Within India - Best Places of Interest

February 10, 2020 Travel, Within India

Interesting and Must-Know Facts about Char Dham Yatra

We all are very well aware of what is Char Dham Yatra and why it is said that why it is essential to attain Char Dham Yatra for every Hindu citizen. Most of the devotees have already been on their Char Dham yatra by now while some are planning to go, but very few know the real significance and the obscure facts related to these heavenly places. The facts that are buried inside these holy shrines.

The name Char Dham is given to the four holy shrines of Uttarakhand, India. And these four places holds a very significant role in ancient history. So if you are planning to go for a Char Dham yatra, this article will help you to know the facts behind those places.

Char Dham Yatra by Helicopter:-

Leisure India Holiday offers the best and most convenient way of doing your Char Dham yatra, i.e., Chardham Yatra by helicopter. Generally, where the other means take around 10-12 days to complete the whole journey, Chardham yatra by helicopter takes only four days to do the same. And that is the reason why it is most liked by tourists nowadays. So, book your Chardham yatra by Helicopter for 5 days 4 Night from lih and spend your holidays in this tranquil journey.

Facts about Char Dham Yatra:-

1. Char Dham Parikrama:-

The circumambulation of these divine sites is known as Parikrama. The journey is generally taken from left to right according to the Hindu mythology. It begins from Yamunotri, which is the westernmost Dham of Uttarakhand, followed by Gangotri temple and after that to the Kedarnath temple ( also known as one of the 12 jyotirlingas) and the ends in at the city of Narayan, Badrinath.

2. The original Lord Badrinath’s Shrine:-

According to the Hindu writings, it is said that the original position of the shrine of Lord Badrinath was somewhere else but not where it is right now. Adi Shankaracharya discovered the Badrinath Idol in the Alaknanda river. Shankaracharya built the idol in the Garud Caves. The caves are in the close vicinity of the hot springs of Tapt Kund. After many centuries, the Garhwal king moved the idol to where it is now present.

3. Jalamagna Shivalinga- Which can be seen only in winters:-

Located in the vicinity of Gangotri Dham, a natural rock Shivlinga popularly known as Jalamagna Shivlinga, it is believed that the Shivlinga can only be seen only in winters. As in winter, the water level goes down. This place is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva held Ganga in his dreadlocks.

4. Surya Kund:-

Located in the neighborhood of Yamunotri, Surya Kund is the holy hot water spring. This place holds a significant and religious role for Hindus. It is said that Surya Kund is the father of the Yamuna river. Though the kund is surrounded by snow-covered glaciers, after that to the temperature of Surya, Kund remains 88 degrees.

This fact makes us believe in the magic God, and that is why the prasad is prepared in the holy water of Surya Kund.

5.The Real Story of Kedarnath Temple:-

The Kedarnath temple, which is standing still for thousands of years in the vast mountains of the Garhwal region, has a very significant story. According to the facts, the first temple which now stands near the present temple was made by the five Pandavas brothers.

When the Pandavas won the battle of Mahabharat, the five brothers felt guilty for killing their own brother and loved ones, and they began to search Lord Shiva. But Lord Shiva kept running away from the Pandavas. When Bheem, the eldest of the Pandava brothers, recognized that Lord Shiva is hiding being from them disguised as a bull. After that, Lord Shiva immersed in the earth. And when he did that, he left his hind part on the earth.

After that day till present, we worship the hind part of Lord Shiva in the Kedarnath temple.

6. The Story behind Gauri Kund:-

Located at the height of 6,500 feet above sea level, Gauri Kund is a base camp for the devotees heading towards Kedarnath temple. It is located near Rudraprayag. And it is believed according to Hindu mythology that this is the same place where Goddess Parvati meditated for Lord Shiva to be her husband for hundreds of years. The Kund is the same place where Lord Shiva beheaded Ganesha, and after realizing his mistake brought back Ganesha back to life.

The story in which, when Goddess Parvati asked Ganesha to guard the door for her when she was taking a bath in the Kund. And when Lord Shiva tried to go inside, and Ganesha stopped him for doing so. This is when the exasperated Shiva beheaded Ganesha with his wrath. When Lord Shiva learned that Ganesha was obeying her mother’s orders, Shiva placed the head of an elephant on Ganesha’s body and revived him.

