Pilgrimage to the Himalaya 2016

This time I had planned a trip in advanced but nothing work out, so as usual I started a totally unplanned trip (I just get down at Haridwar station then decide where to go)

I stayed in temples, caves and forest. Most of the time in tents

I met many sadhus who stay in solitude at high altitudes, in forest, by the river etc

It was indeed a very fruitful trip

First visited the ancient Ansuya devi temple

Atri muni ashram near Ansuya devi’s temple

One needs to go behind this water fall to reach the ashram

Tungarnath the highest shiv temple in the world

Nandi ji 

Stayed here for only Rs 400 a day

Chandrashila (literally the moon rock) reached after an early morning trek above Tungarnath

Sunrise at Chandrashila

Kalpeshwar mahadev in the urgam valley

Urgam valley

Note: Tungarnath and Kalpeshwar mahadev are one of the panch (five) kedar temples

Dhyan Badri (one of the panch Badri temples)

Hot springs at Tapovan off Joshimath famous for their healing powers, it was cold and I just did not feel like coming out of the hot water---Wash me, cleanse me, purify my heart and set me free. Psalm 51:2

  

Ancient temple of Bhavishya Badri in Sumai vllage

Then trekked up to the forest where the self-forming idol of Bhavishya Badri is located

My tent at Bhavishya Badri

Nandadevi as seen from Bhavishya Badri

Neelkanth as seen from Bhavishya Badri

Niti Valley

View towards tapovan, joshimath

Then spent a few days at Badrinath

Inside Ekadashi Gufa

Trek to Muchkund Gufa off mana village

On the left is Mana pass the highest motor able road, then is the mana village and the road to Badrinath

Muchkund Gufa

 Trek to the base of Neelkanth

At the base of neelkanth

A cave ashram high above Badrinath temple, I always wanted to visit it. It is very well equipped, has a boiler / heater, solar panels and is fully insulated 

View of Badrinath from the cave ashram

View of Badrinath temple enroute to the cave ashram

Pilgrimage to the Himalaya

Since a long time I have not written a single blog.

Will try and write soon, as some blogs are lined up since the last 3 years.

Meanwhile please enjoy these photos from my last pilgrimage to the Himalaya.

Yamunotri

small town of yamunotri. seen behind is the river yamunotri from its origin high above in the ice glaciers

Divya Shilla or divine stone pillar, the origin of the hot water spring

this swami has been living in yamunotri for more than 50 years; he stays back in winters even when the town is abandoned

Uttarkashi

Shiv ling at the kashi vishwanath temple at Uttarkashi

Divine trident at the Shakti Temple in the same complex

Gangotri

On the way to Gaumukh from Gangotri

Gaumukh, the origin of the Bhagirathi river

Tapovan; comes from the two root words tapas - meaning spiritual practice, and vana, meaning forest. Tapovan then translates as forest of austerities or spiritual practice.

Seen in the back ground is the ice glacier which feeds the Bhagarathi river  

Neel tal (off Tapovan)

Ancient cave of Guru Gorakhnath at srinagar garhwal. Very few people know about this cave 

Satopanth yatra (pilgrimage) from Badrinath to satopanth lake, meaning the path of truth, it is belived that the Pandavas took this route towards the end of their lives

The origin of the river Alaknanda at alkapuri; the river Bhagirathi and Alaknanda merge at devprayag from where it is called Ganga

Satopanth tal (lake)

The living mountains off Badrinath; bare yet full of life