Ranikhet, which means Queen's meadow , gets its name from a local legend, which states that it was here, that Raja Sudhardev won the heart of his queen, Rani Padmini, who subsequently chose the area for her residence, giving it the name, Ranikhet, though no palace exists in the area. Ranikhet is a place related with the legends of Himalayas. Historical accounts tell us the Queen Padmini of Kumaon was enchanted by this tiny hill paradise. Ranikhet is a hill station and cantonment town in Almora district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand . It is the home for the Military Hospital, Kumaon Regiment (KRC) and Naga Regiment and is maintained by the Indian Army . Ranikhet has a cool climate all through the year and can be visited any time of the year. But the best time would be from February to November avoiding the heavy snow months. Summer months are perfect for Ranikhet tourism. Tourists can enjoy sightseeing and outdoor activities. Winter season is ideal for
The four pilgrim-destinations namely Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, known collectively as Char Dham nested in the lap of Himalayas, are the epicenter of the Hindu Religion in Northern India. Traditionally, the Chardham yatra is undertaken from the west to the east. Thus, the yatra starts from Yamunotri, then proceeding to Gangotri and finally to Kedarnath and Badrinath.
Owing to the significance of this religious circuit, devotees from all over the world, come here to experience the holy nature. The picturesque surroundings of the mountainous region are simply nature inhaling, giving the visitors a perfect opportunity to unwind themselves by filling their lungs with fresh air.
These pilgrimage centers draw the maximum numbers of pilgrims each year, thus becoming the most important hubs of religious travel in the whole of Northern India. Traditionally, In accordance with the Hindu conventions, thousands of devotees take up this pious pilgrimage in the hope to experience bliss and successfully purge their souls of all worldly demons.
Each of these four sites is devoted to a specific almighty. Yamunotri is dedicated to the Goddess Yamuna. The most sacred area of Yamunotri is a dark rock from where the hot springs emerge, called the Divya Shila. Here at the origin of the Yamuna pilgrims offer their first prayer. It is believed that a bath in the waters of the Yamuna protects the devotee from an untimely death that could hinder one’s chances of achieving eternal emancipation.
Gangotri is dedicated to the Goddess Ganga. The shrine overlooks the River Bhagirathi, another name of River Ganga - the name having been derived from the myth of the ancient King Bhagirath’s penance that succeeded in bringing her upon the earth from the heavens. It is said that King Bhagirath meditated here in Gangotri on a rock called Bhagirath Shila, near the temple.
Kedarnath is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is also a part of the Panch Kedar. It is the northernmost Jyotirlinga and is close to the source of the holy River Mandakini. Adi Shankaracharya is said to have attained samadhi at very young age adjacent to the Kedarnath Temple.
Badrinath is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is situated on the bank of the River Alaknanda at an altitude of 3133 meters. According to legend, Lord Vishnu meditated here while his consort Lakshmi took the form of a berry (Badri) tree to offer him shade.
Before embarking on this journey, one has to be prepared to experience physical and mental hardships on the Himalayan roads. The Char Dham Yatra is one of the quite accessible yet most arduous journeys. The Yatra route in the state is usually bustling with activity, especially during the summer. The scenic beauty of the mountains solemnly provides strength to the pilgrims, moving towards their destination.
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