Traveling in the Himalayas was...
...Conversing with my friends; the gurgling streams, the sloping valleys, the towering mountains...
...Surrounding myself with natural beauty all day long… Oh! What a blessing it was!
...Taking delight in myth, history and faith mixed in equal parts… just like savoring a delectable dish whipped out by a Top Chef exclusively for me...
...Listening in to the silences and dipping myself in a world entirely different than my own...
...Conversing with my friends; the gurgling streams, the sloping valleys, the towering mountains...
...Surrounding myself with natural beauty all day long… Oh! What a blessing it was!
...Taking delight in myth, history and faith mixed in equal parts… just like savoring a delectable dish whipped out by a Top Chef exclusively for me...
...Listening in to the silences and dipping myself in a world entirely different than my own...
Traveling in the Himalayas was...
Falling in love...
once again... That I will be back here someday...
Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends,
but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers.
The mind can never break off from the journey. - Pat Conroy
The Complete Char Dham Yatra Posts Compilation
The complete Char Dham Yatra series saw close to 40 posts scattered over 7 months, covering 2 of the 4 coveted dhams of the circuit - Gangotri and Badrinath. Thus, to help easy navigation and simple reading, I am bundling up all these posts here so that we have all of it in one single place.
Before the Trip - Planning phase and Mumbai to Delhi
The Entire Trip of 5 Days in 42 Posts
DAY 1: On the road from Haridwar/Rishikesh to Uttarkashi (Night halt)
DAY 2:
Part I - Exploring the town of Gangotri -The temple and other places.
Part I - Exploring the town of Gangotri -The temple and other places.
Part II - Back to Uttarkashi from Gangotri
DAY 3: Travelogues describing the journey towards the second dham, Badrinath. Night halt at Birahi.
DAY 4:
Part I - Badrinath and around the town
Part I - Badrinath and around the town
Part II - Exploring the town of Badrinath and Visiting the Badrinath temple
Part III - Other Places to visit when in Badrinath
DAY 5: Back to Rishikesh and then to Mumbai
Part I - On the Way from Badrinath to Rishikesh
- Enroute to Rishikesh (Joshimath to Srinagar): Highway stopover
- The Panch Prayags - Making of River Ganga
Part II - Rishikesh travelogues
- Rishikesh Swami Dayananda Ashram - Where to Stay, Eat
- Places to visit in Rishikesh
- Various Ashrams in Rishikesh
- Temples on the way: Rishikesh to Haridwar
Part III - Haridwar travelogues
Trip Concludes
Photo posts
Thank You for your Wonderful Company!
Today, as I write this last post in the Char Dham series... I feel happy, content and a bit tired too, a feeling quite akin to the feeling that we get on our arrival from a long journey back home.
It's been close to seven months since I started penning The Char Dham yatra
here. When I had started out, I had never imagined it to go this long.
But then the place had so much to explore, so much to discover, so much
on offer and so much to take back that I really cannot be blamed. I
wanted to document most, if not all, of what I had seen, what I had
experienced, what I had come across... in detail... I had wanted to
relive an entire experience... And today, I cannot really say which out
of the two, the real and the virtual one, has been more fulfilling for
me.
Thank
you very much for accompanying me here and making it just as memorable
as the real one! I have enjoyed every moment spent with you and I do
hope to have your company in my future yatras as well :)
37 Comments
Hello my best wishes for these dates as indicated
ReplyDeleteand for the new year arrives that your wishes are met
Happy New Year 2012!.
A hug.
I have so enjoyed your trip through the Himalayas, Arti, and thank you for taking us along through your terrific captures and information that you've shared! Wishing you a very Happy New Year! I look forward to traveling with you through your photos in the coming year! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
These have been really great posts, watching what you saw through the photos was a great experience and of course your vivid narration was great as well :)
ReplyDeleteTake my bow on this wonderful travelogue...
ReplyDeleteI'm out of words to express anything else... :)
Sad that this journey has come to an end, I look forward to sharing more with you.
ReplyDeleteDear Arti, i think it is wonderful to do both - travel in real life, and than re-live it while you write about it and deepen the experience you've had, Thanks for sharing your magical memories and impressions!
