History and Mythology About Gaurikund
According to a Hindu folklore, Gauri committed herself to penance involving many ascetic and yogic practices to win over Shiva’s affections. Local tradition claims that Gauri Kund is the spot where Gauri lived while carrying out these practices and it was here that Shiva proposed to her for marriage and they were finally married at Triyugi Narayan, which is not too far away.
According to another legend this place is also associated with the legend of how Ganesha acquired his elephant head. The lake is also famous as “Parvati Sarovar” as this was the place where goddess Parvati had acquired her son Ganesha. Goddess Parvati had formed an image of Ganesha from the soap lather on her body and breathed life into it. She placed Ganesha at the entrance of her home as her janitor to prevent anyone from entering while she was bathing. Now Lord Shiva happened to return at this point of time and was stopped by Ganesha. The offended Lord Shiva cut off the boy’s head. Parvati insisted that the boy be brought back to life and Shiva took the head of a wandering elephant and placed it on Ganesha’s body and life was restored and Parvati had her son back.
Weather at Gaurikund; Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Gaurikund is during the summers or monsoons, basically when the Char Dham Yatra is perpetuated. In the winters, Gaurikund is shut down for the devotees due to heavy snow and closure of the doors of Kedarnath and other Chardham Yatra temples.
Gaurikund in Summer
Commencing from the month of March and lasting till June, the summer season in Gaurikund is quite pleasant with the temperature fluctuating between 15°C and 24°C. The cool breeze throughout the season steers the temperature down to cool rather than hot.
Gaurikund in Monsoon
From July to September is the monsoon season where the temperature is between 5°C and 20°C. The month of July sees a heavy rainfall and the temperature goes down during this season.
Gaurikund in Winter
October to February is the time for the winter season when the place receives heavy snowfall. The temperature ranges between -5°C and 16°C. Ideally people do not visit Gaurikund in the winter season due to snow.\
Location of Gaurikund Temple
The place offers vivid greenery with Vasuki Ganga flowing from below. It is located amidst lush green forest offering serene environs and panoramic views. Gaurikund is situated 28 kms from Ukhimath and 6 km from Sonprayag. Gaurikund Temple is located in Gaurikund ( Adjacent to Mandakini river enroute Kedarnath).
This quaint little hamlet is named after a thermal spring which did not after the floods of 2013, but a small stream of hot water still flows at the place where the kund used to be. Before the flash floods of 2013, Gaurikund was the top tourist destination catering to almost thousands of pilgrims every day, but the flash floods have left a devastating effect on this place and it is now being restored by the state government.
How to Reach Gaurikund Temple
By Air : The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant which is situated in Dehradun. It is about 252 km from Gaurikund. One can take a taxi from Dehradun to Gaurikund.
By Rail : The nearest railheads are Rishikesh and Haridwar, which are 212 km and 232 km from Gaurikund respectively. One can hire a cab from these places to Gaurikund as per your convenience.
By Road : A smooth connection with the major tourist attractions like Son Prayag, Rudraprayag, Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Dehradun gives a comfortable ride to people who choose roads as the means to reach Gaurikund. There is efficient cab service from these destinations that connect Gaurikund.
Tourist Attractions In & Around Gaurikund Temple
Gauri Kund Lake
Gauri Kund Lake is a famous Hindu pilgrimage site situated at a distance of 28 km from Guptkashi and 5 km from Sonprayag. This kund is located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state. Gauri Kund is idyllically situated on the banks of Mandakini River. It is also the base camp for trekking to Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand.
Sonprayag
Sonprayag is a place of religious significance located in-route to Kedarnath Dham. It is located in Near Kedarnath ( Between Guptkashi and Gaurikund).’Prayag’ means confluence and Sonprayag lies at the confluence of two holy rivers Basuki and Mandakini. In Hindu religion, bathing at the Prayags is believed to be holy and attainment of ‘Moksha’ is possible.
