“See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories. Ask for no guarantees, ask for no security…” said Ray Bradbury. So this long weekend, plan a religious visit to one of the most breath taking destinations in India – Badrinath and Kedarnath in the state of Uttarakhand.
Travelling for the purpose of religion, often referred to as ‘religious tourism’ is one of the strongest forms of travel in our country. Numerous people, of all age groups, undertake a religious trip atleast once (if not more) in a year. Given India’s rich inheritance of temples and other places of worship, one is truly spoilt for choice here. In such a scenario, the twin holy destinations of Badrinath and Kedarnath are often a prominent feature on many people’s list.
An integral part of the famous ‘Char-Dham’ yatra, the twin-cities of Badrinath and Kedarnath in the state of Uttarakhand receives millions of tourists each year, who swarm the place in hope to catch a glimpse of the divine power. In the last few years, infrastructure at both the places have improved manifold, with smooth roads, helicopter services, plush hotels and luxury camps, all ensuring that the tourist has a soulful and comfortable experience.
Legend has it that Adi Shankaracharya found the idol of Lord Badri in the Alaknanda River and put it up in a cave near the Tapt Kund. Later, in the 16th century, a Garhwal King got the temple erected, which over the years, has been renovated many times as a result of natural calamities. Sandwiched between Nar and Narayan peaks, the beauty of Badrinath Dham is further enhanced with the glorious background of Neelkanth peak.
The temple of Kedarnath, situated at a distance of 40 km from Badrinath in the Rudraprayag District of Uttarakhand, has been recently made more popular amongst the youth basis on a movie made on it. It is believed that the temple of Kedarnath was built by Pandavas and that Adi Shankaracharya got the present structure constructed in the 8th century adjacent to the old temple site. The grey stone structure is an architectural marvel because of its imposing design and its ability to survive for so many centuries in such a harsh terrain.
