Hindu monks believe from ancient times god that the whole universe was made by Hindu gods. The number of Hindu gods is almost 33 million. Male gods are Devas, and females are devis. Each gods are different and they have special powers and appearance. Many of them are plants. Pilgrimage is one of the common ways to worship gods.
People from one end to another end of a country use to go overcoming the limitations on the way like high cliffs, muddy trails, uneven roads, etc. to worship and make their favorite gods as they will remove sin, and this will clear the way to heaven after death.
In India there are many pilgrim locations are located. Among them, the Do-Dham and Chardham Yatra are highly popular among senior citizens. In India temples of Hindu gods are situated here and there. Four holy sites Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri are Chardham together. Vishnu is worshipped in Badrinath, while Lord Shiva is worshipped in Kedarnath. Gangotri and Yamunotri are the origins of two holy revers Ganga and Yamuna respectively. Among this four holy lands, Badrinath is the most popular, and Badrinath and Kedarnath together are called do-dham.
Kedarnath is another name of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is worshipped in Kedarnath temple. The temple is opened for normal people in the months from April to November due to extreme weather conditions. People have to walk 22 kilometres through uneven, sacred paths.
According to some Hindu myths it is heard Pandavas made this temple to worship lord Shiva after the Kurukshetra war to beg forgiveness. And it is also heard that where the temple is built, Lord Shiva released the holy water from his matted hair. And that is the river Ganga. This belief attracts thousands of Hindu pilgrims every year.
Vishnudeb is worshipped in Badrinath temple. The temple is sitting in town Badrinath, in Uttarakhand, on the banks of Alakananda River. The Badrinath temple is also opened for tourists or pilgrims to November, from April. Having 1060000 visits, Badrinath holds the most visited Pilgrimage location. Though there is no history about this temple, the mythological story says that Vishnudeb once sat here to meditate unknowing about the cold weather. And later his peer saved him in form of Indian date tree (Badri tree). Being pleased, Vishnudeb named the place as ‘Badrika Ashram’. May be that’s why the name of the location is Badrinath.
In addition to these reasons, devotees also think the harder they go to visit god, the more virtue they will gain. That is why, being an uneven and remote area, Do-dham is the most popular pilgrimage.
If you are starting Do-dham Yatra for the first time, this is how you can set your pilgrimage trip-
1st day: Haridwar to Rishikesh:
After reaching Haridwar, check in your hotel first. Then you can bath in hotel or take a dip in holy Ganga before lunch. After lunch you can take rest and start towards Rishikesh. In Rishikesh you can see the spots like Ram jhula, Nilkanta Mahadeb Mandir etc. In the evening get back to your hotel and get to sleep quickly after dinner.
2nd day: Haridwar to Guptakashi:
In the early morning after tea, check out from hotel and get in on your car and start for Guptakashi. It covers 205 km approximately and will take almost 8 hrs. Have lunch somewhere on the route. Check in your hotel in Guptakashi and take rest in hotel to overcome the tiredness of journey. In the morning go to Gourikund. It is a trekking point and there is a temple built to dedicate Gauri. Take a bath in the hot spring as the others do. This is the place where Goddess Parvati sat on meditation to gain Lord Shiva. Syanchatt Y is a scenic spot on the banks of the river Yamuna for traveling on the route to Yamunotri. Spend some time here. At the end of the day get back to your hotel.
3rd day: Guptakashi to Kedarnath:
In the morning start for Kedarnath, 18 km trekking. You can hire mules, litter or helicopter. On the route there has arrangements for lunch. So, don’t need to carry with. Reaching Kedarnath stat overnight in your hotel. There has a dome or samadhi of Adi Shankaracharya behind the 1000 years old Kedarnath temple.
4th day: Kedarnath to Gourikund-Rudraprayag:
After the visiting and worshipping, proceed towards Gourikund and have lunch there. Then start for Rudraprayag. Stay in Rudraprayag overnight. In the name of Lord Shiva, there is a magnificent view of Kedarnath Dham and Badrinath Dham along with the Mandakini River originating from the Alkananda River. The confluence has a huge religious significance and thousands of pilgrims come to take a holy dip.
5th day: Rudraprayag to Badrinath:
At 08:00 am, you check out the hotel and leave for Badrinath via Joshimath. Will cover 165 km and can take 6 to 7 hrs. . Check in to your hotel. Visit the Badrinath Temple in the evening, before that take a rest or walk the area. You have to go to the Tapt Kund (hot spring), take a bath and then you have to go to the temple. Later back to the hotel. Have dinner and stay overnight in the hotel.
6th day: Badrinath to Rishikesh:
In the morning have breakfast and get ready to go back to Rishikesh. Distance have to cover 300 km almost and will consume a minimum 9 hours. On the way to Rishikesh, have your lunch. In the evening you will reach your hotel in Rishikesh. Take rest, have dinner and sleep.
7th Day: return from Rishikesh:
In the morning check out hotel and get back to Delhi or get back to Haridwar for train.