Triyuginarayan
Triyuginarayan is a well known Hindu pilgrimage located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. Triyugi Narayan is the village where the wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati took place. One can see the three sacred kinds of ponds namely Rudra kund, Vishnu kund and Brahma kund that have medicinal properties. These kunds are replenished by the Saraswati kund, which according to Hindu legend originated from the navel of Lord Vishnu.
Kedarnath Dham, located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, is one of the most paramount locations for worshipers of Shiva. The air appears to be reverberating with the name of Lord Shiva amid the mighty snow-clad peaks, enchanting meadows and forests of the lower mountain range of Himalayas. Situated in a breathtaking location, near the source of the Mandakini River and at the height of 3,584 metres, Kedarnath Dham celebrates the greatness of Lord Shiva. Kedarnath temple is one of the 12 Jyotir Lingams and is also the most important temple among the Panch Kedars (group of 5 Shiva temples in Garhwal Himalayas).
A religiously important town which is about 47 km before the holy temple of Lord Shiva, Kedarnath, Guptkashi is where Lord Shiva stays in the form of Vishwanath (Lord of the Universe). It is an important Hindu pilgrimage in Uttarakhand. This place justifies its name Guptkashi which means ‘Hidden Benares’ by linking itself with the epic of Mahabharatha.
Tungnath
The highest Kedar amongst the five, Tungnath is Situated at an elevation of 3680 m and on the Chandranath mountain, Tungnath is an important Hindu pilgrimage site that is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is where his hands are worshipped. This holy temple is situated in the Rudraprayag District of Garhwal Region of Uttarakhand and is at a distance of about 4 km from the gorgeous meadow of Chopta.
Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath
Omkareshwar Temple Ukhimath, or Omkareshwar Pith is an ancient Hindu temple present in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. It houses the deities Kedarnath and Madmaheshwar during winters (November- April) when the temples of Kedarnath and Madmaheshwar remain closed.
What is Gauri Udiyar Cave Temple Famous for?
This temple is famous for a variety of reasons:
- Some of the festivals celebrated at Gaurikund Temple are:
Navratri : Navratri or Durga Puja is celebrated as a symbol of victory of good over evil. As per legend, Goddess Durga defeated the demon king Mahishasura to save the world and restore Dharma. Celebrations include stage decorations, recital of the legend, enacting of the story, and chanting of the scriptures of Hinduism. Here is the list of Navratri colours for 9 days.
Mahashivratri : This festival is in the honour of Lord Shiva. Devotees believe that he is the Adi guru who is the source of the Yogi tradition. It is observed by remembering Shiva and chanting prayers, fasting, doing Yoga as well as meditating.
- Devotees visit this temple to seek fulfillment of the following : Marriage, Get married to a person of a girl’s choice, Health and longevity of husband
Tourists Can Visit This Temple During Their Char Dham Yatra
Among the countless religious sites and circuits that devotees visit in Uttarakhand, one of the most prominent is the Char Dham Yatra. This Yatra or pilgrimage is a tour of four holy sites – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath – nestled high up in the Himalayas. The Yamunotri temple, lodged in a narrow gorge close to the source of River Yamuna (the second-most sacred Indian river after River Ganga) in Uttarkashi district, is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. The district of Uttarkashi is also home to Gangotri dedicated to Goddess Ganga, the most sacred of all Indian rivers. Located in the Rudraprayag district lies Kedarnath, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Badrinath, home to the sacred Badrinarayan Temple, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Gauri Kund is an important Hindu pilgrimage site on the way to Kedarnath Dham, which is another 14 kilometres uphill from there. While on a visit to Kedarnath you have to take the permission of the Nehru Institute of mountaineering from their base at Gaurikund. There is also a hot water spring located at Gaurikund. It is believed that a dip in this pond makes a person pure. Additionally, after a dip, a holy darshan in the shrine would fulfil all their desires. Gaurikund also serves as a base camp for Kedarnath trek and pilgrims take a night halt before starting trek to Kedarnath temple during their Chota Char Dham yatra. Now the trek route has been changed from Gaurikund to Sonprayag.
