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Showing posts with label valley fo flower. Show all posts
Showing posts with label valley fo flower. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

TEMPLES IN UTTARAKHAND - SURKANDA DEVI TEMPLE

Surkanda Devi temple is one of the famous and highly worshipped places of Uttarakhand state.The temple is situated in the Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand and is at a height of 10,000 feet. Surkanda devi temple is dedicated to Parvati devi who was the wife of Lord Shiva. The legends say that the Parvati became Sati (burnt alive) after an argument with her father.When Lord Shiva came to know about this, he lost his temper and did Tandav and flew with the ashes of his wife.During his journey with ashes the head part of the devi fell at this place which gave the name as – Shree Khanda which stands for head which gradually became Surkanda.



[ View of the new temple ]

The temple is located on a hill and one has to trek for around 1.5 kilometers from the base – Kaddukhal. For the people who cannot trek, there are horses and ponies available at low costs around 200 rupees.


There is a huge belief of blessings and people visit this place for taking blessings and “mannats”. Once a year there is a fair organized at the temple on the occasion of Ganga Dusshera and high number of followers visit the temple during this period.



[One gets a view of lofty peaks and greenery alongside the road]

The place is located about 30 kilometres from the hill station Mussoorie and around 60 kilometres from Dehradun- the capital city of Uttarakhand. The roads are in very good condition and temple is easily accessible. A large part of Tourists visiting Mussoorie and Dhanaulti visit Surkanda Mata Temple and during the summer seasons the rush increases comparatively to the other part of the year.



[Way to Surkanda Devi]

During winters there is moderate snowfall in the region which makes the trip highly enjoyable and fills it with fun.

Once the person reaches the top he is welcomed by the cool breeze which hits on the forehead and gives a very fresh and heavenly feeling. There is a eye soothing, heart occupying view of 360 degrees from the top of the hill which brings the camera in use.

The old temple has been renovated in past few years and will be brought to the existence during Ganga Dusshera 2013. There are small tea and snacks shops available on the top of the hill and having a maggie and tea with biscuits when the mild wind is blowing things is a very rich experience.

During the trip one can stop at Dhanaulti and enjoy a peaceful time in presence of loads of Pine trees.

There are budget hotels available in the area to stay for overnight .

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Uttarakhand-Panch Prayag in Uttarakhand

Devprayag


Deoprayag is regarded as the most complete showcase of legends, heritage & traditions. 70 km from Rishikesh , here the Bhagirathi from Gaumukh & the Alaknanda from Satopanth unite and for most Indians, this confluence is no less holy than the Sangam at Allahabad. These three rivers flowing majestically through sculptured channels carved through the rocks have carved angular blocks of land around the confluence & the town is set into these three angles. Located at a height of only 618 m, Deoprayag is an invocation to the gods who have gfenerously endowed this spot with tremendous natural beauty. It is believed that Lord Rama and his father King Dashratha did penance here. The temple of Raghunathji houses a tall image of Lord Rama made of black granite. The most celebrated event at Deoprayag is the congregation of devotees, who come here to worship at Raghunath temple. There is also a small temple popular as Bharat Mandir of Rishikesh in recluse. It is said that on fearing attack by Aurangzeb the pujaris from Rishikesh installed the same idol at Deoprayag as makeshift arrangement & later took it back to Rishikesh.
Srinagar the ancient capital of Tehri Garhwal is at a distance of 35 km from here.

Rudraprayag

Named after Lord Shiva (Rudra), Rudraprayag is situated at the holy confluence of Alaknanda & Mandakini rivers, at a distance of 34 km from Srinagar. It is believed that to master the mysteries of music, the sage Narad worshipped Lord Shiva, who appeared in his Rudra incarnation to bless the sage. It was here, also, that Shivas wife, Sati, was reborn after her self immolation because her father humiliated her husband. In her new life, as the daughter of Himalaya, she did penance here to ask the boon of Shiva as a husband once again. The ancient temple of Rudranathji is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Rudraprayag is the point where the two roads branch off to the holy Shrines of Kedarnath (84 km) & Badrinath (159 km).
The entire region is blessed with immense natural beauty, places of religions importance, lakes 8c glaciers.

