Panch Badri, Panch Kedar, Panch Prayag in Uttarakhand

Route to Panch Kedar, Panch Badri and Panch Prayag.

Uttarakhand is famous for its pilgrimage. Every place is a Teerth Sacred Place).


Panch Badri - Five temples of Lord Vishnu
Badrinath
YogdhyanBadri
Bhavishya Badri
Vridha Badri
Adi Badri



Panch Kedar - Five temples of Lord Shiva
Kedarnath
Madhmaheshwar
Tungnath
Rudranath
Kalpanath

Panch Prayag - Five convluences of River Ganga.
Vishnuprayag
Nandprayag
Karnaprayag
Rudraprayag
Devprayag

TungNath-Arms of Shiva

Tungnath is situated 13072 ft by the sea level. This temple is the highest Shiva temple of Uttaranchal. This pilgrim place is attractive tourist place. Although this place is on high altitude but it is early and easily accessible, any one can reach here; age and health is not a big hurdle. There is a legend behind this temple is that after Mahabharata battle Pandavas were searching Lord Shiva to get rid of the sin of killing their brothers but lord Shiva didn’t want to meet them. Once Pandavas reach Kedarnath in search of Lord Shiva by seeing them lord Shiva Incarnated himself as bull, but Bhima recognized him and tried to catch him but Shiva refuge himself underground and later his body parts appeared in different places. Head to Pashupatinath, hump to Kedarnath, Arms to Tungnath, face to Rudranath and hair lock to Kalpnath. ungnath trek route is approximately 4km start from
Chopta (Gopeshwar-Ukhimath road).This trek route is occupied with dense forest. Tungnath is 50 feet high Ancient temple.There is Shiva's ling which is 1 feet tall and slightly bent to the North known as arm of Shiva. Along with Lingam there is idol of Veda Vyas, Adishankracharya and Kal bhairav.when we straight climb about one and half km far from the temple there is hill top called Chandrashila this is known as meditation place of Chandra (moon).Beside to Tungnath there is a mount which is smaller than this is called Ravan Shilla, it is believed that Ravana devouted here. Tourist while climbing pile up the small stone in shape of small temple to regard their ancestors. From here one can see Wide range of the Himalayas.Chaukhamba(25000 foot)look near and touchable.There is proper facility for accomodation in chopta and Tungnath.G.M. V. N. has made some small lodges which looks realy beautiful.tourist who visit here go with sweet memories.

Uttaranchali Gods

Till my college years I have been in Uttarakhand and visited lot of places on various ocassions. Religion is in blood of uttaranchalis as they are in Devbhoomi. They worship different gods, trying to gather information on them and some of them are listed below..

Khetrapal


Narsingh


Sidhwa


Vidhwa

Vandev


Jakh

Naag

Aidi

Aanchari

Bhumyal

Bhairon

Chandi Maata
I will keep adding more as and when I will have more information. Request the Uttaranchali visitors to provide information/tales/stories on these if they know any.

Rudranath-Face of Shiva

Among the five Panchkedar Rudranath is the fourth Shrine. First shrine is Kedarnath (11,785 ft), second Madmaheshwar (11,474ft), third is Tungnath (12,074), fourth is Rudranath, and the fifth one is Kalpnath (6000ft).These places associated with many myths and have their own story. There is a legend that in these places different body parts of the Lord Shiva appeared. There are two routes for Rudranath one is from Joshimath which is 45 Km trek route, and other is from village Sagar. Sagar is a small Village, 4km from Gopeshwar; from where 20 km trek route leads to Rudranath (11670ft). Starting 10 km is adventurous. Thick woods full of flora and founa, river, lakes, streams and orchid are attractive. After 10km woods change into meadows and it look like green sheet with full of flowers. There are hundred of flower varieties which you could not see to other place. These flowers blooms in the month of May June and shed in the month October. This beautiful place is known as Panar (10000ft). After 10 km passing by Narad Kund and dharmshalas, one reach to temple Rudranath. Here is the oldest stone statue of Lord Shiva, in which he is sitting with a tilt neck. No one can define the beauty of Rudranath. Near the temple there is a River Vaitarn i-The 'Water of Salvation' and also number of holy kunds Name Suryakunda, Chandrakund, and Tarakund etc. From here magnificent view of Hathi parvat, Nandadevi, Trishul and others is visible. There is a small lodge on the way of temple. Tourist can stay, there or they have to arrange tents for accommodation and eatables by themselves. Heavy woolen clothes, Sleeping bag, Torch, medicines are the things one must have. September and October are the best season to travel here.

Recently I have been to Ruch (Ruchh) with my family. This was one of the best trips I had during my visits to various temples in Garhwal region. Ruchh is approximately 5 Kilometers from Kaalimath and Kaalimath is approximately 7 Kms from Guptakashi. Frequent shared Jeeps/Taxis are available on this route. Once you reach Kotma, you need to go down in the valley for 1 Kms.
Here is a temple of Maa kotimaheshwari and there is a rock which is symbolical of the god Mahadev right in the middle of the river. This is said to be only Linga in the world which is surrounded by water.
Here two rivers madhuganga and saraswati meet. you have to go down in the river water and walk on some stones to reach "ruch mahadev" linga.
Ruchh is not visited by too many visitors, only a few visitors visit this place.
There is a small Jharna nere by, where Parvati said to bath when she spent her childhood here.