badrikedar

Khatling Glacier

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 03:51:11 +0000

Situated in Tehri district, Khatling is one of the beautiful glaciers of Himalayas which provide excellent opportunities for trekkers. Surrounded by Jogin group (6905m) and Sphetic priteshwar (6905) this glacier is between two Morains. Sphetic priteshwar is a shiny mountain made of granite in which snow slide easily. Barte Kauter (6579 m), Kirti Stambh and Meru are some peaks which are visible from Khatling glacier. Khatling glacier look like a hanging because of morains.There is a river name Bheelangana which comes from khatling glacier. There is a myth behind the Bheelangana river that one young lady of bheel tribe did meditation to impress Lord Shiva but when she got rejection from Lord with due to shame she starts melting and she become Bheelangana river.

The treck starts from Ghuttu which is almost 47km long. There are many small villages on the way of treck which are situated on the bank of river with thick kharsao forest, wide open lush green meadows and small streams which makes trek attractive. Native are far from the morden culture. Gangi is the last village of trek.

The routes for the trek is

Ghuttu to Reeh- 10 km

Reeh to Gangi – 10 km

Gangi via kalyani to Bhetbagi – 18 km

Bhelbagi via Khatling – 7 km

GMVN provides information and provide facilities for trekking camp, There are also many private travel agencies which run trekking camp and equipments. The required equipment and personal kit for the trekking are-

Woollen clothes- sweaters,jackets, cap, socks etc

Windcheaters

Raincoats

Torch

Water bottels

First aid kit

Sleeping bags

Tents

Accessibility :
Air :-Nearest Airport is Jolly Grant 18 Kms.

Rail-Nearest Rail head is Rishikesh. 24 km is Haridwar and 45km Dehradun Road-Well connected by motorable road, from Haridwar-24 km , Dehradun 45 km and New Delhi 225 km

Some Uttaranchali Dishes

admin — Sat, 08 May 2010 06:19:15 +0000

Since long I was thinking to write about the traditional uttaranchali dishes I know and I have eaten long back, as of now I am just writing the names of some of them and will continue to add on this list. Once the list is good enough I will write the recipes as well, also I request if anyone of the readers/fellow uttaranchali knows any dish and want to share the recipe, please drop in an email and I will include for sure.

1. Chanseru – (Kadi)
2. Palyo
3. Jhoi
4. Thinchwani
5. Rethu
6. Relu
7. Remori
6. Doodh Bhat
8. Lapsi
9. Bhatwani
10. Gathwani
11. Kafulu
12. Baadi
13.

Some Deserts
1. Gulgula
2. Arsa
3.

More coming soon.

Badrinath Kapats are opening in May

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 11:00:48 +0000

Badrinath Kapats will be opening on 19 May 2010.

Kedarnath Kapats will open on 17th May 2010.

Gangotri and Yamunotri kapats will open on 15th May 2010.

All this is done to give the pilgrims convenience to visit all the four places / temples same time.

Rest information coming soon.

