At the foothills of the Himalayas along the banks of the sacred river Ganges, lies the town of Rishikesh. The first town this holy river reaches on its decent from the mountains, Rishikesh is home to many ashrams, and most major Indian ashram, including Vivekenanda, Sivananda, Osho, Bihar school of yoga, have an office there. It is a good place to experience classical Indian yoga. Class instruction may leave a few gaps for students used to the precision of western classes, but with its slow and spiritual atmosphere, it's an enjoyable place to begin discovering what India has to offer. Rishikesh is less intense than other parts of India, probably because people have religion on their minds. Most people are very friendly and quick to say hello or namaste.
As a pilgrimage point, Rishikesh greets many devout Hindus and wandering sadhus (holy men). Many come to bathe in the sanctified waters of the Ganges, as Hindus believe this can remove layers of karma. This peaceful ashram centre is certainly one of the more atmospheric places in India. As the sun rises from behind the mountains, and cuts through the fog, locals wash in the river. Live temple chanting sets the tone. Beginning around 4 am, the chants float across the water until well after dark. During night time pujas (ceremonies), offerings of hundreds of camphor flame leaf boats float picturesquely on the river.
The commercial centre is more typical of India. But there is little need to visit it as the ashram centre, located on either side of a footbridge over the river, has great bookshops, good restaurants and email places. As a holy city, Rishikesh is fully vegetarian, so you won't even find an egg there. Rishikesh hosts an International Yoga Festival, which is held every year in the first week of February.
Mussoorie :
Located at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level,mussoorie,is sprawled over a horse - shoe shaped ridge. Easily accessible from Delhi,mussoorie is one of the prime hill resorts of the country. It offers some breathtaking views of the snowclad Himalayan peaks of western Garhwal,as well as of the Dehradun valley below. It was in the 1820s,that the area was 'discovered' by Captain Young. It grew in popularity amongst the British officials,who craved for some respite from the heat and grime of the plains. By the mid - 19th century,mussoorie became a flourishing hill station,with its famous Mall.
Gangotri :
Gangotri is an ideal location for the tourists looking for peace and adventure. Located in the hills, 18 kms downstream from Gaumukh is Gangotri. It is an important pilgrim site located at 3,048 m above sea level. Gangotri is situated in the northern part of the state of Uttaranchal and is very close to the Indo-Tibetan border. Gangotri glaciers, the original source of the sacred river Ganges, Gangotri Templeattracts tourists in large numbers every season. Discover the daunting rivers and attempt to reveal the mysteries of the natural world, which are rare to find elsewhere. Along with the thrill of exploring nature, what one experiences here is the aura that India is totally Indian.
Badrinath :
Badrinath in one of the four Dhams a devout Hindu has to visit in his lifetime to attain salvation. An abode of seers, saints and yogis from times immemorial, Badrinath is surrounded on either side by two mountain mountain ranges known as Nar and Naryanan, with the Neelkanth peak providing a breathtaking backdrop.Badrinath Temple The legends say, that Badrinath, was the home of Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Narayan. It is known as Tapobhumi, a land for meditation and penance and bhubaikunth, the heaven on earth. Facing the Badrinath temple is a hot water spring known as Tapt Kund, known for its medicinal properties. Other springs here are the Narad Kund and Surya Kund. There is a separate tank for women.
Major Tourist Attractions in Badrinath
Joshimath :
It is believed that Adi Guru Shankaracharya came all the way from Kerala in 8th century AD to perform penance here. After enlightment, he established a religious center (Math) here, which he called 'Jyotirmath'. The name Joshimath is a derived from that. Of religious interest are the temples of Nav Durga and Narsingh. Apart from the religious importance, this place is unequalled for its scenic beauty.
Govindghat :
The confluence of alaknanda and Lakshman Ganga rivers. It has an imposing Gurudwara named after Guru Gobind Singh. Situated between Joshimath and Badrinath it is the starting point for the trek to this valley. From Gobindghat, it is 16 kms. away. Ponies can also be hired from Gobindghat.
Lok-Pal Hemkund
This is where the Hemkund Sahib Gurdwara, at an altitude of 4320 m above sea-level, is located. The climb is steep and tiring. Hemkund Sahib is one of the most famous Gurdwaras and is held in great reverence by the Sikhs. Nearby is the Lok-Pal Hemkund Lake, with its crystal clear waters and four peaks surrounding it.
