GARHWAL IS KNOWN AS DEVBHOOMI, MEANING THE LAND OF GODS. THE HOLY LAND HOUSES SOME OF THE MOST REVERED RELIGIOUS DESTINATIONS OF INDIA. THE HIMALAYA RANGE IN GARHWAL ARE SAID TO BE THE HOME OF THE GODS. THIS LAND IS VERY SACRED FOR THE HINDUS AS WELL AS THE SIKHS. GARHWAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH SPIRITUALITY, TEMPLES, PILGRIMAGE, HOLY SHRINES AND MOUNTAIN TOURISM. GARHWAL IS ONE OF THE STATE IN INDIA WHICH HAS SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PILGRIMAGE SHRINES.
THE MAIN TEMPLES IN GARHWAL ARE THE TEMPLES OF BADRINATH, KEDARNATH, PANCH PRAYAG, GANGOTRI, YAMUNOTRI, HEMKUND SAHEB, SIRKANDA DEVI, HARIDWAR AND RISHIKESH. THE FAMOUS CHARDHAM TRIP IS IN THIS STATE WHICH INCLUDE A VISIT TO FOUR OF MOST REVERED HINDU TEMPLES, YAMUNOTRI, GANGOTRI, KEDARNATH AND BADRINATH. THE CHAR DHAM TOUR IS VERY SIGNIFICANT FOR HINDUS. HARIDWAR, MEANING GATEWAY TO GOD, HOLDS AN IMPORTANT PLACE IN HINDU RELIGION.
PANCH BADRI
THE FIVE BADRIES ARE REVERED BY ALL AS THE APT TRIBUTE TO LORD VISHNU. BADRINATH IS DEVOTED TO THE WORSHIP OF VISHNU WHO, ACCORDING TO AN AMUSING TALE, USURPED THIS PLACE FROM SHIVA. FOR VISHNU HAD COME HERE AS THE GODS ONCE DID, TO OFFER PENANCE. HE LOVED THE PLACE SO MUCH THAT HE PLOTTED TO UNSEAT SHIVA FROM HIS MEDITATION HERE. HE TOOK ON THE FORM OF A BEAUTIFUL CHILD AND BEGAN TO WAIL.
SHIVA'S WIFE, PARVATI PICKED HIM UP BUT COULD NOT CALM THE CHILD. SINCE HIS WAILING CONTINUED TO DISTURB SHIVA, HE SHIFTED TO KEDARNATH IN EXASPERATION, LEAVING THE SPOT FREE FOR VISHNU TO OCCUPY. BUT REMAINDERS OF SHIVA'S STAY CONTINUE TO LINGER, MOST VISIBLY IN THE NAME, BADRI, A KIND OF BERRY THAT SHIVA WAS MOST FOND OF, AND THE GIGANTIC TREE, INVISIBLE TO THE MORALE EYE, THAT SERVED SHIVA. CONSIDERED ONE OF THE CHAR DGAM OR FOUR PRINCIPLE PLACES OF HINDU WORSHIP AT HIMALAYAS, BADRINATH'S FOUR SUBSIDIARY BADRIES INCLUDE BHAVISHYA BADRI, YOGDHYAN BADRI, VRIDHA BADRI AND ADI BADRI.
Bardinath
Also known as Vishal Badri, this temple located at the height of 3,133 mts. is the largest himalayas and most popular of Vishnu pilgrimages among the five Badries. The original temple here is believed to be built by King Pururava and the icon of the lord carved by Vishwakarma, the creator of the gods.
The idol was recovered by Adi Shankaracharya from the waters of the nearby Naradkund and consecrated once more in the temple, restored in the 19th century by the royal houses of Scindia & Holker. So holy in this shrines that it forms one of the four prominent places of Hindu worship. The epic Mahabharata, it is believed, was composed in the Vyas and Ganesh caves close by. The Vishnu Ganga which later becomes Alaknanda flows below the while Neelkanth keeps vigil over all devotees.Bhavishya Badri
The Bhavishya Badri is located at 2,744 mts. amidst the thick forests surrounding Tapovan. According to a divination, it is here that all devotees will throng once Badrinath is no more.
While there can be no conceivable reason why this should happen, scientists agree that Joshimath, the entry point into the area before the final, most strenuous climb, is sited on an ancient landslide and has been sinking, and with a barrage coming up close by, may actually see the fulfillment of the divine prophecy. But whatever happens, Bhavishya Badri is popular even now. Enshrined here is the lion headed image of Narsingh. Visitors pass the serene the Tapovan a place known for its hot water springs en route to the banks of the Dhauliganga, and on to shrine.Yagdhyan Badri
Every so often in the Garhwal Himalayan, tales from the Mahabharatha spring magically to life. Yogdhyan Badri, 1,920 mts. is located at Pandkeshawar, named after the Pandavas King.
It is said that the Pandavas, victorious after their battle against the Kauravas, but emotionally scarred, came to the himalaya. And it was here that they handed over their capital, Hastinapur, to Raja Prikshit and took up penance before seeking out the highway to heaven. The importance of the badri is immence and the sanctum has an image of the lord in a meditative postures.Vridh Badri
Before Badrinath was designated one of the four Char Dhams of Hindu worship by Adi Shankaracharya, the idol of Badrinah carved by divine Vishwakarma was enshrined and worshipped here.
It is said that when mankind entered the age of Kali, Vishnu chose to remove himself from the temple. Interestingly the image was found by Adi Shankaracharya at NaradKund, and restored, through part of it remains damaged. This, the first Badri, is located at the height of 1,380 mts. at Animath. While Badrinath closes during winter, the idol and priests hibernating at Joshimath, Virdha Badri remains opens throughout the years.Adi Badri
Another pilgrimage centre of local importance is this group of 16 temples en route to Ranikhet and closes to the confluences at Karan Prayag.
The main temple is dedicated to Narayan and has a raised platform in the pyramidal form. Within the temple, a black stone idolis installed. It is believed that thease temples, dating to the Gupta age , was sanctioned by Adi Sankaracharya who wanted to spread the tenents of Hinduism to every remote corner of the country.