Karna Prayag

Situated 11 km from Gauchar, the icy flow from the Pindari Glacier becomes the Pindari river, and when it meets the Alaknanda at 788 m, the confluence is known as Karnaprayag. The wooded thickets of the hills surrounding Karnaprayag were the meeting ground for Shakuntala C Raja Dushyanta, immortalised in Kalidasa’s immortal classic and a favourite ballad ever since. The place derives its name from Kama, the son of the Queen Kunti and her fiery lover, Lord Surya (sun), Kama’s lineage was kept a secret, but he propitiated the Sun God here, and acquired a pair of earrings & armour that made him invincible. Ultimately, he fell in the battle between the Pandavas & Kauravas, but remains a tragic hero for in life he never had the legitimacy he desired. Besides the temple dedicated to Kama, the temple dedicated to Goddess Umadevi, Narayan & Gopal stand at the confluence.
69 km from Gwaldam, Karnaprayag is on the main Rishikesh Badrinath highway. From here, the road to SriKedarnath (115 km) goes through Rudraprayag & the road to Sri Badrinath (128 km) through Joshimath.
Karnaprayag is the base for treks to Roopkund and the Bedni Bugyals and the approach to the Pindari Glacier.

Nandprayag

22 km from Kama Prayag, Nand Prayag at 914 m forms the confluence of the Alaknanda & Mandakini (flowing from a glacier near Nanda Devi Peak) rivers. On their way to Tapovan across Kunwari Pass or on their way to Roopkund, it is popular with trekkers. It is said that the confluence is named for the pious Raja Nanda. According to one legend, the king had been promised the boon of Vishnu as a son. Unfortunately, the same boon had been granted to Devki, the imprisoned sister of the tyrant king, Kansa. Ultimately, the gods found an ingenuous if wily solution: Vishnu would be born as Krishna to Devki but would be brought up by Raja Nandas wife, Yasodha.

Vishnuprayag

Hormed by the confluence of the impetuous Vishnu Ganga (known after this point, as the Alaknanda) and the Dhauliganga river, Vishnu Prayag, 1372m, has an ancient temple called Vishnu Kund. It is said that the sage Narad worshipped Vishnu at this sanctified spot. Visitors will find the Kagbhusandi Lake bewitching with its emerald green depths giving it a still surface, while on the banks, blossoms evoke the colours of nature in all her glory. The lake can also be approached from Vishnuprayag beside from Bhundhar village near Ghangaria.



Monday, February 10, 2014

Beautiful birds of Uttarakhand

Posting some absolutely beautiful pictures clicked by my cousin Soma, who is an avid birdwatcher. She had a wonderful trip to Uttarakhand recently.


The birding trip was organised by Mr Yashpal Negi a bird expert, who runs the Mandakini Birdwatchers Camp at Kakragad, Uttarakhand located 40 km from Chopta (chopta is the nearest road head)and 33 km from Devprayag.

Blue Capped Rock Thrush


The Himalayan Monal was seen near the Shiv temple at Tunganath.

Pika (with a baby) is a hamster like mammal found in high altitudes.





Rufous Bellied Woodpecker

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

VALLEY OF FLOWERS (Phoolon ki Ghati)

The valley of Flowers is  in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. This is near by Hempundsabib and Satopantha. The valley of flowers discover by  in 1931 Frank S. Smythe a British mountaineerValley of Flower in Uttarakhand, Phoolon ki Ghati,When he come down from Satopantha , He saw a place which is full filled by different types of flowers.


He came on that place and collect 300 different type of seed of flowers . Frank S. Smythe first wrote about this place and called it “  valley of Flowers” . Now this is a National sanctuarian area and proted by Goverment of India.
                                                                                                                                                                                  Valley of Flowers                                                                                           
In ancient times it was called Bistoli  Khark Meaning that the toxin Mkmali meadow Because there are so many flowers, whose fragrance makes people sometimes even faint!  Is not at all with it!Valley Of Flower in Uttarakhand