DAY 4
Guptkashi - Badrinath (198 kms / 07 hrs approx)
After breakfast leave for Badrinath. En route visit Narsingh Temple, and Adi Sankracharya Samadhi at Joshimath, then drive to Badrinath. On arrival check in to hotel, later visit Vyas Cave, Ganesh Cave, Bhim Bridge & origin of River Saraswati at Mana village the last village before the Tibetan border, later go to temple for holy Darshan / Pooja & attend evening Arti. Dinner & Overnight stay at Badrinath.
BADRINATH:
Cradled in the twin Mountain ranges of Nar and Narayan is the holiest of the four main shrines - Badrinath along the left bank of river Alaknanda with the towering Neelkantha Peaks as the splendid backdrop. Once the spot was carpeted with 'badris' or wild berries and hence was famous as Badri van. Legend has it, when the Ganga was requested to descend to earth to help suffering humanity; the earth was enable to with stand the
force of its descent. Therefore the mighty Ganga was split into 12 holy channels. Alaknanda was one of them that later became the abode of Lord Vishnu or Badrinath.
MANA VILLAGE:
Inhabited by an Indo-Mongolian tribe, it is the last Indian village before Tibet. The women of the village offer Choli to the deity on closing day of the temple each year.
BHIM PUL : On the other side of Mana village, a massive rock forming a natural bridge lies over the roaring Saraswati River. It presents a spectacular view of water thundering down through the narrow passage under the rock and is believed to have been placed there by Bhim, the second eldest among the five Pandava brothers
VYAS GUFA (CAVE):
Near Mana Village, this is a rock-cave where Ved Vyas is believed to have composed the Mahabharata and the pauranic commentaries.