Chetram Holidays presents to you a small but very fulfilling holy journey through the Himalayan foothills and holy valleys, Uttarakhand Getaway | Journey to the Land of Gods. Over only five days, you encounter the more soulful face of Uttarakhand: a tapestry of spiritual riverfronts of Haridwar and Rishikesh, mountain-scenic pathway to Kedarnath, heavenly serenity of Badrinath and restful stops at pious confluences and serene hill stations. The itinerary combines spectacular road trips, light treks around towns, and an unforgettable hike (or pony/ helicopter) to the Kedarnath temple. Each day is a mixture of darshan and exploration with time to breathe, to just stand next to the river, to feel the fresh crisp mountain air, to sit with the silence that makes this land so special.
Reach Haridwar where you are greeted by our representative and checked in to a hotel easily, some freshening up followed by the river beckoning you to move on. Become languorous and meander up slowly through Rishikesh to Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula; the breezy movement of the bridges, the church bells, the verdant Ganga create a relaxing atmosphere. Walk along the river, stop by small ashrams, and enjoy the peacefulness of Triveni Ghat; you are welcome to relax at the ghats and observe the water, observing and breathing. Provided you have time, visit Hop into the quiet mural and silence-filled corners of the Beatles Ashram a leafy retreat combining art, silence and narrative. In time to get back to Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar by sunset to watch the bewitching Ganga Aarti: the flames of the lamps floating on the current, the rhythmic sound of chants in the air and a feeling that the day has been reset, softly. Spend a night in Haridwar, with the river still echoing up the riverbanks in your ears, as the city ripples to a standstill.
The road to Guptkashi takes you steadily into the Himalayas offering views of river gorges, terraced fields and the pine-scented slopes that constantly change with each of the turns. You could stop on the way at Devprayag, where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi join to become the Ganga and see how the different color streams are of water and take some time to sit beside the converging point. Pass Srinagar and Rudraprayag and with short stops to stretch your legs and your viewfinder, the trip itself is like an outdoor exhibition of ridgelines and rivers. Later in the afternoon, arrive at Guptkashi, a tranquil base camp from which there are clear views of the Chaukhamba massif on fine days. In case you want, see Vishwanath Temple and Ardh Narishwar Temple which are small tangible shrines that make the evening rhythmic. Reconvene, pack down minimalistic layers and necessities to aid in the next day's climb, and put up with the quiet that mountain towns only have after the sun goes down, when the sky darkens to opaque blue and the stars are suddenly so close.
Start in the morning (or earlier) to Gaurikund where the trail to Kedarnath begins; the morning is fresh, the air full of pilgrims, and the bells of the ponies, and the roar of the Mandakini down in the valley. It is itself an even and lovely hike, with long sections that skim waterfalls and pine groves, and meanders that offer views that open up abruptly as one comes around the corner-rest often, drink water, breathe, and look. Pony/doli or helicopter (at own cost) alternatives are available, and keep the experience affordable to those that want to do so. The landscape around you becomes tighter as you approach the temple: the stone paths, prayer flags, and the granite mass of Kedarnath Temple against spiking mountains. Upon checking in just beside the shrine, join the queue to the darshan followed by the evening Aarti time where chants will be heard, lamps glowing, when the chilly air appears to be at rest. Then wait in silence in the courtyard; the hour, flanked with mountains, is soul-stirring. Near Kedarnath on a warm evening and in soft layers and full heart.
In the early morning, a brief trip back is preferable to most people a restful darshan, so we start down to Gaurikund, only to be surprised again on the way up by the daylight on the villages and valleys, the silver flash of the river. You get back to your cab and continue on to Badrinath, where the road follows the Alaknanda and winds through hamlets perched like the kids clung to the ditches. The trip is interrupted by a short stop at Joshimath; the town is a crossroads of the mountains with views of distant mountains and bustling pilgrim streets. Reach Badrinath by evening and go over to Tapt Kund-a natural hot spring and usually visited before temple darshan. Time will allow an easy two-minute jump to Mana Village, the final village of India on this track: stone houses, modest tea shops, and tales based on Vyas Gufa and Bhim Pul.
Begin with the darshan of Badrinath temple, as long as morning is tranquil and lines shorter; the colored facade and the measured frequency of prayers make for a refined bidding the lofty mountains goodbye. Then following the river in a long and beautiful drive, turn your back later to crest the hills or take a side road at Karnaprayag or Rudraprayag where you can gaze on converging waters. Gradually the road draws you away, you alpine cold towards a gentler valley wind and cedar-and-pine into the leafy foothills and more populous towns. There will be comfort stops to drink tea and take pictures, it is a day to allow the journey to recount itself in your memory: bridges in Rishikesh, the Ganga Aarti, the Kedarnath upslide, and the peace of the courtyard in Badrinath. Return back to Haridwar by evening, handing over the silent assurance that follows a pilgrimage-memories carved in the stone steps, sounds of temple bells and constant voice of the river that had guided you all the way home.
