From an altitude of nearly 3000 meter from the sea level, with a vertical drop of 529 meter, the snowy slopes of Auli can bring the best - or alternately, the worst - in you. For, sliding down the beaten snow on skis at a speed of 20-40 km per hour can be a thrilling or harrowing experience, as the case may be. While coming down, perched on two precarious all your attention is nailed on the view in front of you, the way it is during a video game.

Only, the thrill this time is not vicarious; a single error of judgment can cost you a precious limb. This may be hard to digest for the buffs of Hindi movies, where seemingly all one needs to do for skiing is to slip into the ski boots, tilt one's body a little forward, and keep pushing yourself with a pair of clubs.
But reality can bite worse than frost! It requires hours of disciplined training, months of practice, and years of experience before one can actually enact the valiant hero on a ski, chasing the light-of-his-life on thin ice, with a song on his lips.

For the ski enthusiasts, Auli is an active destination. The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) offers a fortnight-long skiing course for the amateurs. There is also a weeklong course for the tourists. The charges are Rs 3,500 per head; students may avail of a discount. The skiing equipment is also available at an affordable dent on your purse. But all the time and money is worth spending for one single downhill journey that is made on the skis.

By Air

Nearest airport is Dehradun (300 km approx).

By Rail

Nearest railhead is Raiwala near Rishikesh (250 km approx); from here one can take a bus/tourist cars early morning to reach Joshimath/Auli by evening.

By Road

It is advisable to reach Joshimath by 4 pm, from where the ropeway chair can take you to Auli. Road to Auli is closed after dusk.

The Kedarnath shrine, one of the 12 jyotirlings of Lord Shiva, is a scenic spot situated, against the backdrop of the majestic Kedarnath range. At an altitude of 3,581 mt it is a 14 km trek from Gaurikund.

Dedar is another name of Lord Shiva, the protector and the destroyer. Shiva is considered the embodiment of all passion-love, hatred, fear, death and mysticism which are expressed through his various forms.

There are more than 200 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in Chamoli district itself, the most important one is Kedarnath. According to legend, the Pandavas after having won over the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra war, felt quilty of having killed their own brothers and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. He eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull.

On being followd he dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four other place and worshipped there as his manifestations.

The arms appeared at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at Madmaheshwar and his locks (hair) with head at Kalpeshwar. Kedarnath and the four aboce mentioned shrices are treated as Panch Kedar.

Kedarnath Temple

An imposing sight, standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by lofty snow covered peaks. The present temple, built in 8th century A.D. by Adi Shankaracharya, Stands adjacent to the site of an earlier temple built by the Pandavas.

The inner walls of the assembly hall are decorated with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the exquisitely arhitectured Kedarnath temple considered to be more than 1000 years old. Built of extremely large, heavy and evenly cut grey slabs of stones, it evokes wonder as to how these heavy slabs had been handled in the earlier days.

The temple has a "Garbha Griha" for worship and a Mandap, apt for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form.

Shankaracharya Samadhi

The Samadhi of Adi Guru Shankaracharya is located just behind the Kedarnath temple. It is said that after establishing four sacred Dhams in India, he went into his samadhi at an early age of 32 years.

By Air

Reach Delhi and take a train or a bus route to Rishikesh. Accessibility By Train : Nearest railway station is at Rishikesh (297 kms) from Kedarnath.

By Road

There are no direct bus routes to Kedarnath. There are deluxe and ordinary bus services to Rishikesh from most parts of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and other towns in Garhwal. From Rishikesh one can take a bus and thereon take a trek route.

Trek Route To Kedarnath

Kedarnath is 41 mile trek from Badrinath. However by road one has to drive 220 miles and undertake a 19 kms. on foot.

Perched at an altitude of 3,133 mt. above sea-level, in the middle of a beautiful valley, it is located on the right bank of holy river Alaknanda. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple of Shri Badrinathji is 15 mt. in height, built in the form of a cone with a small cupola of a gilt bull and spire.

Shri Badrinathji Temple

Legend dates the temple prior to the Vedic age, though the present temple is believed to have been established by Adi Shankaracharya, the 8th century A.D., Hindu reformist.

The temple has been renovated several times due to earlier damages by avalanches and looks modem now with a colourful "Singh Dwara" or the main entrance gate. The temple has three parts - Garbha Griha (the sanctum sanctorum), Darshan Mandap (for pujas) and Shobha Mandap (for devotees to assemble).

It is believed that the image of Badrinath had been thrown into the Alaknanda river during the time of the Buddhist era and later retrieved and reinstalled by Shankaracharya during the following Hindu revival.

There are 15 idols in the temple complex. Finely sculpted in black stone, the Badrinath (Vishnu) image is a metre high. Other images include those of Laxmi (Vishnu's consort), Garurh (Vishnu's mount), Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh etc.

With its great scenic beauty and attractive recreational spots in the vicinity, Badrinath attracts an ever increasing number of secular visitors each year.

By Air

Nearest airport ii at Jolly Grant (315 km away), Dehradun .