And that’s how Ganesha brought back to life by his father. And Lord Shiva gave him a gift he will be worshipped as the God of prosperity and happiness after that day.

7. Conch is prohibited in Badrinath Dham:-

The most surprising fact is that the conch, which is considered to be one of the most significant instruments of Lord Vishnu, is prohibited in his temple. According to ancient history, when Agasthya was killing the demons of Kedarnath, namely Vatapi and Atapi, they escaped from the place. Atapi took shelter in the Mandakini river and Vatapi to save his life, hid inside the conch. After that day, no one is allowed to blow the conch in the temple, because it is said that if a person even does so then Vatapi will come out from that conch. And that is the reason why it is not allowed to blow conch in Badrinath.

Also Read: 10 Things to Know about Holi Festival in India

Another reason is that the temple is situated in the middle of the snow-covered mountains from the three sides. The conch sound will create echo- which can cause a change in the ecological environment that can lead to an ice storm in the place.

8. The future place: Bhavishya Badrinath:-

According to the facts, it is said that when the arm of Narshing’s idol, which is currently in Joshimath, will fall off. And the two enormous mountains Jay and Vijay near Vishnuprayag will unite as one to big form even a big mountain. At that moment, the route to the two temples Kedarnath and Badrinath will get unapproachable. If that happens someday, then the pooja of Lord Vishnu will proceed through Bhavishya Badri near Joshimath.

Since today, the idol of Narshinga is like thin hair. That means that we have plenty of time to see Bhavishya Badri as new Badrinath.

December 28, 2019 Travel, Within India

Explore Greater Rann of Kutch

Reckoned as the largest districts of India, Kutch is encircled by panoramic landscapes and is pretty popular among domestic as well as international tourists for the celebration of Rann Utsav. The great Rann of Kutch is a hugely sprawled marshy salt land and is renowned as one of the star attractions of the region. Every year in the month of November or December the destination organizes the grand celebration of Rann Utsav. During the monsoon season in India, the destination looks more gorgeous and astonishing when this vibrant land of sand gets submerged underwater and gives is a pictorial background. Let’s talk about some of the most popular and astonishing places to explore nearby Kutch and also the activities to enthral your mood and make it one of your most memorable travel experiences.

Location

This vibrant and magical marshy land of Gujarat is nestled at the northern end of tropic of Cancer and is conveniently approached via Bhuj. Dhordo is considered to be the gateway of Kutch and this site is located at an hour and a half north of Bhuj.

Best Time to visit

After the monsoon months conclude, the marshy land of Great Rann of Kutch starts getting dried up. AS stated above that in the month of November or December Rann Utsav is celebrated which continues for more than a month and this makes it one of the most recommended time to explore great Rann of Kutch. If you are also thinking of visiting Kutch then do the advance bookings so that you don’t find an obstacle and also if you don’t want to experience huge crowd then plan your visit during the last few weeks of March. However, if you want you can also cover this site in the months of April and May but yes you will not be getting any basic facilities like food, accommodation, and even toilets.

Also, if you want to avoid the blinding sight then either move to the destination early morning or evening.

How to Reach Kutch?

As mentioned in the above paragraph that accessing this place via Bhuj is the most convenient way so one needs to reach Bhuj first and then take the transport for your further journey. The below-mentioned guideline is surely going to relieve you from this accessibility issue.

By Train

If you are coming by train then board the train to Bhuj railway station from your city and once you reach the railhead you can find taxis and autos that will take you to your desired destination.

By Air

Bhuj also houses its domestic airport so if you are coming by flight then take Air India flights. Getting transport from the airport is very easy so need to worry about that.

By Road

The roads in Gujarat are well-maintained and the cities of this state are well-connected with each other by road transport.

If this is your first trip to Kutch then engaging a reputed travel agency is a good idea if you want to make it a hassle-free journey. You can also browse the well-curated Kutch tour packages that offer you some of the best facilities required to make it a lifelong memorable journey.

