Pilgrimage Tour of India- Amarnath, Badrinath, and Kedarnath

Amarnath-Cave temple of Shiva

One of the most famous shrines in Hinduism, dedicated to the god Shiva, located in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The shrine is claimed to be over 5,000 years old and forms an important part of ancient Hindu mythology. Inside the main Anarnath cave lies an ice stalagmite resembling the Shiva Linga, which waxes during May to August and gradually wanes thereafter. This lingam is said to grow and shrink with the phases of the moon, reaching its height during the summer festival. According to Hindu mythology, this is the cave where Shiva explained the secret of life and eternity to his divine consort Parvati. There are two other ice formations representing Parvati and Shiva's son, Ganesha.

Amarnath

Badrinath Temple

The holy Dhama temple of Badrinath, far north from Rameshvaram's seaside location, is in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in the Uttarkhand region of the Himalaya mountains. Perched above the Alaknanda River, a headstream of the Ganges, the temple's elevation is 10,248 feet (3050meters). Because of the extreme cold of the high mountain winter the shrine is only open in the summer months. When the first snows fall the sacred statue of Vishnu (seated in the Yogic padmasana pose) is clothed in a thick woolen blanket, the temple is closed and locked, and the priests move down the mountain to the town of Joshimath for the winter. Badrinath has been a well known pilgrimage site for over 2000 years and the Buddhist architectural influence in the shrine shows that Badrinath has also been venerated by Buddhists since very early times. Immediately adjacent to the shrine is the hot spring pool of Taptakund in which pilgrims take a dip before worshipping Sri Badrinatha.

Town Complex and Temple of Badrinath

tweek way from gurikund to kedarnath temple

Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the Hindus. It is set amidst the stunning mountainscape of the Garhwal Himalayas at the head of the Mandakini River. The shrine of Kedarnath is very scenically placed, and is surrounded by lofty, snow - covered mountains, and grassy meadows covering the valleys. Immediately behind the temple, is the 7000 mts high Keadardome peak. The temple is situated at an altitude of 3600 mts. It is a 14 km trek from Gaurikund.

Kedar is another name of Lord Shiva, the protector & the destroyer. Shiva is considered the embodiment of all passions - love, hatred, fear, death & mysticism which are expressed through his various forms. This temple, over a thousand years old is built of massive stone slabs over a large rectangular platform. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard.