Four
JOURNEY TO JOSHIMATH / GOVIND GHAT
The six buses carried on with their journey and passed through Joshimath. They were again held up before the gate prior to Vishnu Prayag, because there was already a very long line of vehicles waiting to cross the gate after the green signal. After Joshimath, only one-way traffic is allowed due to risky mountainous roads. All of our six buses returned to Joshimath Gurudwara for the night stay. In the morning of 7th July, they took to the road and bypassing Gobind Ghat, went straight to Badrinath temple.
On the other hand, the distance between Sonla and us increased and we passed through Chamoli at 1:40 p.m., through Bhantala at 1:50 p.m., through Virahi at 2 p.m. and reached Pipal Koti at 2:15 p.m. At the out-skirts of Pipal Koti, a new Gurudwara was taking shape for the service of yatris. At Pipal Koti bazaar, a P.C.O. was available. But its booth was already full of callers. After fifteen minutes, the bus moved on.
Within two hours, we were winding through the roads of Joshimath. It is a nicely developed city situated on a high inverted' V' shape mountain, at an altitude of 6105 ft. The Alaknanda flows roughly on its two sides. The snow skiing fields of Auli were also located nearby. We passed by the Gurudwara. There were a number of civil and defense establishments situated close by. As we were winding downwards on the other side of the mountain, we found a large expanse of workshops, storehouses and offices of the Jaiprakash Industries who were engaged in the construction of a dam over the Alaknanda for building a power house there. The construction sites as well the trucks on job at different points, were visible from the height. Soon we crossed the bridge over the Alaknanda and carried on the journey till we reached the second bridge. Here, we were stopped at the so-called 'Gate' to wait till the road ahead was clear of the down coming traffic.
It was 4:45 p.m., when we parked the bus. The yatris alighted and began roaming about. This spot was actually the ‘Vishnu Prayag’. The mountains around us were quite high. Towards Joshimath side, the long line of waiting vehicles was visible up to the Jaiprakash Industries complex. Near the bridge, there was a thatched hut tea shop. Near-by was an improvised wooden room, wherein rice was being boiled by a labourer. Some labourers were resting and some taking bath at the tap. On the riverbank was located a small temple. We were dazed to see a deer grazing a-top the high mountain and down the cliff flowed the tumultuous waters of the Alaknanda. The weary labourers were returning with their axes and shovels from the up-stream work sites. It was learnt that the work sites comprised the road widening and the dam-related projects where dynamite was frequently used.
The sun had set. It was becoming hazy. So everybody wanted that the journey be resumed at the earliest.
By this time we had passed by the famous ‘PANCH PRAYAG’ which according to the Hindu mythology were considered to be sacred as bathing therein was believed to be just washing off one’s sins.
The ‘PANCH PRAYAG’ crossed, were popularly known as:-
1. DEVPRAYAG The confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers.
2. RUDRAPRAYAG The confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers.
3. KARNAPRAYAG The confluence of Pindari and Alaknanda rivers.
4. NANDPRAYAG The confluence of Alaknanda and Nanda Kini rivers.
5. VISHNUPRAYAG The confluence of VishnuGanga and DhauliGanga rivers.
After all, the guard on duty past the ‘Vishnuprayag’ allowed the vehicles to move forward. It was 7:10 p.m. The River Alaknanda was roaring on our left and the high mountains stood gracefully on our right. The position got reversed when after a few kilometers we passed over a bridge spanning the said river. We continued on our journey steadily and reached the bus stand of Gobind Ghat at 7:45 P.M.
It was a matter of great pleasure and satisfaction to have covered the major portion of our journey. All the passengers got down from the bus. The conductor handed down the articles from the roof of the bus. The porters thronged about us. We paid Rs. 20/- per porter although they were initially demanding higher rates. In their pithoos they packed as many bags etc., as they could carry.
