India Pilgrimage Tours

Yamunotri is a place where source of river Yamuna diverts from near Dharasu, between Uttar Kasi and Tehri. It is one of the foremost important temples collectively called Char Dham of the Garhwal Himalayas. The premier attraction of the Yamunotri is the temple devoted to Goddess Yamunotri and holy thermal springs.

Gangotri is a small temple of Ganga standing in flagged courtyard facing upper streams. The water overflowing from Mansarover in Tibet starts coming down to Gangotri, which forms into a mighty river "The Ganges". By the power of Meditation Rishi Bhagirathi brought river Ganga from heaven to earth through the belssings of Lord Shiva. According to mythological, Lord Shiva resided here and goddess Parvathi would bath in the waters of the Ganga before it touched the ground. Major cities like Varanasi, Patna, Allahabad are on the banks of River Ganga. The tributaries of river Ganga are Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Yamuna and invisible Saraswathi.

Uttar Kashi is located at the backside of River Bhagirathi. There is a Temple of Kashi Vishvanathji. The famous Himalayan Nehru Mountaineering Institute is also located here.

Kedarnath : According to the legends Pandavas built the second Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath after Mahabharat war. Kedarnath, at the head of Mandakini River, is one of the most scenic located pilgrimages. A huge statue of Nandi adorns the courtyard of temple of Kedarnath. The present temple is built in 8th century by Adi Shankaracharya adjacent to the site of the earlier temple, as legend goes by Pandavas.

Badrinath : The paradise on earth is situated on the right banks of river Alaknanda at a height of 10248 feet above the sea level and is surrounded by the snow covered peaks of the Himalayas. Standing like twin sentinels over Badrinath valley are the Nar and Narayan mountain ranges. The Mighty river Alaknanda flows by the side of Badrinath temple, which has retained its importance as a pilgrim centre from Pre-Mahabharata times. Pilgrims take bath in the hotwater spring known as Taptakund, near the temple. Vasudhara water falls is 4 Kms from here. Mana village, the last check post in the Indo-Tibetan border is very near to Badrinath.

Pancha Prayags

Devprayag : Situated at the confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirati rivers. The important shrine is Raghunath Temple.

Rudraprayag : Situated at the confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. The temples of Rudranath and Chamunda Devi are situated here.

Karnaprayag : Situated at the confluence of the Pindar Ganga and Alaknanda rivers. The worth seeing temples are of Uma and Karna.

Nandprayag : Situated at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Nandakini rivers. The temple of Gopalji is worth visiting here.

Vishnu Prayag : Situated at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga located near Joshimath.

Haridwar is at the base of the Shivalik hills, where the Ganga, coming down from the mighty Himalayas meet the plains. Literally translated, Haridwar means the 'Gateway to the abode of Gods'. In mytholigy it is known as Kapilsthan. Amongst its other names, are Gangadwar, Tapovan and Mayapuri. The Kumbh, (marking a 12-year solar cycle) and the Ardh Kumbh fairs are held here when millions of devoted Hindus take a holy dip in the river Ganga.

Har-Ki-Pauri is one of the most sacred bathing ghats at Haridwar. The best time to visit this spot is at sunset when you can see the 'Aarti' of Ganga being performed. A daily ritual, is a breath taking sight as thousands of earth earn lamps light up the night.

Parmarth Ashram: About 6 Kms., on the way to Rishikesh is the ashram with a beautiful image of Goddess Durga.

Sapta Rishi Ashram is said, Ganga splits herself in seven currents so that the Sapt (seven) Rishis worshipping there could not be disturbed.

Mansa Devi Temple: Situated on the Vilwa Parvat, it can be reached through the ropeway.

Rishikesh : Located on right bank of Ganges at its confluence with Chandra Bhanga stream. According to the legend times long past, Sage Raibhya Rishi did hard penance to please God. He was adorned Hari Rishi and the place was Imed after him. Lord Rama and his younger brother Lakshman also came here and stayed at banks of Rishikesh and scussed for killing Ravana. Today, Rishikesh has become a centre of learning in Yoga and meditation.

Lakshman Jhoola : 5 Kms. North of Rishikesh is the place where Sri Lakshman is said to have performed tapa. Sri Lakshman Temple was built in his memory. It is a suspension bridge with a span of 140 mts. constructed in 1939 across the river Ganga popularly known as Ganges.

Agra : Agra city is one of the five biggest towns in Uttar Pradesh, is famous allover the World for its celebrated monument -Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world. It was built by Emperor Shahjahan in 1653 in memory of his beloved wife Queen Mumtaj. It took 22 years to complete this beautiful mausoleum. Taj Mahal, situated on the Inks of River Yamuna, stands on white marble platform of 22 feet with a height of 243 feet.

Mathura : This was considered to be the birth place of Lord Krishna. The temples of International society for Krishna consciousness (ISKCON), Dwarakadeesh and Geeta Mandirs are famous.

Allahabad : It acquired its present name during the rule of Mughal emperor -Akbar, known as Prayag since ancient nes. Located as the sangamam, the confluence of the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. It is of the holy cities for hindus. It is the birth place of the first Prime Minister of Independent India pandit Jawaharlal ehru, born and brought up at Anand Bhavan, his ancestral house. Allahabad is site for famous Kumbh Mela, which held once in 12 years.

Varanasi : An ancient city and a centre of learning for over 2000 years is one of the temples for times immemorial. The 3 famous Kasi Viswanath temple, on the banks of river Ganges is a holy place for Hindu pilgrims. The Shivalinga at the swanath Temple is among one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. It is a gold-spiraled temple rebuilt in 1776 A.D. by Rani Ahillyabai Dikar and dedicated to Lord Shiva. Varanasi is seat of Hindu religion and the ancient Indian language Sanskrit. The st wish of every ,Hindu is to have a visit to Varanasi once in a lifetime.

Sarnath : Just 10 Kms from Varanasi, was the place where Lord Buddha revealed to his first disciples the essence of philosophy, which became one of the world's greatest religion Buddhism. The emperor Ashoka erected magnificent upas and buildings at Sarnath, making it an important place of pilgrimage. It is a major centre of Buddhist studies.

Gaya : It is an ancient Hindu and Buddhist Pilgrim centre. It is believed that Lord Vishnu's sacred foot prints are eserved in the Vishnupada Temple on the banks of the river PHALGUNI, the water level in PHALGUNI river is knee ~ep only all the times.

Bodh Gaya : Near the holy city Gaya on the banks of Phalguni river is the place where Gautama Buddha attained 'Iightenment or Bodhi, the tree that has sheltered him to be known as the Bodhi tree and the place Bodh Gaya, a Jmber of monasteries in the varied styles of Buddhist architecture are built by various countries. Other important places associated with Buddhism are not shown in this tour.

Naimisaranya : 94 Kms from Lucknow is important religious centre famous for temples of Goddess Lalith Dahadari unda Vyas Gadi Chakrtith and Hanuman Ghabai.

Ayodhya : Is located 134 Kms from Lucknow on the bank of Sarayu. Ayodhya is birth place of Lord Rama, epic hero Ramayana.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION