Uttarakhand Badrinath Temple One of the holiest temples in the country, Badrinath is counted amongst the four holy seats of God (Char Dham) and also one in the list of the Char dham of Uttarakhand, which is also called the 'Chota Char Dham'. Badrinath Temple is also known as the Badrinarayan temple, because it is dedicated to lord Vishnu's form of Badrinaryan. Located in Badrinath village in the Chamoli district of the Uttarakhand, India, the temple is amongst the most easily accessible of the religious places. The Temple: The temple is supposed to have been built in the 8th Century AD by Adi Shankaracharya, the great Scholar and philosopher. The original temple was however, destroyed by an avalanche. The present temple is supposed to have been built by the Garhwal Kings in the 17th century. The temple that stands today is a beautiful structure made in the typical mountain architecture. With the brightly coloured 'Singh Dwar', which is the main entrance of the temple, the temple gets a modern appeal, not to mention an aesthetic beauty. The temple compound consists of around 15 idols of various Hindu deities, the primary deity being lord Vishnu, or Narayan, who is depicted being sitting in a meditative position, quite uncommon for the god who prefers reclining. A badri tree covers the meditating god. Mythology behind Badrinath Temple: There are many stories linked to the famous temple of Badrinath, the most famous being that lord Vishnu did penance here, sitting out on the mountain in a very harsh weather. As he meditated, the weather got even worse. His wife, goddess Lakshmi, on seeing her husband in such discomfort, transformed herself into a Badri (berry) tree, and sheltered him from above. The place thus attained the name- Badrinarayan. There is a second story which is
Uttarakhand Badrinath Temple One of the holiest temples in the country, Badrinath is counted amongst the four holy seats of God (Char Dham) and also one in the list of the Char dham of Uttarakhand, which is also called the ‘Chota Char Dham’. Badrinath Temple is also known as the Badrinarayan temple, because it is
Uttarakhand One of the prime tourist attractors in the Kumaon hills, Nainital is a place that is quite a favourite, especially amongst the honeymooners. Situated around the beautiful natural lake called the 'Naini' lake, Nainital still holds an old world charm, with little houses, narrow, twisting roads that run uphill, and small tea shops at every corner. The city gets filled with tourists during summer. Dressed up in bright colours walking on mall road, adjacent to the lake, or boating in high spirits, these people make for most of the income this little hill station makes. History: Founded by a British Sugar trader from Shahajanpur, Mr. Brown, Nainital was the summer capital of the United Provinces of the British India. Although the English officers used it as a summer retreat, Nainital had always been an Indian hill station. The latter half of the nineteenth century saw the establishment of many famous schools, which were originally made for the children of the English. Later, they started admitting Indian student as well. The most prominent ones include Diocesan Boys' School (later renamed Sherwood College) Philander Smith's College (now, Birla Vidya Mandir) and St. Joseph's College Wellesley School etc. Later, Indian bureaucrats started coming in Nainital and the British population thinned out. Nainital Today: Today, Nainital city is one of the favourite hill stations of the country, being pleasant in the summers and receiving snowfall during the winters, an ideal holiday place. The lake that dominates the scenery is the main attraction and people boat across it in large numbers. Places to see: Cave Garden: A bunch of caves that go one increasing in difficulty as one crosses from one cave to another, cave garden is a little adventure in itself. There is a short cut that takes you to the exit if
Uttarakhand One of the prime tourist attractors in the Kumaon hills, Nainital is a place that is quite a favourite, especially amongst the honeymooners. Situated around the beautiful natural lake called the ‘Naini’ lake, Nainital still holds an old world charm, with little houses, narrow, twisting roads that run uphill, and small tea shops at
Valley of Flowers A natural wonder and a breathtaking place, the valley of flowers is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (along with the Nanda Devi National Park) and a very famous place known for its beauty the world over. Situated in the transitional land of Zanskar Valley and the Himalayas, the valley of flower is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand state, India. The Valley- An Introduction: The Valley of Flowers was discovered by an English mountaineer and botanist named Frank S. Smythe, who accidentally discovered the place while hiking through the mountains. So enchanted was he from the place that after some time he wrote a book about it, titled, 'The Valley of Flowers'. Smythe's book, thus, introduced to the world the beauty that lay resting secretly in the giant Himalayas. The locals, on the other hand, always knew about the existence of the place, but since it was so exceptionally beautiful, thought that fairies must be living here, and did not dare set foot on it. After