ReplyDeleteA very nice post on Char Dham yatra! Every time I read your posts my memories are refreshed!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for this virtual trip of chaar dhaam yatra. I feel happy to be a part of this trip.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing and reading about your future yatras.
Have a lovely week ahead, dear Arti :-)
This series was my favorite of all your posts, I am sad to see it end!! But I hope you have more beauty planned for us in the coming year! How will you be celebrating New Year's eve and day?
ReplyDeleteFantastic summary..It was an interesting series..as usual containing lot of useful details..
ReplyDeleteThanks Arti..! Looking forward to your next Himalayan sojourn..!
wonderful post Arti!
ReplyDeleteloved it!
thank you so much for all the info and a ready reckoner for the char dham yatra!
Life is a beautiful journey - the destinations keep changing.
ReplyDeleteYou are a traveller at heart, and I'm sure that soon you'll find someplace to travel.
All the best for your future endeavors.
Wishing you & your loved ones a happy and prosperous New Year.
That was one enjoyable ride Arti !Each one of your post is beautiful and wonderfully narrated.Looking forward to more from you .
ReplyDeleteI hope that i am too able to make this wonderful trip and then your help would be invaluable in planning..
ReplyDeleteI loved your line "Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends.." And you have a nice way of managing all your posts Arti - All in one place!! Nice one..
ReplyDeleteA great and enlightening series . Hats off to you to bring in some much of information on Char dham .
ReplyDeleteAwesome!!! Very informative. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletewww.rajniranjandas.blogspot.com
Extremely beautiful post with equally lovely photos. Great.
ReplyDeleteWhat a long journy.I enjoyed most of them.
ReplyDeleteHope you'll keep your blog up. :)
You know, this one is bookmarked for future reference. You are a wonderful traveller, wanting to share all the things you enjoyed and experienced with your friends. I have taken the sunshine pic from this one for my desktop :D
ReplyDeleteI am grateful to you for taking me along on the journey! What a great time of year to be ending the virtual journey and looking back upon it -- perfect timing.
ReplyDeleteI loved the line about travel being 'dipping into a life different from my own' -- perfect!
Enjoyed following you. It was great.
ReplyDeleteYou take such beautiful shots of the mountains, Arti. I just love them! :)
ReplyDeleteSilhouettes over silhouettes of mountains. Wow! Definitely on my bucket list.
ReplyDeleteVery informative entries, my friend. Happy Holidays! Wish you more travels next year.
So happy to have known you through this blogging world. :)
What an amazing trip. I feel like I've seen it through your posts. But I'd still like to go there someday. Love that quote by Conroy. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteGayatri
An absolute treat Arti. Great compilation...
ReplyDeleteI guess we know which page to bookmark now on your blog, thanks:)
these are really beautiful photographs :) love them :)
ReplyDeleteSuch utterly magical photos - what glorious memories!
ReplyDeleteall of your posts took a lot of work. Amazing, really. Thank you for sharing and providing so much information. Wishing you a very happy and healthy new year, Arti.
ReplyDeletethank you for this. i will surely use this as a reference when i finally do my trip to the himalayas.
ReplyDeletehappy holidays, Arti!
magical photos!! I am glad I could be part of the yatra thru the photos :)
ReplyDeletexo Nav
http://navlandstyle.blogspot.com/
nice summary of the yatra... the day by day links gives a good idea to a new traveler... photos are good as usual...
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done as always Arti. I look forward to many more splendid posts in the new year. :)
ReplyDeleteI had also once an opportunity
ReplyDeleteto visit 'chaar dhaams'.
But,how beautifully you described
and presented it with beautiful pictures that is unique and amazing only.
Many many thanks Arti ...ji.
Stopping by to wish you and yours a happy 2012, I hope you have a magical year.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing journey you have shared with us. Your writing and photos really made it an adventure for me. Well done.
ReplyDeleteI have read till day4 and it was amazing. I am also planning to go from a long time. Lets see when Badrinath deity will call us..
ReplyDeleteDelighted you stopped by... Your suggestions, feedback are really appreciated. Thanks a lot :) Hope you visit again!
If you have asked a question, please give me at least 2 days to reply back. Thank you :)