic views of
the Himalayas, as well as Himalayan tourist destinations like Mussoorie, Dhanaulti, Chakrata, New Tehri, Uttarkashi, Harsil, and Chopta-Tungnath.
The Hindu holy cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh, as well as the Char Dham Himalayan pilgrimage circuit, i.e. The main route to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath is through Dehradun, the nearest large city.
It is easily accessible and close to popular summer and winter hiking destinations like the Valley of Flowers at Dodital, Dayara Bugyal, Kedarkantha, Har Ki Dun, and Hemkunt Sahib for camping and panoramic views of the Himalayas, as well as Himalayan tourist destinations like Mussoorie, Dhanaulti, Chakrata, New Tehri, Uttarkashi, Harsil, and Chopta-Tungnath.
The Himalayan foothills of northern India are home to the city of Rishikesh, often spelled Hrishikesh, which is recognised as the "Yoga Capital of the World" and the "Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas".
It's situated 21 kilometres (13 miles) north of Haridwar and 45 kilometres (28 km) southeast of Dehradun, the state's capital.
It is referred to as the pilgrimage town and is one of the most sacred locations for Hindus. Since ancient times, Hindu sages and saints have travelled to Rishikesh to meditate in quest of greater knowledge.
The first two cities in India to receive the designation of "twin national historic cities" are Rishikesh and Haridwar.
Rishikesh was a component of the fabled "Kedarkhand." Legend has it that Lord Rama performed a penance at this location after defeating the asura ruler of Lanka, Ravana, and that his younger brother, Lakshmana, spanned the Ganges using two jute ropes at the location where the current "Lakshman Jhula" stands. There are many more places to visit in Rishikesh, by taking your time, you can roam the whole of Rishikesh well. One of Hinduism's most revered rivers, the Ganges,passes through Rishikesh. The river exits the Shivalik Hills in the Himalayas at this location and empties into the northern Indian plains. In Rishikesh, there are several temples along the banks of the Ganges, both modern and old. Older temples built by Adi Shankaracharya include Shatrughna Mandir, Bharat Mandir (Lord Vishnu's avatar), and Lakshman Mandir.
The Indian hill state of Uttarakhand has the district of Tehri Garhwal. New Tehri is where its administrative centre is located.
One of the biggest hydroelectricity projects in the world is located at New Tehri. New Tehri is a lovely location to visit in Uttarakhand and is adorned by an emerald reservoir that is created by the cascading of the Bhagirathi and Bhilangana rivers. The city appears to be more significant to the state since it serves as the administrative centre for the Tehri Garhwal District.
In addition to its impressive dam, the city provides tourists with jet skiing and other water activities. The city is peppered with a few Hindu temples, which give it a spiritual feel.
A little distance from the city is where the Old Tehri town is also located, however it is completely buried in water.
The main reson for you to visit Tehri Garhwal is tehri dam.
The Tehri Dam, which draws water from Bhilangana and Bhagirathi, two vital rivers in the Himalayas, is known as the largest and highest dam in Asia and is ranked as the tenth tallest dam in the world. 13 km distant from New Tehri, the dam produces more than 1000 MW of energy. Because boating excursions need a stop at the dam reservoir, it is also a popular tourist destination.
