
When
a pilgrim heads towards
Uttarakhand in the western
Himalayas, they choose to go on a
chardham
tour 2012, one of the most spiritually significant
journeys in the country. A
chardham yatra is a
religious journey to four Hindu pilgrimage destinations -
Yamunotri (3,322 m),
Gangotri(3,048 m),
Kedarnath
(3,581 m) and
Badrinath (3,124 m). Steeped
in mythology and legends, these destinations give the traveller an
opportunity to take a living lesson on Hinduism, its rituals, customs
and age-old traditions. Devotees undertake this tedious journey into the
Garhwal Himalayas not only to purge their sins but
also to free themselves from the cycle of birth and death. According to
Hindu traditions, the yatra to chardham should begin from left to right
in this order :
Yamunotri >
Gangotri >
Kedarnath
>
Badrinath.
The whole Uttarakhand region is blessed with bountiful supplies of
nature. So, as you make this religious journey, you also get to
experience a pristine flora and fauna in the Himalayan region. In
addition, the region gives you an opportunity to enjoy a host of
adventure sports including river rafting, trekking, mountaineering,
fishing, wildlife safari and mountain biking among others.
The
Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand generally begins in the month
of May and ends till October every year. September is the best month
both for the yatra as well as for soaking up the natural abundance in
the region.