DevPrayag - beginning of mighty, holy River Ganga

DevPrayag, is a holy place, where two beautiful rivers - Alakananda & Bhagirathi meets.
This merger plays an important role in the forming one of the mightiest rivers on earth. From here onwards, this sacred river is known as "Ganga".
In this picture, River Bhagirathi, seen in light green colored & River Alakananda is brownish.

I have been lucky to visit this place twice. First time, when I was studying class 7. Back then River Bhagirathi was also brownish in Color! Now it is looks clear & has turned in to light green color.
Are you thinking, I am cooking some sort of story here?
Well, no! This color change is due to Tehri Dam built recently across River Bhagirathi.

River Bhagirathi begins its journey in Gaumukh(also pronounced as Go-Mukh). Gaumukh, is considered as birth place of holy Ganga river. But, until this river reaches DevPrayag, it is referred as "Bhagirathi" and not Ganga.

River Alakananda is considered to rise at the foot of Satopanth & Bhagirath Kharak Glaciers.

DevPrayag is amongst "Pancha Prayag" or Five Confluences of River Alakananda. From this point onwards, Ganga still has more than thousand kilometer journey to reach Bay of Bengal.

Har-ki-pauri, Haridwar

045/366 Group of elder women lit "diyas" on the banks of River Ganga, Har-ki-pauri @ Haridwar

Ganga Arathi is very famous in Haridwar and one can lit diyas placed in tiny boats made of leaves containing flowers. Devotees leave these tiny diya boats in River Ganga every evening and pray Maa Ganga. — at Har ki pauri,haridwar.

125 temples, Jyotirlinga - Jageshwar

034/366 Jageshwar, Uttaranchal

Jageshwar, temple lies in ancient route to Kailash Manasa Sarovar.
It is said that, Adi Shankaracharya came here and re-established the sanctity of these temples.

This place is unique and contains around 125 temples and are of different size and shape. These temples is said to be built between 7th century to 18th century AD.
Main temple contains Jageshwar(also called as Yogeshwar). Dieties in other temples are Mrutyunjaya, Nava Durga, Surya, Kalika, Lakshmi, Pushti Devi etc.

It is said that, Katyuri Rulers(7th-14th century AD) & Chand Dynasty(15th-18th Century AD) restored these temples & worshipped here.

People here consider that this is amongst 12 jyotirlingas, instead of Nageshwara, which is in Gujarath.

Jageshwar is 37km from Almora, Uttaranchal

Kedarnath Temple, Uttarakhand

031/366 Kedarnath, Uttarakhand

Kedarnath Temple situated at around 11700ft(3584 meters) in Uttarakhand.
One needs to trek for 14 km from Gaurikund. One can also use horse or dholi to reach this lovely place. This route is extremely scenic and to be remembered for long. Most part of trek is next to beautiful River Mandakini and one gets to see various falls through out the trek including Rudra Falls.

It is also believed that, Jyotirlinga situated here was worshipped by Pandavas and main temple was built by them..

Indian Saint & Philosopher, Adi Shankaracharya, who propagated "Advaitha" concept, is said to have renovated this temple. Sri Shankaracharya's Samadhi is close to the temple.

About pic: Wooden carving of Lion seen on Kedarnath Temple.

More info:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kedarnath_Temple

Woman Power

030/366 Salute to multi-tasking woman on Women's Day

Woman carries wheat & other necessary things up the hill in small village close to Phata, Uttarakhand.

Naina Devi Mandir, Nainital

029/366 Nainital, a beautiful hill station earns its name from eye-shaped lake called Naini Lake.
"Nain"(or Nayan in Sanskrit) means eyes, "taal" means lake, resulting in name "Nainital".

In the northern part of lake(called as 'Mallital'), Naina Devi Mandir is situated.
It is believed that The Naini Lake is one of the 64 Shakti Peeths, or religious sites where parts of the charred body of Sati (Parvati) fell on earth while being carried by Lord Shiva. The spot where Sati's eyes (or Nain) fell, came to be called Nain-tal. The goddess Shakti is worshipped at the Naina Devi Temple.

In pic, devotee worships Lord Shiva Linga installed in Naina Devi Mandir early morning.

Chauli Ki Jaali, Mukteshwar

Chauli ki Jali, Mukteshwar


Mukteshwar is situated at 51km from Nainital is small but beautiful hill station and has Lord Shiva temple, which is around 350 year old. It sits high in the Kumaon Hills at an altitude of 2286 meters (7500 feet).
'Chauli ki Jali' is a popular tourist spot in Mukteshwar and has beautiful rock formation at around 45 degress slanting position. From this place, one can get breath taking views of Himalayan Mountain Range.


Picture inset is known as "Chauli ki Jali".

"Chauli" means Rock - "Jali" means hole.
There is one point in these rocks where there is a hole in the rock(seen in inset), as per locals, women who are not able to conceive tend to cross this hole on Maha Shivaratri and it is believed that after crossing this they will be blessed with a child.

For more info, click here.

Tapovan, where Bhageeratha pleased Lord Shiva

View towards Tapovan from Baby Shivling, Uttaranchal

Local legends say that, Tapovan is the place where Bhageeratha Rushi did tapas to please Lord Shiva and brought Ganga to earth.
This place is beyond Gaumukh Glacier, where we get first sight of River Ganga(also called as River Bhaageerathi).

If my memory serves me right, the first peak visible in the pic is named as Sudarshan Peak.

Approximate altitude of this place from where I shot this pic is around 12000ft.

Bed of flowers...

2/366 "Bed of Flowers" - Haven't we all read fairy-tale of walking over the bed of flowers...
I had this opportunity to walk over the bed of Rhododendrons @ Binsar with my life partner!
It was romantic, thrilling & mesmerizing...

Rhododendrons(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhododendron) have medicinal value and juice made out of it tastes awesome!