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Kailash Mansarover Yatra
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| KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA |
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Kailash :
Mt. Kailash Asia's most sacred mountain , familiar to Hindus as Kailash Parvat, stands in a remote corner of Western Tibet, isolated by rugged terrain from all but a handful of outsiders, Its reputation is near legendary to pilgrims of four religions, Hindus, Buddhist, Jain and Bonpo- the ancient religion of Tibet. This 22028 foot rock pyramid is the throne of the gods and is revered by the followers of these religions as the holy place where the divine takes earthly form. For well over a thousand years, pilgrims have homage here to pay homage to the mountain's mystery. Circumambulating it is an ancient ritual of devotion that continues to this day.
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Here at Kailash the mystic image of Meru, the great mountain at the center of the universe, has come to rest, Rooted in the seventh hell, Piercing through to the highest heaven, Mount Meru is at the heart of Asian religious cosmography . It is the central pivot around which the whole of creation revolves , the world Pillar and the first of Mountains.
As an arch type of the divine centre, Meru rises in the realm invisible to mortal eyes. Man's urge to fix his ideals in solid form drew Meru to Earth, imposing its divinity on the snow peak of Kailash . To the pilgrims who walk the thirty-two mile path about it, Kailash is Meru embodied in ice and stone, an a single circuit erases the sins of a life time. Their faith proclaims that not just the mountain's ice capped summit but the entire region is the abode of the gods : a holy land made doubly sacrosanct by the presence of nearby lake Mansarover, fifteen mile wide circle of deepest blue which is among man's most ancient holy sites.
The lake and Mountain are the crowning jewels of a magical land of pure lights and intense colours born in the rarefied atmosphere of 15000 ft. The stark windswept plains, the luminous intensity of the sky and the ranks of immense snow-covered giants guarding the region are a fitting back drop for the dazzling purity of Kailash. Upon the sublime natural landscape are placed the rocic calms and fluttering faith. Every step of the sacred routes encircling Kailash and Mansarovar has its own legend, every rock, hill and spring its own good : an outpouring of myth and belief which confirms by its very abundance the presence of the sacred.
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Vaishnodevi
Even though the holy shrine of Vaishnodevi is 61 km from Jammu, the aura and the influence of the goddess can be seen and felt as soon as one lands at Jammu. If any sign-posts are needed, they are provided by the profusion of images and the greeting ' Jai Mata Di' (Hail, Holy Mother). The greeting turns into a chorus with thousands of devotee pilgrims shouting it most enthusiastically during the 'Navratras' in March-April and September October.
The shrine is reached after a climb of 13 km from Katra. The path has been paved and all kinds of facilities like drinking water, snack-bars , viewpoints, medical aid, food and accommodation, are provided along the route.
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Katra town is totally dominated by the influence of the Goddess . The bazaars offer a colourful scene with shops overflowing with 'offerings " for the Mother. The 'musts' include coconut, 'mauli' (sacred thread), a red 'chunni' (head-scarf) with gold / silver trimmings , dry fruits, bangles, incense and vermillion powder. Other offerings include 'mehandi' (henna), 'supari' (areca nut)and 'chattar' (holy umbrella).
The atmosphere at Katra is perpetually charged with the spirit and the faith of the visitors . The town seems to exist merely to offer services and facilities to the pilgrims
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Kedarnath
Set amidst the stunning mountainscape of the Garhwal Himalayas, Kedarnath at the head of the Mandakini river, is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the devout Hindu. It is located at a height of 11742 feet, is a renowned pilgrimage site for Shiva devotees. The temple, believed to be very ancient, has been continually renovated over the centuries. According to legend, Lord Shiva wished to elude the Pandavas, and took refuge in Kedarnath. The lingam at Kedarnath, unlike its usual form is pyramidal and is regarded as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The shrine is closed on the first day of Kartik (Oct-Nov) and re-opened in Vaishakh (Apr-May). During its nine months of closure, the shrine is submerged in snow and worship is performed at Ukhimath.
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Gangotri
The closest temple to the source of the Gangas lies 10300 feet up in the small mountain village of Gangotri, half a day's climb on foot from the pilgrimage town of Rishikesh. Gaumukh, the actual source of the Gangas is , at 13858 feet, a further day's walk away , to where the Gangotri glacier joins the Bhagirathi river. Prayer flags and small shrines mark the source, and ascetics inhabit some of the nearby caves, meditating in solitude.
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Yamunotri :
Sightseeing Temple Of Goddess Yamuna
The temple was built by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur in the 19th centuruy. It was destroyed twice in the present century and rebuilt again. The temple remains closed from November to April / May.
Surya Kund
There are a number of thermal springs in the vicinity of the temple which flows into numerous pools. The most important of these is Surya Kund.
Divya Shila
A rock Pillar, worshipped before entering the Yamuotri Temple.
Excursions :
Jankichatti 5 km from Yamunotri, it is noted for its noted for its thermal springs, where tourists can enjoy a refreshing bath.
Hanumanchatti
13 km from Yamunotri . The confluence of Hanuman Ganga and Yamuna rivers, from where the trek to Dodi Tal (3307 mt)starts. Route : Rishikesh-Barkot-Hanumanchatti- Yamunotri. Porters and ponies are available at Hanukanchatti. Rates are fixed by the district Magistrate before the start of every Yatra season.
Sayanachatti
27 km from Barkot & 18 km from Yamunotri is a scenic spot on the banks of river Yamuna.
Chamba
Situated at an elevation of 1524 mt, it is a picturesque place commanding a panoramic view of the Himalayas. Road from here bifurcates for Mussoorie, New Tehri and Rishikesh.
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Haridwar :
This sacred town, 52 km from DehraDun, marks the emergence of the Ganga into the plains, piercing through te Shiwalik Range . The devout believe that this is one of the four places in India upon which the nectar of immortality, amrit, fell. It has been churned out of the formless ocean and was being carried in a kumbha - pot - when it spilt. On the zodiacal anniversary of this event , a huge religious fair, the Kumbha Mela, is held here every 12 years when hundreds of thousands of devotees bathe in the Ganga. Every six years the Ardh (half ) Kumbh is held.
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Badrinath :
Badrinath is considered the holiest of the four main shrines of Uttarakhand. The town situated on the left bank of the Alaknanda, is equidistant from the twin mountains of Nara& Narayan Parvats. Badrinath is on the itinerary of every devout Hindu. The present temple was built about two centuries ago by the kings of Garhwal. The principal idol in the temple is of black stone and represents Vishnu seated in a meditative pose, and flanked by Nare-Narayan . Badrinath is also known as Vishal Badri. The temple remains closed from October to April due to severe winter conditions.
The famous hot springs of Tapt Kund and Surya Kund are just below the temple. The sulphurous waters have a temperature of 55% centigrade . A dip , considered holy and refreshing to the body as well as the soul is a must before offering prayers to Shri Badrinathji.
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Rishikesh :
The Ganga cuts its passage through the last foothills on her journey down the mountains and enters a complex of three localities. First is the area around the spot where the famous Laxman Jhoola bridge spans the river and lends its name to the locality; then comes Muni-Ki- Reti ('sands of the Sages') where the wise ones spent time in devotion, meditation and Yoga; and then comes the expanding township on the bank of the river . The whole complex is called Rishikesh.
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Pilgrims flock to this town, 40 km from Dehra Dun, where Himalayan Ashrams, or religious retreat centres, rise in wooded slopes offering lessons in meditation , and treatment for a variety of stress induced ailments using the ancient medical techniques of Ayurveda.
Rishikesh can be visited all round the year. The winters are short and not so severe. Cottons in summer and light-to-medium woolens in winter are required.
Rishikesh : Sight Seeing
Even though all the three hundred and thirty million Hindu gods do not have temples dedicated to them in Rishikesh, it does appear as if quite a majority of gods and goddesses are worshipped here. Shiva and Vishnu have the maximum number of temples with their numerous forms represented as installed idols.
Some of the important temples in Rishikesh are :
Bharat Mandir
Reputedly the oldest temple in Rishikesh . Though some scholars believe that this temple has not been named after the loyal brother of Lord Ram, popular belief contends otherwise. The image installed here has a distinctly Himalayan cast of features. Though the temple is dedicated to Lord Maha Vishnu, it holds a number of images normally associated with the worship of Lord Shiva
Nilkanth Mahadev
This is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva drank the poison churned out of the cosmic ocean. It turned his throat blue which is why he is also called Nilakanth. The temple is located atop a hill accessed by a 10 km walk or a 32 km drive. Every Shivratri and Shravan fairs are held here.
Raghunath Mandir & Triveni Ghat
Generally regarded as the most important places for religious ceremonies in Rishikesh. It is believed that the Ganga is joined here by the Yamuna and the Saraswati Rivers. Geographically, however, the Yamuna Joins the Ganga in Allahabad and the legendary Saraswati has not been located by surveyors as yet.
The dusk Aarti on the Triveni Ghat is most impressive . Barefoot, ranks of devotees sit in rows on the steps of the Ghat. As the sun begins to set, plating the river with gold, bells and gongs ring out and chants fill the air. A row of religious priests hold plates of flaming ghee, moving them in a circular salutation to the Goddess of the river. Devotees also release flower-filled leaf boats carrying tiny oil lamps and let them float out on the river, it is a ceremony of worship, remembrance and hope.
Chandreshwar Temple
The temple standswhere the Chandrabhaga merges with the Ganga.
Someshwar Temple
Situated on Haridwar Road, this temple has been mentioned in ancient scriptures as standing amidst water. Perhaps the Ganga flowed here centuries ago. Lakshman and Shatrughan Temples are dedicated to two of Lord Rama's brothers. The present Laxman temple was raised by the then Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir - GulabSingh - in 1885.
Hanuman Mandir
Located at Maya Kund, this temple was erected in 1924 by Swami Ramdas alias Oriya Baba. It draws a large number of devotees every Tuesday - the day traditionally fixed for Hanuman worship. Another important Hanuman Temple is at Sivanandnagar.
Other important temples in Rishikesh include the Pushkar Temple, the Venkatshwara temple and the two 'modern' temples across the Ganga at Lakshman Jhoola . One of these temples is an imposing 13 -storeyed structure with many smaller temples in each storey. A temple which has come up on the right bank of Ganga has the world's biggest Shiva Lingam.
Ashrams :
Most ashrams are centres for spiritual studies which also, often , calls for physical disciplines. Some ashrams, however , are monasteries. Among the better known ashrams are :
Shivanand Ashram
Modestly started by Swami Sivanand as an ashram, it has today grown into the divine life society with branches in India and abroad. The activities of the society include studies of Vedanta and Yoga, a hospital and the production of herbal medicines.
Yoga Niketan
Once an important meditation and Raja Yoga Centre, it is now only a meditation centre.
Omkaranand Ashram
Located above the Yoga Niketan, Omkaranand Ashram is also known as the Durga Mandir. The organisation runs a school, maintains several temples and conducts classes in Sanskrit, Hindi, Music, Classical Dance and English at the Omkaranand Vishva-Kul at Muni-ki-Reti.
Swargashram
One of the oldest ashrams in Rishikesh, its founder Swami Vishudhanand was also known as the 'Kali Kamli Wala' (one with the black blanket) . Today the Kali Kamliwala Kshetra is a mammoth organisation embracing many activities.
Geeta Bhavan
Founded in early 1950s, it runs a free Ayurvedic Dispensary and has a branch of the Gita Press, Gorakhpur. There are several hundred rooms for visiting pilgrims. Foreigners. are not accommodated in the Ashram.
Parmarth Niketan
Across the Ramjhoola Bridge stands the mammoth Parmarth Niketan Ashram. The ashram has hundreds of rooms. It conducts many religious programmes. Foreigners can stay only with special permission.
Other important ashrams include : Vanprastha Ashram, Ved Niketan, Dayanand Vedanta Ashram, Vanmali Gita Yogashram, Shankaracharya Nagar Transcendental Meditation Centre, Vithal Ashram and Yoga study Centre.
Rishikesh is an extremely important Yoga Centre with many institutions. Most hotels will arrange for Yoga instruction. There is a great amount of scenic beauty around Rishikesh with the Ganga glowing through many impressive gorges and the picturesque bridges at Lakshman Jhoola and Ramjhoola . One can have many interesting walks on both the banks of the River Ganga. There are many suitable points where one can sit in peace and relax or meditate in solitude.
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Mathura
Mathura, on the west bank of river Yamuna, is associated with the most revered of Hindu Gods - Lord Krishna. The surroundings, popularly known as "Brij Bhoomi", is where Lord Krishna is supposed to have grown up. Stone sculptures of Buddha and Vishnu are housed in various museums both within and outside the country. The Mathura Buddha figures are noted for their beautifully carved halos with rings of floral designs.
Mathura : Sight Seeing--
Shri Krishna Janmasthana
Shri Krishna Janmasthana, behind the Deeg Gate, is believed to be the birth place of Lord Krishna
Vishram Ghat
Vishram Ghat , on the banks of the Yamuna, is believed to be the place where Lord Krishna rested after killing Kansa.
Kansa's Fort :
Kansa's Fort, royal abode of King Kansa.
State Museum :
The Mathura Museum, near the Dampier Park Telecom Centre , houses historical sculptures from 400 B.C.to 1200 AD.
Geeta Mandir :
Geeta Mandir , on the Mathura-Vrindavan Road, 3 km from Mathura , houses a beautiful statue of Krishna and a chariot with Arjuna and Krishna, made of red sandstone. The Geeta is inscribed on the walls.
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Ayodhya
Only six km from Faizabad, Ayodhya is one of Hinduism's seven holy cities (the others being Dwarka, Haridwar, Varanasi, Mathura, Ujjain,and Kanchipuram) ,and is a popular pilgrimage place. Its connected with many events in the Ramayana (including the birth of Rama) , and has been very much in the news since 1990 on account of the 'temple mosque' dispute. It's a small and interesting town which sees few foreigners.
Sightseeing : Ayodhya
Other Temples : The Hanumangadhi (dedicated to Hanuman) is another major temple in Ayodhya. It was built within the thick white walls of the fortress and there are good views from the ramparts. There's also the Kanak Mandir (built by the Maharaja of Tikamgarh last century) and a ghat; the town is on the Gogra (Ghaghara ) River. There are over 100 other temples in Ayodhya , many open to non -Hindus.
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Sarnath
At a distance of 12 km from Varanasi lies Sarnath where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment. Here he revealed the eight-fold path, the Buddhist doctrine. Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, lived in Varanasi, as did the poet Kabir.
Allahabad : (Prayag)
This festival alternates between Haridwar, Ujjain, Nasik and Allahabad where , in 1989 over 15,000,000 pilgrims came to be cleansed . Allahabad is also known as Prayag ("place of Sacrifice") , because Brahma is said to have performed a sacrifice there. Its importance as a great pilgrimage site derives from its situation at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers and the mythical river Sarasvati, which is supposed to flow invisibly into the Ganges from its sacred underground course
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Varanasi
Varanasi is a city that cannot be described , only experienced . Sunrise on the river-front, as seen from a boat, can be a spiritually uplifting sight. Crowded with temples, and its labyrinth of streets thronged by the curious and the devout, the city today attracts one of the largest tourist crowds - domestic as well as international. Though Varanasi retains its heritage, the city is slowly moving. New markets, commercial complexes and modern hotels make it a melting pot of both.
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The religious capital of Hinduism since times immemorial , Varanasi is probably the oldest living city in India, and one of the world's most ancient. It was previously known as Kashi-the city that illuminates . The present name is probably derived from the fact that the city is situated at the confluence of the rivers Varuna and Asi.
As a place of devotion and worship, with hundreds of temples dotting the city, Varanasi attracts thousands of pilgrims every year. Many Hindus in the latter part of their lives wish to spend their retirement here.
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Ujjain
Ujjain is situated on the right bank of river Shipra. It is a very holy city for the Hindus, a site for the triennial Kumbh Mela. According to Hindu scriptures, it was originally called Avantika. There is an interesting tale behind the sanctity of the city. It's origin is ascribed to the mythological legend of Sagar Manthan (churning of the primordial ocean to discover the pot of nectar). The story goes that after the nectar was discovered , there was a chase between the gods and the demons to have the nectar first and thus attain immortality. During this chase a drop of nectar spilled and fell on Ujjain, thus making the city sacred.
Apart from mythological legends , the city has a long and distinguished history. It was governed by the likes of Vikramaditya and Ashoka. Kalidas wrote his soul stirring poetry here. Today, Ujain represents an interesting blend of an age old legacy and the modern day lifestyle.
Dwarka
Dwarka situated 145 kms . from Jamnagar,is one of India's seven sacred cities, a visit to which for the Hindu denotes eternal happiness. These are Ayodhya , Benaras, Mathura, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Ujjain and Dwaravati, nowadays known as Dwarka. Dvara means door and Dwarika means a small gateway or doorway.
The other places of interest in / around Dwarka are Hanuman Tank, Sun Temple at Vasai, the ancient Maitraka capital called Kankavati, the museum of Sharadpith Math, the Mahadev temple at Nageshwar, the Ved Bhavan , Shri Jagatguru Shankaracharya Math (Hindu Monastic establishment founded in 8th century by the revered teacher Shankaracharya). Archaeological excavations show that present day Dwarka is the 6th city on this site, the earlier five having been submerged in the sea. The inner sanctum of the main Dwarkadish Temple - known as the Nij Mandir - dates back 2500 years. The 5 storey temple is supported on 60 columns and is crowned by a soaring elaborately carved spire.
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Puri
Whenever you approach the Orissan coast through its hinterland of lush green palm groves and paddy fields, it's hard not to feel a sense of expectation . Never is this more true than upon arrival at Puri - the state's premier temple town and tourist resort. As the site of the famous Jagannath temple - which soars out of the narrow packed streets and colonial suburbs like some kind of misplaced space rocket - as well as the location of one of India's most spectacular religious festivals, the annual Rath Yatra, Puri has been attracting visitors in their thousands.
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Kanchipuram
Established by the Pallava kings in the fourth century AD, Kanchipuram served as their capital for five hundred years, and continued toflourish throughout the Chola, Pandya and Vijayanagar eras. Under the Pallavas, it was an important scholastic forum, and a meeting point for Jain, Buddhist and Hindu cultures; today Hindu temples alone dominate the town, spanning the years from the peak of Pallava construction to the seventeenth century, when the ornamentation of the gopuras and pillared halls was at its most elaborate. All can be easily reached by foot, bike or rickshaws, and all close between noon and 4 pm. You'll be offered a panoply of services - from sanctuary priests, shoe bearers, guides , women giving out food for fish in the temple tanks, and well -trained temple elephants that bless you with their trunks - so be prepared with a pocketful of change . Always animated, they really come alive during major festivals such as the car Festival (May) and Navaratri (Oct/Nov).
Ekambareshvara Temple
Kanchipuram's largest temple and most important Shiva shrine, the Ekambareshvara temple also known as Ekambaranatha is easily identified by its colossal white washed gopuras, which rise almost 60 m north of town. The main temple contains some Pallava work, but was mostly constructed between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and stands within a vast walled enclosure beside some smaller shrines and a large fish-filled water tank.
Entrance , through a high arched passageway beneath an elaborate gopura in the south wall, leads to an open courtyard and a majestic " thousand pillared hall' , kalyan madapa, whose slightly decaying grey stone columns are modeled as nubile maidens, animals and deities. This hall faces the tank in the north and the sanctuary in the west that protects the emblem of Shiva , an "earth" lingam that is one of five linga in Tamil Nadu that represent the elements. Legend connects it with the goddess Kamakshi ,who angered Shiva by playfully covering his eyes and plunging the world into darkness. Shiva reprimanded her by sending her to fashion a lingam from the earth in his honour; once it was completed , Kamakshi found she could not move it. Local myths tell of a great flood that swept over Kanchipuram and destroyed the temples, but did not move the lingam, to which Kamakshi clung so fiercely that marks of her breasts and bangles were imprinted upon it.
Behind the sanctum, accessible from the covered hallway around it, an eerie bare hall lies beneath another profusely carved gopura, and in the courtyard a venerable mango tree represents the tree under which Shiva and Kamakshi were married . This union is celebrated during a festival each April, when many couples are married in the kalyan mandapa.
The somewhat neglected twelfth century Javaraheshvari temple, in leafy gardens to the south, is the only Chola structure in Kanchipuram not to have been modified and overshadowed by later buildings. Unlike the Pallava constructions , it is built of hard grey stone; its sculpted pyramidal roof is an early form of the gopuras used extensively by the Pandyas.
Kailasanatha Temple
The Kailasanatha temple, the oldest structure in Kanchipuram and the finest example of Pallava architecture in south India, is situated among several low-roofed houses just over 1km west of the town centre. Built by the Pallava king Rajasimha early in the eighth century, its intimate size and simple carving distinguish it from the town's later temples. Usually quieter than its neighbors , it becomes the focus of vigorous celebrations during the Mahashivratri festival each March. Like the contemporaneous Shore temple at Mamallapuram, it is built of soft sandstone, but its sheltered position has spared it from wind and sand erosion, and it remains remarkably intact.
Topped with a modest pyramidal spire, the small temple stands within a rectangular courtyard, enclosed by a wall in laid with tiny meditation chambers and sculpted with images of Shiva, Parvati and their sons, as well as rearing mythical lions . On the south side of the spire Shiva is depicted as a begging ascetic ; on the north he's in the pose of the dance of destruction. Walls in the dim interior bear traces of frescoes , and the ceilings are etched with religious verses written in Pali. The sanctum ( inaccessible to non-Hindus) shelters a sturdy sixteen -sided black lingam, guarded by elephant headed Ganesh and Shiva's other son, Skanda, the god of war, with whom the king Rajasimha was closely associated. Double walls were built round the sanctuary to support the weighty tower above; the passage between them is used as a circumambulatory path as part of the ritual worship of Shiva.
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Rameswaram
Rameswaram is an island hallowed by the epic Ramayana . A devotee who visits Varanasi is also expected to visit this place in order to gain the full fruit of his prayers. Legend has it that Sri Rama sent Hanuman to Mount Kailash to bring a lingam for worship, when he set foot here after defeating Ravana . As Hanuman had not returned when the auspicious hour was approaching, Sita made a sand lingam so that the worship could be performed in time . This place therefore , is sacred to both Shaivites and Vaishnavites. Rameswaram is also one of the major marine food centres in the south, with much of its fish and Prawn catch being exported. An Indo-Norwegian fisheries project is functioning at Mandapam for the development of the fishing industry. Mandapam also has a pearl culture project run by the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation from where pearls can be purchased. It is 173 km from Madurai.
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Sightseeing : Rameswaram
Ramanatha Swamy Temple
The present Ramanatha Swamy Temple is close to the sea on the eastern side of the island, famous for its magnificent corridors and the massive sculptured pillars lining them. It is also one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines.
Gandhamadana Parvatam
This stepped mandapam, about a mile and a half west of Rameswaram temple, offers an excellent view of the countryside. There is a footprint, believed to be of Lord Rama in this shrine.
The Perumal Temple
The Perumal Temple in Ramanathapuram is about 55 km from Rameswaram. The temple is commonly visited by the Vaishnavites.
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