Garhwal Himalayas

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Garhwal valley possess stunning perfection in terms of natural beauty. Surrounded by snowy, cloud bedecked mountains, the valley stands sharply against the blue sky, the waterfalls flashing white against the mountainsides. As far as the eye can see, down the length of the valley, up the lower mountain slopes, there are flowers and flowers, and still more flowers. More than a thousand Himalayan varieties of flowers, ferns and herbs are massed in the valley in all their frail beauty and scented sweetness.

History of Garhwal

The history of Garhwal is older than that of the Ramayan and Maha- bharata. It is a land of popular myths, like that of Lord Shiva appearing as Kirat, of Urvashi, Shakuntala and the Kauravas and Pandavas. Worship of Lord Shiva is pre-dominant in this region. The Khasas were the dominant race in the Garhwal and Kumaon Himalayas till the coming of the Rajputs and Brahmins from the plains.

Destinations in Garhwal

Chamoli :
A blessed spot, the place seems to have been particularly dear to Lord Shiva. There are hundreds of shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, the most important of all being the shrine of Badrinath. During monsoons, a thousand brilliant blooms bursts forth in the fascinating "Valley of flowers".

Rudraprayag :
Named after Lord Shiva, Rudraprayag is situated at the holy confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers, at a distance of 34 kms. from Srinagar (Garhwal). The presence of two separate routes for Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham from Rudraprayag render great importance to the place. The entire region is blessed with immense natural beauty, places of religious importance, lakes & glaciers.
Dehradun :
Dehra Dun lies in a wooded valley with the Himalayan ranges to the north, the Shivalike hills to the south and the rivers Ganga and Yamuna to its eastern and Western Flanks. From Dehradun places of religious importance in the Garhwal Hills can be accessed - Kedarnath, Badrinath Gangotri, Yamunotir, Hemkund Sahib etc.

Haridwar :
It is said that when the Gods left their footprints on the land of Haridwar. Haridwar stands as the gateway to the four pilgrimages of Garhwal. Mentioned as Mayapuri, Gangadwar, Mokshadwar in the ancient scriptures and epics, Haridwar has always remained as a major Shaktipeeth for the devotees.