The bus stand appeared to have been newly expanded by blasting rocks. It was learnt that a large number of vehicles arrived at this bus stand daily during the yatra season carrying passengers who intend to visit Badrinath Temple and Sri Hemkund Sahib. Sufficient safe parking space was available for tourist buses, cars, motorcycles etc.
www.hemkundji.com
JOURNEY TO JOSHIMATH / GOVIND GHAT
The six buses carried on with their journey and passed through Joshimath. They were again held up before the gate prior to Vishnu Prayag, because there was already a very long line of vehicles waiting to cross the gate after the green signal. After Joshimath, only one-way traffic is allowed due to risky mountainous roads. All of our six buses returned to Joshimath Gurudwara for the night stay. In the morning of 7th July, they took to the road and bypassing Gobind Ghat, went straight to Badrinath temple.
On the other hand, the distance between Sonla and us increased and we passed through Chamoli at 1:40 p.m., through Bhantala at 1:50 p.m., through Virahi at 2 p.m. and reached Pipal Koti at 2:15 p.m. At the out-skirts of Pipal Koti, a new Gurudwara was taking shape for the service of yatris. At Pipal Koti bazaar, a P.C.O. was available. But its booth was already full of callers. After fifteen minutes, the bus moved on.
Within two hours, we were winding through the roads of Joshimath. It is a nicely developed city situated on a high inverted' V' shape mountain, at an altitude of 6105 ft. The Alaknanda flows roughly on its two sides. The snow skiing fields of Auli were also located nearby. We passed by the Gurudwara. There were a number of civil and defense establishments situated close by. As we were winding downwards on the other side of the mountain, we found a large expanse of workshops, storehouses and offices of the Jaiprakash Industries who were engaged in the construction of a dam over the Alaknanda for building a power house there. The construction sites as well the trucks on job at different points, were visible from the height. Soon we crossed the bridge over the Alaknanda and carried on the journey till we reached the second bridge. Here, we were stopped at the so-called 'Gate' to wait till the road ahead was clear of the down coming traffic.
It was 4:45 p.m., when we parked the bus. The yatris alighted and began roaming about. This spot was actually the ‘Vishnu Prayag’. The mountains around us were quite high. Towards Joshimath side, the long line of waiting vehicles was visible up to the Jaiprakash Industries complex. Near the bridge, there was a thatched hut tea shop. Near-by was an improvised wooden room, wherein rice was being boiled by a labourer. Some labourers were resting and some taking bath at the tap. On the riverbank was located a small temple. We were dazed to see a deer grazing a-top the high mountain and down the cliff flowed the tumultuous waters of the Alaknanda. The weary labourers were returning with their axes and shovels from the up-stream work sites. It was learnt that the work sites comprised the road widening and the dam-related projects where dynamite was frequently used.
The sun had set. It was becoming hazy. So everybody wanted that the journey be resumed at the earliest.
By this time we had passed by the famous ‘PANCH PRAYAG’ which according to the Hindu mythology were considered to be sacred as bathing therein was believed to be just washing off one’s sins.
The ‘PANCH PRAYAG’ crossed, were popularly known as:-
1. DEVPRAYAG The confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers.
2. RUDRAPRAYAG The confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers.
3. KARNAPRAYAG The confluence of Pindari and Alaknanda rivers.
4. NANDPRAYAG The confluence of Alaknanda and Nanda Kini rivers.
5. VISHNUPRAYAG The confluence of VishnuGanga and DhauliGanga rivers.
After all, the guard on duty past the ‘Vishnuprayag’ allowed the vehicles to move forward. It was 7:10 p.m. The River Alaknanda was roaring on our left and the high mountains stood gracefully on our right. The position got reversed when after a few kilometers we passed over a bridge spanning the said river. We continued on our journey steadily and reached the bus stand of Gobind Ghat at 7:45 P.M.
It was a matter of great pleasure and satisfaction to have covered the major portion of our journey. All the passengers got down from the bus. The conductor handed down the articles from the roof of the bus. The porters thronged about us. We paid Rs. 20/- per porter although they were initially demanding higher rates. In their pithoos they packed as many bags etc., as they could carry.
The bus stand appeared to have been newly expanded by blasting rocks. It was learnt that a large number of vehicles arrived at this bus stand daily during the yatra season carrying passengers who intend to visit Badrinath Temple and Sri Hemkund Sahib. Sufficient safe parking space was available for tourist buses, cars, motorcycles etc.
www.hemkundji.com
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