This is description how to reach Kedarnath- Badrinath Dham the holistic pilgrimage of Hindus.
My friends Alokesh da and Arup bhai (Chhata) went to have a darshan of Sri Sri Badrinath Dham and Kedarnath Dham on the month of September. Kedarnath Dham is the one of the Jotirlinga among 12 Jotirlings of Load Shiva even it is one the place of Pancha Kedar also. These places are open form June to mid November. I am describing the ways of how to reach the Dhams. The timing is not suitable for journey, because it is rainy season and for that there is lot of landslides in the way of Badrinath and Kedarnath. My friends were stuck because of these landslides for few days in Badrinath. For the sake of ease I include myself into the conversation.
Everything was ok after arranging the credentials for the 15 days long tour. We arrange a BSNL SIM card because of communication. We came to know that there is communication problem in Badrinath and only BSNL mobile works. We got lots of wishes from our Vivvsc brothers and Maharaj also.
It was 12.09.10 we started our journey from Kolkata by Kumbha Express at 1.10 p.m. It was around 27 hrs. journey and we reached at Haridwar at 4.10 p.m. Train fair Rs. 422.
We put up in a Darmashala near the station, the rent was Rs. 200. After getting fresh we went to Har-Ki-Pouri, the famous Ganga ghat for enjoying the Aarti.
14.10.10: The next day morning we get up early for the Kedarnath, distance around 250 k.m. We reached in GMOU bus stand near to the railway station. The bus is available upto Gourikund, fair Rs. 225. The inclined road started after Rishikesh. The snick beauty was wonderful. On the way we got Devprayag where Alaknanda and Bhagarati joining together. Because of landslide the bus stopped before 6 k.m., and we walked that distance and reached to Gourikund around 6.30.p.m. There is dharmashala of Bharat Sevashram Sangha (BSS) where we put up for the night. The room rent is Rs. 150. As it was the off season so we got the room otherwise getting rooms in BSS is difficult. So my request will be before going those places please contact with them, they have their head office in Ballygunge, Kolkata, India. Please remember in the entire uttrakhand mostly vegetarian food is available. We took our meal there cost Rs. 40 each.
15.10.10: We got up earlier in the morning and had our bath in the hot spring (tapta kunda) in the Gourikund and get refreshed. The temperature was below what we have usually in Kolkata, hence filing cold. We brought sticks of Rs. 10 and raincote of Rs. 10 for the journey. Be sure the raincote is not good enough. We started our journey around 6.00 am. in the morning. There is cowed all the time going toward the Kedarnath, so never felt alone on the road. The Kedarnath is 14 k.m. away uphill from Gourikund. Rambara is 7 k.m. away from Gourikund where devotee used to take rest. On the way we meet lots of devotees coming from various parts of Hindustan and abroad also. We reached at Kedarnath around 2.00 p.m. and put up in BSS. The other expenses was Rs. 300.
16.10.10: Next day after puja to the Load Kedarnath we went to Gandhi Lake (sarovar) which is 3.5 k.m. away and from there climb down to Gourikund and stay again in the BSS. We kept our luggage in Gourikund BSS ashram for Kedarnath and again while came back to Gourikund we occupied the room again. While coming one of us not totally well, hence he had to take the help of horse, from Rambara it took Rs. 75.
17.10.10: From Kedarnath we took the bus for Badrinath, the distance from Kedarnath to Badrinath is around 270 k.m., Bus fair Rs. 225. River Alakananda flows by the Badrinath. But due to bad weather we were able to reach only upto Josimath, 121 k.m. That night we stay in a hotel in Josimath, rent Rs. 150.
18.10.10: The next day morning we started our journey at 6.00 a.m. The bus is available from the early morning. But near Lambgara we stopped again due to landslide. Here the total journeys of all pilgrims were stopped due to the road blockage. There was only one possibility either set with all the passengers or walk and move ahead; we chose the latter one. We started to walk on the slippery mountain hills along with our luggage accompanied by in cold mountain rain. After going up around one k.m. we reached an unknown village. We managed a house to give us one night shelter against Rs. 200. We had no option but this to passed that night in that rainy and cold weather inside that lickage room.
19.10.10: Next day we started for Badrinath. Badrinath is the place of Load Vishnu. We used to take the roots between the hills so we travelled only 20 k.m. to reach Badrinath, otherwise it would be much more via road. We were the only two person who had reached Badrinath on that particular day, whereas all the transportation were closed due to rain, bad weather and landslide also., so nobody could not either entered or left Badrinath on that day. We put up in to BSS, room rent Rs. 200.
20.10.10: The next day after giving puja to Badridham we went to Mana village which is the last village of Hindusthan, Beyond that is China! There are Ganesh Cave, Vayas Cave also all are near by.
21.10.10: Vasudhara Falls is around 8 k.m. We went as saw all those.
22.10.10: Next day we get up early in the morning and took a holy dip in to the hot spring water in Tapta Kunda. We were in Badrinath for 3 days because of bad condition of roads. So we decided to left Badrinath as early as possible.
23.10.10: Vishnu pada Charan is 3 k.m up the hill from Badrinath. We saw and came back.
24.10.10: The next day we got a bus which was going to Gangotri, so requested them to leave us upto Devprayag.
25.10.10: From Devprayag we came to Rishikesh by truck due to non availability of buses, the distance is 70 k.m, we paid Rs. 120. We put up in a Dharmashala, room rent Rs. 150. That day night we saw Ramjulla, Laxmanjulla ect.
26.10.10: From Rishikesh we visited Chandeshwar Temple, Swamiji’s Cave in the Chandeshwar Temple where Swami Vivekananda did meditation we also saw Nilkantha temple, which is around 10 k.m. by walk. Leopard, bear used to be in the forest on the way to Nilkanth Temple. By road the distance of Nilkantha Temple is around 25 k.m. but the side scenes were nice.
27.10.10: Next day we came to Haridwar and saw few more temples, Har-Ki-Pouri and Kankhal Ashram, Daksha Yagya Temple. After all we came to the end of our journey. We catch the train Kumbha Express for Kolkata at 00.00 a.m. night.
