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[shreyash]

Garwal Himalayas is called Devbhumi, means ?Abode of Gods ?. The name is appropriate I think. Here we have the five Kedars ( Panch Kedar), seven Badris ( Sapta Badri), Gangotri, Jamunotri, Kotishwar, Ruch Mahadev, Chandrabadani, Renuka Devi and lot more . I am lucky enough to visit a few of these places. One of them is KedarNath, the most important of the five Kedars. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas ( formed on their own) of India.

     On one morning of May, 2000 I started from Hrishikesh for Gourikund around 5am. Gourikund is the end of motor able road on way to KedarNath. From there one have to trek 14 kms. One can also take horse, mule, kandi ( sit on a basket , carried by a man on his back, mostly for children or luggage), dandi ( a sit carried by four person ). I preferred walking on my own feet!

We started from Hrishikesh with the Ganga on our right side. We started to climb uphill within a short time. Our first stop was Devprayag, confluence of Bhagirathi and Alokananda to give birth to Ganga . Prayag means confluence of two or three rivers.  Then we again started, crossing one mountain range after another with the Alokananda on the right side now, flowing through deep gorge. Our next stop was Srinagar of Garwal. Here Alokananda is much wider. It?s a big town. We have some breakfast and then again started and next halt was Rudraprayag .

Rudraprayag is the confluence of  Mandakini and Alokananda rivers. The prayag is simply majestic . I think it is most beautiful of all the prayags I have seen ! Then we started our journey along the side of Mandakini . We slowly passed through Agasthamuni, Kund, Guptakashi, Sonprayag ( confluence of Songanga and Mandakini ) and finally reached Gourikund. It was around 5pm and it was raining. The weather of  Himalayas changes from afternoon and generally becomes cloudy or rains in the afternoon. It was very cold. We stayed in Bharat Sevashram Sangha.

Next morning , we took some of our luggage with us and kept some in the cloakroom. We started our journey around 6 in the morning. We stated a gentle climb. The path is not that steep. The path was beautiful, mountain on the left and deep gorge of Mandakini on the right of me. I completed half the journey of 14kms and reached Ramwara (7 kms from Gourikund ) around 9 am. Here I first found snow. The water falls were frozen and so also Mandakini in some places. Water gushing out from under snow. After taking rest , I started the journey . The route was steeper . We slowly proceeded . Suddenly , I  saw someone unbelievable! The Big B, Amitava Bachchan ! He was going with Sahara India ! We were walking and he passing beside us in horse . Unbelievable in any other place, but everything is possible on way to  Kedarnath . All are pilgrims here.

We have to halt several times due to rain and finally reached our destination around 4pm.What a grand sight ! The Kedarnath  Temple with the majestic Kedarnath and Kedar Dome peaks in the background ! Evening was a bit cloudy . The scene was majestic in the morning next day . The white peaks with the blue canvas of the sky in the background! Just behind the temple , five rivulets converge to give birth to Mandakini river . It is appropriately called river of heaven, really born in heaven !

If you get a chance , please visit Kedarnath once . It remains closed after Diwali for heavy snow fall and reopens on Akshay Tritiaya day. Really we are lucky to have such a beautiful place in our own country .