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Holy Himalayas up in the misty heights of the
majestic Garhwal Himalayas that adorn the
magnificent state of Uttaranchal, awaits a
rejuvenating spiritual experience for the
devout.
Nestling in the lofty peaks are the four most
holy pilgrimages of India -Yamunotri, Gangotri,
Sri Kedarnathji and Sri Badrinathji,
collectively referred to as the Char Dham ( or
four pilgrimage centres) of Hinduism. For
centuries, saints and pilgrims, in their search
for the divine, have walked these mystical vales
known in ancient Hindu scriptures as 'Kedarkhand'
If the scriptures of HINDU RELIGION are to be
believed, the holy centres of Gangotri,
Yamunotri,Badrinath and Kedarnath - collectively
called theChardham (meaning four sacred spots) -
are the mostsacred of all pilgrimages.
Undertaking a journey to these places will not
just wash away one's sins butensure release from
the cycle of birth and death.THE honour
conferred on these places is not surprising.
For one, they are all in the icy Garhwal ranges
andregarded as the most sacred of all Himalayan
ranges.It is also said that heaven and earth
converge inthese holy spots, and to be born or
die here is a boononly the very fortunate have.
The Chardham must be visited from left to right
-beginning with Yamunotri, going on to Gangotri,
Kedarnath and culminating the journey at
Badrinath.This route follows the Hindu tradition
of parikrama orclockwise circumambulation.
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