Part 1 : Badinath Himalayan Pilgrimage Trip - 11 Pundits, 2 vehicles and lots of adventure!

Wow it seems like ages since I last posted! I missed posting and sharing with all of you! In terms of adventure, the last week was superlative. Badrinath is an ancient area high in the Himalayas that has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries. Read more here. At 10, 000 feet elevation it is a challenge to reach in any weather let alone at the beginning of the monsoon season.  Click here to open the map of India to see the location of Badrinath.

Our purpose in going was to perform yagyas for some special yagya sponsors who wanted the benefit of having a yagya performed in this holy power spot. We had to wait several weeks before we felt we had an opening in the weather to travel.

On Monday the 9th, we got a chance and we loaded the ashram jeep and car with our 13 passengers, 11 vedic pundits and myself and a friend who assisted me during our sojourn.

Here we are on our way!

It is only 144 miles to Badrinath but due to prevailing landslides, narrow roads, and road washouts , the journey takes 10 hours from the ashram here in Kausani. On the way we saw an accident where a car had plummeted off the side of the road thousands of feet down to the roaring Pindari river. It was a very sobering moment. But in general the trip going to Badrinath went pretty smoothly because it only rained a little.

When we arrived in Badrinath, we did not have much time to look around because we wanted to take advantage of the good weather to start the yagyas. We set up in a peaceful semi-outdoor place above the bustle of the town and the temple. It was quite cold and the pundits were challenged to keep warm. Later in the day we had a chance to look around.

Here is a video taken around the centuries old Badrinath temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

The Alakanda River was roaring due to the heavy rains. Huge boulders created an awesome sight as the water crashed and churned upon impact. 

In the mornings we were blessed with clear views of the Himalaya.

Here is the Badrinath temple at twilight with the steam from Tapta Kund rising from the Alakanda river (Tapt Kund is hot springs and holy bathing spot at the base of the temple). The water is so hot, you can barely splash yourself with it.

Men with large baskets strapped to their backs wait in the parking lot a kilometer away from the temple to carry the sick and the infirm to the temple. An old woman is being carried to the temple in the photo below.

We had a busy three days performing yagya during the day and enjoying the sights and sounds of the small city of Badrinath during the evening. We set out at the conclusion of the yagyas to visit another holy city named Jyotir Math.  

In a day or two, I will post the highlights of that stop over. Stay tuned. You won't want to miss the exciting conclusion of our travels! Spoiler alert : car breakdowns, road washouts and more!