Kedarnath -Beauty turning into Beast

9 months ago

Hello everyone. I hope everyone is enjoying life. Today I'm gonna resume my trip to Kedarnath, abode of the all Mighty.

So let's get started.

After leaving Chaumasi, the very place where we decided to start our trek. Some of us are very disappointed or I say two of us are very much disappointed and the remaining were enjoying coz they ddidn't want to go from that path as they were afraid of the distance, forest, and wild animals.

So we decided to take the traditional path. And promised ourselves that one day we would visit again.

We left the place at 10 a.m so that we could reach the base camp at the right time. But the mesmerizing views of Valley didn't let us escape without appreciating the beauty.

The Boys

The Valley Named Kalimath

We were in the Kalimath valley, famous for its temple called Kalimath Temple.

This belongs to the Shakti means Power amongst the 51 Shaktipeth(Source of Power). Goddess Kali is worshipped here.

The River flowing through the Valley is called Saraswati. Situated on the Bank of it a beautiful Temple was built.

In this temple, the Torso of Goddess Kali is worshipped and the upper part is worshipped in Dhari Devi near Srinagar and Rudraprayag.

Dhari Devi Temple,Srinagar, Uttrakhand

In Kalimath there is a Yantra buried inside the temple and worshipped. Also, Goddess Lakshmi and Saraswati worshipped here.

https://youtube.com/shorts/rVy4gA_eiFM?si=T76qETg0z1ZcopdM

This place is also famous for a poet named Kalidas who wrote many books like MEGHDOOT, ABHIGYAN SHAKUNTLAM, RAGHUVANSHAM.

How to reach.
You can come to Rishikesh by Bus and Train and there you can hire taxis to this place.
This place is 13 km from Uttarkashi in Rudraprayag.

We took the blessings and left for the most awaited part of our journey.

We reached the base camp at 5 p.m. and decided to start trekking but to our luck. Trekking is not allowed after 4.

We put our camp near Gauri Kund the Base camp. Had our dinner took a rest and the very early morning at 4 a.m.We started our Trek.

I think that was the best time to trek. As everyone was sleeping a few people started trekking with us.

The For first couple of km all of us were trekking close to each other but after that some slow down and some continued to trek at their own pace.

After 6-7 km one of my friends stopped for some refreshments. We decided to take some rest and wait for others. But after 20 min we didn't see anyone coming so we decided to move on slowly.

Rambara

After the next couple of kilometers we also got separated as I took the wrong path or I say the right path.

Some story time:
In 2013 there was a lake on the Mountain behind Kedarnath temple and after a cloud burst in monsoon, the lake broke down and destroyed everything in its path. The pilgrims, the path to temple hotels, tents everything that came in its path vanished in a jiffy. Fortunately or By God's Grace. A big rock came from nowhere and stuck behind the temple which protected the temple from that flood. Why I'm saying nowhere is because, in that whole region, there is no other stone like that.

Stone Behind the Temple

Back to the Treking day.
By mistake, I took a cut which took me to the old path that was destroyed in that flood. No one goes through that path.

I trek downhill and that walk is steeped up. And found myself on the opposite side of the trek parallel to the working trek.

This path was very beautiful, clean, peaceful, and away from the crowd.

I was walking alone. Maybe The almighty wants me to come enjoy like I wanted from the trek from Chaumasi.

I can't explain how happy I was. And what I saw. The Picture can't do the Justice.

I wasn't sure about the path. but After 2 or 3 kilometers saw a place then I got to know that I was on the old traditional trek. I filled my water bottle and was accompanied by a black dog.

Garud Chatti

Whenever I was walking alone anywhere. I was always accompanied by a dog. Whether it was **Madhmaheshwar, Kedarnath, or Govardhan Yatra (which is in Uttar Pradesh).
**

Beautiful meadows, snow-clad mighty Himalayas, choppers, beautiful valleys, and solitariness made my journey unforgettable.

I took some halts to capture the beauty through my eyes and camera.

After 6 and a half hours I reached the Temple.
When I saw the temple from the trek I was very overwhelmed.

But as I approached I was disappointed in many things.

So much construction, and overcrowded. The people were destroying The sanctity of the place in the name of Development.

People came there to just enjoy not to seek blessings. The valley was echoed with the sound of choppers,

people didn't want to feel holy.

People of the age group 20 to 35 used mules for traveling to the Temple, and old people trekked. I was very disappointed.

I waited for my friends and took some camps for rest.

We visited the temple in the evening.
The Architecture of Humans are very good but the Architecture of God is incomparable.

The Trident

The Temple

The temple is surrounded on three sides by the Himalayas, with a big pathway in front of it, and next to it The Glacial river Mandakini flows.

The Story behind the Temple.
It is believed that After the Mahabharat war, the Pandavas felt guilty for killing their Family and Teachers so they worshipped lord Shiva for forgiveness and found Lord Shiva but the lord didn'tva dnt wanna meet them and Disappeared.

Pandavas chased Lord Shiva. Shiva transformed into a Bull and tried to escape but the second amongst the Pandavas named Bhim found out and tried to stop Shiva. He hold the Hump of Bull so Lord Shiva appeared as a Hump-shaped Ling in Kedarnath.

Kedarnath

Madhmaheshwar

Rudranath

Tungnath

Kalpeshwar

We left for our home the next morning. This trip was memorable for me as my plan failed then The All Mighty decided something else for me which was equally memorable.

I also had one thought when u visited there. According to Islamic scriptures, Their Holy Kaaba was also located at a place which was surrounded by three sides of mountains. Was also near the trade route and there was also greenery and fruits. I found everything in Kedarnath. So I thought to share. Plz, share if anyone else also felt the same.

I'll see you soon with another story.

Note:
1.All the content is mine unless stated otherwise
2.Some photos were taken by my friend and used after permission