Tourism in Uttarakhand
It is often referred to as the "Devbhoomi" (literally 'Land of the Gods') due to its religious significance and numerous Hindu temples and pilgrimage sites found throughout the state.
Lord Vishnu happened to like the place and wished to reside there permanently, so He took the form of an infant and started crying inconsolably.
According to the Hindu philosophy, a place considered extremely holy if a river running through it flows in the northern direction.
Rishikesh has been a magnet for spiritual seekers since the late 60's when The Beatles rocked up Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram.
The northern part of the main town is the hotspot for all the action where the Ganges forested hills form a conducive environment for all the meditation.
The large number of people gathering on the bathing ghats on the holy Ganges river gives the place a chaotic feel.
Mussoorie is also known for its major tourist spots, such as the Mall Road, Lal Tibba, Picture Palace, Library Chowk, Jari Pani and George Everest, surrounded by colonial-era bungalows and churches.
It is situated in the Himalayan mountain range at an altitude of about 2,250 metres (7,380 ft) above sea level and is known for its views and forests of deodar.
[citation needed] Auli is a hill station and ski Destination located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
Known as the "City of Lakes," Nainital is a picturesque hill station situated at an altitude of about 2,084 meters above sea level and the foothills of the Kumaon Range.
Nainital attracts tourists with its many colonial-era bungalows and churches, home to a cool, temperate climate.
[citation needed] Munsiyari is a unique hill village situated amidst the snowy ranges of Pithoragarh district, which remains covered with snow most of the time.
[19] It is situated in the Himalayan mountain range at an altitude of about 2,200 meters above sea level and is known for its scenery and green forests.
Panch Prayag (Sanskrit: पंच-प्रयाग) is an expression in Hindu religious ethos, specifically used to connote the five sacred river confluences in the Garhwal Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand, India.
The other version of the legend states that the confluence derives its name from the Yadava king Nanda, the foster-father of god Krishna.
Placed in a dilemma, since both were his disciples, he ensured that Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu, was born to Devaki and Vasudeva but was fostered by Yashoda and Nanda.
[22] The legends also narrate that sage Kanva did penance here and also that the wedding of King Dushyanta and Shakuntala took place at this venue.
[20] The epic Mahabharata legend narrates that Karna did penance here and earned the protective gear of Kavacha (armour) and Kundala (ear rings) from his father, the Sun god, which gave him indestructible powers.
[citation needed] There is reference to this site in Meghaduta, a Sanskrit lyrical poetic drama written by the legendary poet Kalidasa, which attributes that Satopanth and Bhagirath glaciers joined here to form the Pindar River.
Another classic work by the same author called the Abhijnana-shakuntala also mentions that Shakuntala and king Dushyanta's romantic daliance occurred here.
A temple built in recent times to commemorate Karna has the deity of goddess Uma Devi (daughter of the Himalayas) here.
And, down these steps, small shrines of Shiva and the Binayak Shila (the Ganesha stone) – that is believed to provide protection from danger – are located.
In spite of Himalaya's protests, Parvati performed rigorous penance to get the boon of becoming Shiva's wife in the new birth too.
The holiness of this place is considered equal to the famous Triveni sangam confluence at Allahabad where the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers merge.
The Bhaghirathi runs down a steep declivity with rapid force, roaring and foaming flowing over large fragments placed in its bed, while the placid, Alakananda, flowing, with a smooth, unruffled surface, gently winds round the point till, meeting with her turbulent consort, she is forcibly hurried down, and unites her clamours with the blustering current.Panch Kedar (Sanskrit: पंचकेदार) refers to five Hindu temples or holy places of the Shaivite sect dedicated to god Shiva.
They are the subject of many legends that directly link their creation to Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu Indian epic, the Mahabharata.
[29] The most famous folk legend about Panch Kedar relates to the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
They wished to atone for the sins of committing fratricide (gotra hatya) and Brāhmanahatya (killing of Brahmins – the priest class) during the war.
But, Shiva wanted to avoid them as he was deeply incensed by the death and dishonesty at the Kurukshetra war and was, therefore, insensitive to Pandavas' prayers.
Consequently, the bull was torn asunder into five parts and appeared at five locations in the Kedar Khand of Garhwal region of the Himalayas.
