When one hears the word, “Uttarakhand”, a person feels a certain sense of divinity. Uttarakhand is one of the best beautiful states in India, filled with natural beauty, temples and adventure. For Hindus, Uttarakhand is one of the most religiously significant places. Uttarakhand is known as Devbhoomi - the land of gods. It has many pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand that have mythological significance and are revered by Hindu devotees.
No matter where you are from, you will feel a spiritual and divine connection when you come to Uttarakhand. Along with divinity, you will also realise the rich history of Hinduism and India. We have listed the top pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand that will give you a divine experience.
6 Best Pilgrimage Sites In Uttarakhand
1. Haridwar
The word Haridwar means “Getaway To God”, and this renowned pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand is one of the holiest sites in India. It is situated on the banks of River Ganga and is the place where the holy river descends to the plains. It is a getaway to the Char Dham destinations of Uttarakhand, which are Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.
The history of Haridwar dates back to around the 2nd Century BC. The city is mentioned in ancient Hindu texts with many names - Gangadwar, Mokshadwar, and Mayapuri. According to legends, the gods have left their footprints in Haridwar.
The Best Places To Visit In Haridwar
Haridwar has many places to visit which are of religious significance. Har-Ki-Pauri is one of the most famous religious sites where devotees take a dip in the river Ganga. Chandi Devi Temple, Mansa Devi Temple, Vaishno Devi Temple, Bharat Mata Temple, and Maya Devi temple are some of the significant religious sites in Haridwar. It is also famous for the Kumbh Mela which takes place every 12 years.
Best Time To Visit Haridwar
The Best time to visit Haridwar is between October and April. The weather is pleasant during this time.
How To Reach Haridwar
The Haridwar Railway Station is well connected by train with Delhi, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Puri and Indore. The Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is 38 Kilometres away from Haridwar.
2. Rishikesh
Rishikesh is a religious city located on the banks of Ganga and is one of the best pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand. It is located 26 Kilometres from Haridwar. It is the getaway to the Char Dham Yatra. According to a legend, Lord Vishnu appeared as Hrishikesh - or god of senses, to Raibhya Rishi.
Rishikesh is now famous as the Yoga capital of the world, where a week-long International Yoga Festival is hosted in the month of February. It is also famous for its adventure activities such as white water rafting, bungee jumping, and mountain biking. It is also a great place for trekking.
The Best Places To Visit in Rishikesh
There are many pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand located in Rishikesh. Triveni Ghat, Neel Kanth Mahadev Temple and Swagarinwas Temple are some of the religious sites in Rishikesh.
Best Time To Visit Rishikesh
The best time to visit Rishikesh is from September to November and from March to May.
How To Reach Rishikesh
The Jolly Grant Airport In Dehradun is 16 kilometres from Rishikesh. The Rishikesh Railway Station is connected to Delhi, Haridwar, and Vaishno Devi Katra.
3. Badrinath
Badrinath is a holy town located in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand. It lies at an altitude of 3133 metres in the Himalayan Ranges. It is one of the most famous religious sites in India with devotees from across India and the world visiting it.
Badrinath is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand, along with it being one of the Char Dham sites located across India. The town has great religious significance as it is mentioned in many ancient Hindu texts and scriptures. According to Mahabharata, Nara and Narayana, the dual forms of Lord Vishnu, meditated in Badrinath. It is also believed that Pandavas passed through Badrinath on their way to heaven.
Places To Visit In Badrinath
Badrinath Temple is the most famous temple in Badrinath and one of the best famous temples in India. The temple is dedicated to Badrinarayan, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is also famous for its Panch Badri Temples - Yog Dhyan Badri, Bhavishtya Badri, Adi Badri, and Vriddha Badri, along with the Badrinath Temple.
Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Nandaprayag, Karnaprayag, and Vishnuprayag are among the other pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand en route to Badrinath.
The Best Time To Visit Badrinath
The best time to visit Badrinath is from May to June and From September to October. It is not recommended to visit the place during monsoons due to the risk of landslides. The place is also harsh during winters with heavy snowfall.
How To Reach Badrinath
The Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun is 300 kilometres away. The nearest station is Rishikesh which is 293 Kilometres away. Badrinath can be reached via NH - 58 which connects to New Delhi and other major cities.
4. Kedarnath
Kedarnath is a popular pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand and is part of the Chota Char Dham, along with Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. It lies at an altitude of 3584 and is surrounded by snow-clad mountains.
Kedarnath is named after King Kedar, who ruled the town during the Satya Yuga. Legend says that the temple existed during the times of Mahabharata. It is here where Lord Shiva absolved the Pandavas of the sin of killing their cousins, the Kauravas. The religious significance of the holy town makes it one of the best religious sites in Uttarakhand.
Places To Visit In Kedarnath
Kedarnath is known for the Kedarnath Temple, which is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. The other religious places in Kedarnath are Bhairavnath Temple, Shankaracharya Samadhi, Chorabari Tal, and Hans Kund. These are among the best pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand.
The Best Time To Visit Kedarnath
Devotees can visit Kedarnath only during the 6 months of the year due to the extreme weather conditions during winter. The best time to visit Kedarnath is from May to October. From November to April, the site is closed to visitors.
How To Reach Kedarnath
Jolly Grant Airport is 239 Kilometres away and the Rishikesh Railway station is 224 Kilometres away. The nearest road point is Gaurikund which is 14 kilometres away from Kedarnath. Devotees need to take a trek from here. Helicopter services are also available.
5. Gangotri
Gangotri is a popular pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand and one of the Chota Char Dham sites along with Badrinath, Kedarnath and Yamunotri. It is located at an altitude of 3100 metres in the Garhwal Himalayan Ranges. Gangotri is the origin of the holy river Ganga, making it one of the best religiously significant sites in India.
Ganga originates in Gaumukh in the Gangotri Glacier. It is located 19 kilometres away from Gangotri town. It is a popular destination for religious and adventure tourists. You can do any activities in Gangotri such as trekking, camping, river rafting and skiing.
Places To Visit In Gangotri
The most famous place to visit in Gangotri is the Ganga Temple. It was built by Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa in the 18th century. Jalamagna Shivlinga, Bhavishya Badri Temple, Gaumukh and Bhairavnath Temple are some of the famous pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand.
Best Time To Visit Gangotri
The best time to visit Gangotri is May to June and September To October. The site is closed during winters due to heavy snowfall.
How To Reach Gangotri
The Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is 277 kilometres from Gangotri. Dehradun is the nearest railway station which is 242 kilometres away. You can reach Gangotri by road from Rishikesh, Haridwar or Dehradun.
6. Yamunotri
Yamunotri is one of the four Chota Char Dham sites along with Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri. It is considered to be one of the best pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand. It is the source of the Yamuna river and is located at an altitude of 3293 metres.
According to a legend, Sage Asit used to bathe in Ganga and Yamuna rivers daily. When he was unable to visit Gangotri due to old age, a stream of Ganga appeared opposite Yamunotri for him.
Places To Visit In Yamunotri
Yamuna Temple is the main attraction in Gangotri. It was built was Maharani Gularia Of Jaipur in the 19th Century. Janki Chatti, Kharsali, Saptarishi Kund, Hanuman Chatti and Barkot are some of the religious sites in Uttarakhand located in Yamunotri.
Best Time To Visit Yamunotri
The best time to visit Yamunotri is from May to October. The winters are harsh with heavy snowfall and hence, it is not recommended to visit during the winters. The temple is closed during the winter.
How To Reach Yamunotri
Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is 193 kilometres from Yamunotri and the nearest railway station is Dehradun which is 176 kilometres away. The trek starts from Janki Chatti which is 5 kilometres away from Yamunotri.
These are considered to be the main pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand, and the best religious sites in India as well. By visiting Uttarakhand, you will surely have a divine experience along with enjoying the various adventure activities. Pink Panda Holidays offers the best tour packages in India.
Read our blogs to know more about the various places and destinations you can visit in India and the world.
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