Urgam valley-Uttarakhand’s pristine beauty

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:30:49 +0000

Uttarakhand is blessed with pristine beauty and the valley of Urgam is one the example. Situated in 2134mts Urgam valley is situated in Chamoli district, near Joshimath. Main station for Urgam valley is Helang, the connectivity to helang is motorable via Rishikesh, Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karanprayag, Nandprayag, Pipalkoti. From Helang the trek route starts, here the small tracker and small vehical can run upto salna village. For treck it is 9 km and could take 3-4 hours. There is thick forest full of flora and fauna. There is Zigzag trek all the way down to the valley. Salna is the first village you reach, next is Lyari where you found Panch Dhara (five small stream), after is Dhyan Badri (one of the panch badri). There are many small ancient temple in Urgam Valley mostly founded by Adi Guru Shankracharya.There are guest houses in Devgram village where tourist can stay.
Urgam is lush green valley with fascinating picturesque. Urgam valley is famous for Kalpnath( one of the Panch kedar), its apple orchard, terrance field, Rajma (kidney beans), and potatoes.
Urgam valley is full of resources and natives are laborious and hospitable. Where in most of the villagers of uttakhands are moving to cities for employment, the villagers of urgams hardly go out for earning. Bee farming, sheep farming and basket making are also other proffesion of earning.
There are many places in Urgam village to see like Urvarishi ashram by which the Urgam valley named, is a small Lord Shiv temple and is a small hut of sage Urvarishi in Bansa village.it is on the trek of 3km. Other place is to see is Phoolya narayan, here it is a temple of lord Vishnu it is believed that there is a rock idol of lord Vishnu which is believed to be as lighter as flower and a small temple of Nanda devi. It is the best place for meditation and many sages came here for meditation. Bansi narayan is a thrilling trek route which is 10km from Devgram village. Bansi Narayan is a temple of Krishna and as by local people Lord Krishna play here Raas leela with their friends and who trust in Krishna unconditionly can hears the voice of bansi (flute). There is also small ancient temple founded by Adi guru Shankracharya like copy of Kashi Vishwanath, copy of Badrinath temple.
Other places near to Urgam valley are Badrinath, Atri muni ashram, Adi badri and many more.
To reach Urgam valley nearest Airport is Jolly grant, Dehradun. Nearest Rail head is Rishiesh-Dehradun. Motorable roads is well connected to Helang.

Asan Berrage-Dehradun

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:22:18 +0000

Asan barrage is located 40 km west of Dehradun o the Shimla highway, at the altitude of 790mt.It is on the confluence of Asan and Yamuna River.It was created on 1967.
Asan Barraj is a water resorts which attracts the tourist for still water sports and birdwatching . The surrounding of the Asan Lake is peaceful and tourist can come here to relax. The climate of Asan barraj is moderate.
Asan barraj is getting famous for still water sports and bird watching. Tourist can enjoy water skiing, boating, kayaking, canoeing etc. It is a very good picnic spot to enjoy whole day. In the winter season various birds migrate here from different place to dwell, one can see mallard, red crested pochard, gadwall, brahminy duck, pintail, common pochard, wigeon , coot, tufted duck, common teal, shoveller between Octobers to March.
Asan barrage is well connected by motor roads, and nearest railhaid is Poata sahib.

Govind Wild life in Uttarakhand

admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:58:52 +0000

Govind wild life sanctuary is situated in the altitude ranges between 1300mt to 6315mt, in the beautiful place Purola of the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. It is established in the year 1955, covering the area of 953sq. kms. This sanctuary has dense forest rich in flora and fauna. The area has some of the medical plants, which are the important lives saving drugs. It is a natural habitant of a lot of endangered animals. In the Eight year Plan Snow leopard is signifies as the most endangered animal which inhabits the Govind national park.
There are fifteen type of species of mammals and 150 species of birds. The important mammals are Bharal, Black Bear, Brown Bear, Common Leopard, Himalayan Thar, Musk Deer, Serow and Snow Leopard.
The endangered birds found in the area are Bearded Vulture, Black Eagle, Himalayan Snow Cock, Golden Eagle, Monal Pheasant, Koklas Pheasant, Steppe Eagle and Western Tragopan. Other important bird found here are Buntings, Bulbuls, Cuckoos, Finches, Minivets, Owls, Pigeons, Parakeets, Thrushes, Tits and Warblers.
Nearby tourist destinations of Govind wildlife sanctuary are Har-ki-Doon, Ruinsara Tal, Deokyara, Kedarkantha and Bhratsar .Swargarohini, Black Peak and Banderpunch are the important peaks in the area.
Temperature in summer temperature ranges 15 degree Celsius. to 25 degree Celsius. Winters are harsh. Heavy rainfall during Mansoon.
Best season to visit is March to June and September to November.
Nearest Airport is Jolly grant, Dehradun, Railway station is Dehradun –Rishikesh. Uttarkashi is well connected with motorable roads.

Corbett National Park-Uttarakhand

admin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:08:57 +0000

Uttarakand has been famous for tigers and leoporard. Dense forest of Himalaya was full of wild animal especially tigers and bird. To protect these species Jim Corbett national parks had been established
Jim Corbett national park is the India’s first National park spreading over 534 square kilometer on the altitude of 1214mt. It established in the year 1935 by the name Haili National park but changed in the year 1957 as Jim Corbet National Park in the memory of hunter Jim Corbet. He was nature lover and he author of the books ‘Man eater of Kumaun’ and “Man eater of Rudraprayag”. He killed many man-eater tigers.
The park is the 30km to Ramnagar .Animals which can be spotted are Elephants, Tiger, Leopard, Chital, Sambher, Bear, Dear, Kaker , Wild dog, Neelgai, Wolf, fox etc One have to stay whole day to spot animals. Dear and Pig can be seen easily.
Corbet national park is a paradise for bird watcher, around 600 species of bird found here.the birds which can be spotted are Kingfisher, Eagle, Peacock Himalayan Greyheaded Fishing Eagle, Cinerous Vulture, Crested Serpent Eagle, Kestrel, Black Partridge, Kaleej Pheasant, Red Junglefowl, Common Peafowl, Redwattled Lapwing, Spurwinged Lapwing, Pintailed Green Pigeon, Blue Rock Pigeon,Turtle Dove, Rufous Turtle Dove, Indian Ring Dove, Spotted Dove, Emerald Dove, Alexandrine Parakeet, Roseringed Parakeet, lossomheaded Parakeet, Common Hawk, Himalayan Pied Kingfisher, Lesser Pied Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Storkbilled Kingfisher, Whitebreasted Kingfisher, Chestnutheaded Beeater, Bluetailed Beeater, Green Beeater, Indian Roller, Broadbilled Roller, Hoopoe, Common Grey Hornbill, Indian Pied Hornbill, Great Pied Hornbill, Great Hill Barbet, Lineated Barbet, Bluethroated Barbet, Crimsonbreasted Barbet, Blacknaped Green Woodpecker, Lesser Goldenbacked Woodpecker.
Along the Ramganga River shores, one can spot the long-snouted, fish-eating Gharial Crocodile and the ‘Mugger’ Crocodile.
Clothing for the park should be light color.
Best time to visit is November to June. For Bird Watching November to March is the best season. Park usually closed for Mansoon season.The temperature in summer is 46°C 19°C & winter is 25°C 4°C.

Phooldai Sankrant

admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:56:20 +0000

Phooldai Sankrant is one of the local festivals celebrated in Garhwal-Kumaun region. This festival is the sign of inviting spring season when flowers and trees starts blooming. After winters season when spring season comes it brings excitement in the people and nature. Every place looks colorful with different flowers yellow phyooli flower, red Buras flower, peach, mustard etc.
Phooldai festival is the festival of flowers; this festival is celebrated for one month. In this festival children makes their group and collect the flowers in their baskets and in the early morning they put some flowers in front of the doors of every villager by rhyming “phool Phool mai dal dai..chawal dai..”, In respect of it they get raw rice, pulses and jaggery which they keep collecting and at the end of the month they cook this food and have it with dance and celebration. This festival is the festivals of hopes and prosperity. But nowadays this people are forgetting this local festival with mordenisation and celerated in limited places.

Kumbh Mela

admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:09:52 +0000

The word Kumbh means Pot. Kumbh Mela is one of the biggest sacred fair of Hindu religion. Kumbh Mela has its religious importance. Kumbh Mela takes place after every 12 year when the planet Vrahaspati (Jupiter) enters Kumbh (aquarian) and Surya enters Mesh Rashi by Hindu mythology. This fair is celebrated in one of these four places.
Haridwar (Uttarakhand), Nasik (Maharastra), Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh).
The mythological story behind the kumbh mela is that when Amrita kalash found in Samundramanthan, Asur (demon) wanted to drink this amrit but Devtas ran round the earth and Asurs started chase them and the amrit of this pot fell at Haridwar, Nasik, Ujjain, and Allahabad. This fight remains for 12 days. So these place choses for Kumbh mela.
Saints and devotee from all over the country comes to take part in the celebration. They take bath in the holy water. It is believed that bathing in the holy water of Ganga in the mela cures all sin and evils.