By Rail

Nearest railheads are at Rishikesh 297 km away and Kotdwara 327 km away, which are connected with major cities of North India. Rishikesh is directly connected by rail with Howrah, Mumbai, Delhi & Lucknow. There are two routes to Badrinath from Delhi:
Route 1 : Delhi-Rishikesh : 287 km by rail, Rishikesh-Badrinath : 297 km by road.
Route 2 :Delhi- Kotdwara- 300 km by rail, Kotdwara- Badrinath- 327 km by road.

By Road

Badrinath is connected by a motorable road with Rishikesh, Kotdwara, Dehradun, Haridwar and other hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon Hills.

This sacred shrine, situated at an altitude of 3,200 mt is the source of the river Bhagirathi. It is surrounded by the mountain peaks of Shivling, Satopanth and Bhagirathi sisters. Accessible by a motorable road, it is one of the most pious Hindu pilgrimages.

Temple Of Gangotri

As the legend goes, Raja Bhagirath used to worship Lord Shiva at the sacred stone near which the temple is located. It is believed that goddess Ganga first descended to earth from Heaven, at this stone. Amar Singh Thapa, the Gorkha Commander of Garhwal, in the 18th century A.D. constructed this temple. It is also believed that the Pandavas, came here to perform the great 'Deva Yagna' to atone the death of their kinsmen in the battle of Mahabharata.

Submerged Shivling

Submerged in the river, this natural rock Shivling is the place where, according to mythology, Lord Shiva sat when he received the Ganga in his matted locks. It is visible in winter months when water level decreases.

By Air

Nearest Airport is Jolly Grant (26 km from Rishikesh)

By Rail

Nearest railhead is at Rishikesh , 249 km.

By Road

Gangotri is connected by road to Uttarkashi, Tehri Garhwal and Rishikesh and from there to other parts of the country. Important road distances are Uttarkashi 97 km, Tehri 167 km, Dharasu 125 km, Yamunotri 232 km, Mussoorie 250 km.

The ancient Aryans had designated the region of the Central Himalayas as the Celestial Land - the Dev Bhumi; the colouring of the foliage has to be believed. March and April is flower time in the foot-hills, while June and July bring the wild flowers to the upper regions, where the dwarf rhododendron bushes resplendent with pink and mauve blooms the region in all their glory.

The flowering plants amaze and confuse, when, different branches of the same plant yield flowers of different colours and varying fragrance. European tourists, over the centuries have, enthused ecstatically over its valley, meadows, cliffs, hills, snow-capped mountains, serpentine rivers and crystal clear rivulets here and there displaying the rainbow. The hill station, idyllic in its charm, Ranikhet with its majestic pine trees, is 59.5 kilometres from Nainital.

Here amidst the rustling and encircled by dazzling white peaks, glistening in the sun, once camped a beauteous Queen of legend and lore, giving the town its name-Rani (Queen)-Khet (Field) falling in love-with the beauty of the place, she decided to stay and built a palace near what is now the Ranikhet Club.

Discovered and built entirely by the British in 1869. On a visit here, late Prime Minister Nehru commented "I wish more of our people living in plains below, would visit the Himalayas... They can have their fill of flower and noble trees in primival forests. They can breathe the free untained air which invigorates and they can return strengthened in body, mind and spirits.

Weaving an instant spell on the visitor, Ranikhet does not witness the paradox of a "madding" rush of visitors with the onset of summer and the corresponding departure with the summer's end, but draws visitors all the year round.

Nanda Devi Fair

Nanda Devi Mela is a fair of great religious and cultural significance. It is held at Nanda Devi Temple in September to commemorate the memory of goddesses, Nanda and Sunanda.

Upat and Kalika

With one of the best 9 hole golf links in the country, Upat is a boon to the enthusiast. With the added attraction of private orchards, it is 5.6 km away. Just one kilometre from Upat is Kalika with its famous temple to the Goddess Kali. It also has good forest nursery. A beautiful snowcapped mountain peak is available on the other side of the golf link at Upat.

Chaubatia

As the name implies, these are four, fruit gardens, with a Government Fruit Research Centre, complete with a fruit sales depot and cafeteria. It is 10 kilometres from Ranikhet.

Bhalu Dam

Main Source of the town's water supply comes from the Bhalu Dam, 3.2 kilometres from Chaubatia. It is famous for its fishing.

Majhkhali

On the Ranikhet - Almora road, 13 km, is a spot of entrancing, celestial beauty. Here is an awe-inspiring view of the majesty of the snoy peaks. The U.P. Government Agriculture Farm is situated here.

Co-operative Drug Factory

Three kilometres down the road to Ramnagar, is unique venture. Here are manufactured, on co-operative basis, Ayuvedic drugs from local herbs. The factory deals with the drugs from the research stage down to production.

By Rail

There is a railhead situated at Kathgodam, 84-km away from Ranikhet.

By Road

Buses from all over Kumaon, including from the railhead Kathgodam.

Local Transport

For local transportation within the town jeeps, taxis and local buses are available.