the publishing of the book, the whole world discovered the beauty that Valley of Flowers was and botanists, adventure seekers, nature lovers and all the curious souls came rushing to witness this incredible charm. Flora: Valley of flowers has some of the most enchanting flora of the Himalayas including the celebrated Brahma Kamal, which is also the state flower of Uttarakhand. Other famous flowers found here are blue poppy and the cobra lily. According to a study there are around 520 species of higher plants and around 498 species of flowering plants found in the valley. Apart from that, there are many plants of medicinal value like, the Picrorhiza kurrooa, Aconitum violaceum, Polygonatum multiflorum, Podophyllum hexandrum etc. Fauna: The Valley is home to a large number of rare species of
Valley of Flowers A natural wonder and a breathtaking place, the valley of flowers is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (along with the Nanda Devi National Park) and a very famous place known for its beauty the world over. Situated in the transitional land of Zanskar Valley and the Himalayas, the valley of flower is
Uttarakhand The oldest National Park of the country, Jim Corbett National Park was established in the year 1936. Originally called the Hailey National Park, it was renamed as Jim Corbett in 1956, in honour of the hunter of the man eating tigers in the Kumaon hill, Jim Corbett. Corbett turned into a world famous wildlife conservationist and author of some of the world renowned books in the later year of his life. The Park The Jim Corbett National park is located in the Nainital district of the Uttarakhand State, India. Covering an area of 1318 sq km of area, the park is spread over a varied landscape including mountains, grassland, rivers, swamps, marshes and forests. The fauna accordingly is as varied as the flora. The Park is divided into two areas, the buffer or the outer area and the core area, which is the innermost area which is untouched by the human population. The buffer area is where tourists go to spot animals, while the core area is dense and without any human interruption. The area accessible to tourists consists of dense forests and the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary. Flora: The park is dominated by Sal forests, which have covered it densely. Also, there are around 488 plant species that have been recorded at Corbett. Fauna: The Fauna varies greatly at the Park and is residing in plenty. The mammals found at the park include- Bengal Tigers, Leopards, Elephants, Deer (Barking, Cheetal, Black Buck and Sambar), Black Bears, Sloth, Yellow throated Martens, Langurs and Indian Grey Mongoose etc. There are about 585 species of migratory as well as resident birds, some of the most famous ones including- red jungle fowl, crested serpent eagle, blossom headed parakeet etc. Jim Corbett National park is also home to 37 species of dragonflies, 7 species
Uttarakhand The oldest National Park of the country, Jim Corbett National Park was established in the year 1936. Originally called the Hailey National Park, it was renamed as Jim Corbett in 1956, in honour of the hunter of the man eating tigers in the Kumaon hill, Jim Corbett. Corbett turned into a world famous wildlife
Uttarakhand Munsiyari Hill Station Ever heard of the ancient salt route to Tibet and the enchanting Johar valley? For those who are not aware, here is the story--owing to the transportation of one of the most valuable commodities of the ancient times i.e. salt, this route came into existence. Crossing though the wondrous glaciers and challenging valleys, this route had once made salt, our food essential the super expensive 'white gold'. Apart from the challenges, this route itself speaks of an enigma full of challenges and delightful adventure. The route has long perished from its purpose but the adventure and beauty remains intact and a trip across this path is worth a try for roving souls. Tearing a piece of this path, at the mouth of the Johar valley there rests Munsiyari, a small town of distinct natural delights. The good news is that this region is no longer a restricted area in the Himalayan Inner Line as in the past. Wedged in between the borders of India, China and Nepal, access to Munsiyari has been now eased. Munsiyari, a small town in the Pithoragarh district of the hill-state of Uttarakhand lies at the base of the great Himalayan mountain range. As unique as its name, this place has evolved itself as the latest favorite hill station in the state. Situated at an elevation of about 7,200 ft, Munsiyari is a trekker's abode since a lot of the great Himalayan hiking kicks off from this small abode of mountains and green forests. The name suggests a 'place with snow' and when the winter is miles away from the rest of the country, this place gathers up soft coats of snow over its green sheath but the effect only comes out more positive. The whiteness around the Goriganga River banks are
Uttarakhand Munsiyari Hill Station Ever heard of the ancient salt route to Tibet and the enchanting Johar valley? For those who are not aware, here is the story–owing to the transportation of one of the most valuable commodities of the ancient times i.e. salt, this route came into existence. Crossing though the wondrous glaciers and