PANCH BADRI

admin — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:31:34 +0000

Panch Badris are the place in which Lord Vishnu is worshiped to give him honour. There is a legend that one day Narad Muni was passing one the way of Lord Vishnu he saw that Lord Vishnu was reclining on the Shesh Shaiya, and Godess Laxmi was caressing his feet. By seeing the blissful scene Narad Muni reprimand Vishnu to enjoy wordly comfort. Vishnu get horrified and He sent Godess Laxmi to the Nagkanya and himself, disappeared in a thick jungle of badri (a kind of berries invisible to the mortal eyes) on the Himalyan . He meditated there for several years as a ‘Yogdyani’ posture and fed only badri (berries). When Godess Laxmi returned and started searching Lord Vishnu. She reached in Badrivan and met Lord Vishnu as Yogdhyani. She wake him up by calling the name Badrinath. She requested Lord Vishnu to leave the Yogdhyani posture and accept his Sansaric (wordly) form.Lord Vishnu agreed by three promise -

1) Badrivan will remained as the place of meditaion.
2) Lord Vishnu will be worshiped in both the Yogdhyani and Sansaric form. Devta will worship him as yogdhyani and human as Sansaric.
3) Godess Laxmi will sit on the left side in the Yogdhyani fom and Sits on right side in Sansaric form.

Panch Badri includes

1) Badrinath
2) Yogdhyan Badri
3) Bhavishya Badri
4) Vridha Badri
5) Adi Badri

Badrinath- It is one of the Char Dham of Hindu religions. It is the main shrine of Lord Vishnu as ‘Badrinath’. Situated in the altitude of 3133m between two mountains Nar and Narayan, this route is most fascinating due to its picturesque views. Badrinath temple was construted by Jagat Guru Adi Shankracharya in the eight century during his pilgrimage to the Himalaya. The main priest of the temple called ‘Rawals’ and they are from Kerala Brahmin family. It is believed that Lord Vishu revealed here to Narad rishi that Nar and Narayan was his own form. It is believed that Narad rishi also did penance here. In the Garbhgrih of temple the statue of Lord Badrinarayan is placed. Lord Barinath is armed with Sankh and Chakra in two arms and two of arm in the posture of meditation. Main idol is of black stone in the Yogdhyan posture. Other deities are Laxmi, Kuber, Udhav, Nar, Narayan and Garud. The idol of Adi Shankracharya is also here. There are some hot springs around temple area such as Tapt Kund, Narad Kund and Suraj Kund.
One has to take bath in these kunds before visiting to temple.

Bhavishya Badri – It is located in the mid of dense forest near Tapovan in the altitude of 2744m, at the distance of 17 km from Joshimath. The idol of Narshimha (the god head with lion and body of human) is preserve here. It is believed that by some reason the present route of Badrinath will be unreachable and in future lord Vishnu will be worshiped here as badrinath, that is why this place is called as Bhavishya Badri.

Yogdhyan Badri- Situated in the altitude of 1920m in Pandukeshswar, believed that Pandavas has meditated here after giving up his kingdom Hastinapur to king parikshit. It is 24km shorts o Badrinath on Rishikesh-Badrinth highway. It is believed that the sanctum has an image of the lord Vishnu in a meditative posture.

Vridh Badri- It is situated at Animath (7km from Joshimath) in the altitude of 1380m. Before Badrinath and was designated one of the four dham by Adi Shankracharya. According to epic, the idol of Badarinath fixed by divine Vishwakarma was preserved and worshiped here and when mankind entered the age of Kaliyug, Vishnu shifted himself from this temple to Badrinath.

Adi Badri- It is situated at 16 km from Karanprayag on Chaukhutia- Ranikhet route. On the way to Ranikhet are some beautiful temples dating Gupta periods. It is believed that Lords Vishnu used to t live here in Satyug,Treta and Dwapar.In Kalyug he shifted to Badrinath. That is why it is known Ancient badri.