Note: being located on the border of India and Pakistan one needs to seek permission before entering the region. There is a proper permit centre established near the region where you can pay some bucks to take the permit.

How Rann Utsav makes this place an iconic attraction of your Gujarat tour?

Commencing in the month of November, Rann Utsav continues till February. Every year thousands of tourists participate in this grand occasion. Tent stay at Rann of Kutch is the key element to make it an amazing journey as accommodating yourself in a tent lets you interact with new people and to learn new cultures. You also get to witness the charm of this festive season at any point in time if you stay near the site and participating in different group games is the additional charm. During this festival, you can learn the vivid cultures of Gujarat people and tribes through the folk dances, folk songs, and other folk performances shown by the groups.

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Do You Need Travel Insurance in India?

You have decided on a holiday and are excited about the prospect of seeing new shores and meeting new people. Chances are you would pack your suitcase to the fullest, and then start taking things out once you realise that the suitcase won’t close. However, there is one thing that you absolutely must pack –your travel insurance policy.

In India, the situation is no different. Crisscrossing this country can be quite challenging owing to the sheer diversity. You can never know exactly what could go wrong over the course of your travel. You might end up under the weather or worse, sustain an injury that needs immediate medical intervention. This is also why travel insurance in India is an absolute necessity, something that cannot be compromised.

Stated below are a few important reasons you should buy travel insurance in India right now:

Injuries While Travelling

An injury can be as simple as spraining your ankle or as severe as breaking a bone. Should you go vacationing to hilly terrains, there could be the off chance that you fall and sustain a severe injury. The condition of roads in India can also be hazardous in some places, something that only adds to the woes.

That being said, when you buy travel insurance like a holiday cover, it provides you with a safety net against any adversity, so that you stay insulated from any untoward eventuality over the course of your trip.

Falling Sick Due to Change in Weather

Water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera are some of the most common ailments among travellers in India. While these can be controlled most of the times, they may also lead to serious problems, including dehydration and gastrointestinal infections.

These diseases, once contracted, would warrant immediate hospitalization. It follows that your travel budget is likely to be stretched as you would have to get these conditions treated as soon as they get diagnosed. Waterborne diseases cover from Bajaj Finserv will be all that you need now, considering it would cover you from expenses incurred towards treatment of such conditions.

Loss of Baggage

The fear of having misplaced all or a part of the baggage, or other important documents for that matter, is no alien to one. While you might not have to worry much should you be travelling by your own vehicle, a guided tour, on the other hand, can throw up this challenge. Having lost your belongings and other valuables is not the ideal spot you can find yourself in, particularly in a place you have visited the first time.

A domestic travel insurance or baggage insurance can help you by reimbursing the amount you would have spent on procuring the necessary items all over again, after having lost your luggage.

You might require emergency evacuation

Considering you have backpacked to the Himalayas to quench the avid adventurer in you, you’d ideally want to be prepared for any adverse eventuality, should you get stuck at a remote spot there. More importantly, you might end up at the local hospital to get adequate nursing for an injury that you sustained.

Hospitalization expenses for medical evacuation can mount quickly and wreck your travel budget. That being said, a travel insurance policy like a trek cover procured at the right time can insure your trip, providing you with the adequate coverage to sail through such crises in an unknown territory.

You might have to cancel/curtail the trip

God forbid, but trip interruptions and cancellations can happen anytime, spoiling some of your best-laid plans. While you would not be able to help the dampening mood that cancellations bring, the associated monetary losses can be kept in check to a large degree.

The best travel insurance plans in India can reimburse the expenses you incur – in the form of losses related to pre-booked flights, accommodation and other financial penalties — towards a particular trip cancellation or curtailment, for that matter.

Before you buy a travel insurance policy, it is advisable to carry out a thorough comparison across policies, in keeping with their coverage and the premiums you’d have to shell out.

Bajaj Finserv Pocket Insurance offers cost-effective insurance solutions for an array of travel related needs, ranging from personal trip insurance to home protection cover. With adequate coverage and affordable premiums, you can now rest assured about your trip and enjoy your day in the sun.