I was amongst the lucky few in the world who have explored the Char Dham of India. The shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri form the Char Dham.

The first one that I visited was Yamnotri. It is one of the four most significant pilgrimage places in 'Char Dham'. Yamnotri is the source of the river Yamuna in Bandarpunch mountain, that is 6,315 m above the sea level. A temple here is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna and the holy thermal springs. Before I actaully entered the Yamunotri Temple, I was asked to worship a rock pillar called the 'Diva Shila'.

Then came Gangotri is the origin of the sacred River Ganges. I was astound to see the ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga and amazingly it is situated at a height of 3,200 meter above sea level. The temple gates are open for tourist and devotees only on certain days in May. My guide informed me that the gates of the temples are closed during winter and the statue of the deity is taken to a nearby village called Mukhwa for six months, where it is worshipped.

Oh! Kedarnath was a marvel in itself. My guide, Bahadur told me that Kedarnath, at a height of 3,581 m, is the site of one of the 12 jyotirlingas in the country. The temple built of solid gray stone stands against the backdrop of Kedarnath range.

After Kedarnath came the last pilgrimage destination of my Char Dham Yatra-----Badrinath. Unbelievably, it is situated at a height of 3,133 m, is said to be unequalled in its sanctity when compared to other pilgrimages. The Badrinath temple stands in a enchanting valley on the bank of the Alaknanda River and is dedicated to Shri Badrinathji, that is Shiva the Preserver.