Rudraprayag:
Named after Lord Shiva (Rudra), Rudraprayag is situated at the holy confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers, at a distance of 34 kms. from Srinagar(Garhwal). The meeting of the Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers has a unique beauty of its own and it seems as if two sisters were embracing each other. It is believed that to master the mysteries of music, Narad Muni worshipped Lord Shiva, who appeared in his Rudra Avtaar (incarnation) to bless Narad.The Shiva and Jagdamba temples are of great religious importance.
Till recently, Rudraprayag was a part of district Chamoli and Tehri. In 1997, the Kedarnath Valley and parts of district Tehri & Pauri were conjoined to form Rudraprayag as a new district.
The entire region is blessed with immense natural beauty, places of religious importance, lakes and glaciers
Augustmuni:
18 kms. from Rudraprayag, at an altitude of 1000 mts. and on the bank of river Mandakini, this is the place were rishi Agastya meditated for years.
A temple by the name of Agasteshwar mahadev is dedicated to sage Agastya and this temple is also of an archaeological significance; figures of Gods and Goddess have been carved out on stones. On the occasion of Baisakhi a large fair is held and many devotees come here to worship and pay their homage to God.
For food and accommodation, a Forest Rest House and private hotels are available. Other facilities include market, bank, hospitals etc
Guptkashi:
Guptkashi has a great importance quite like that of Kashi. The ancient Vishwanath temple, Ardhnareshwar temple and Manikarnik Kund, where the two streams of Ganga and Yamuna are believed to meet, are the main places of attraction in Guptkashi.
It is believed that after the battle of Mahabharata, the Pandavas wanted to meet Lord Shiva and seek his blessing. But Lord Shiva evaded from Guptkasi to Kedarnath as he did not want to meet the Pandavas, the reason being that although they had fought for the right cause, they were also responsible for destroying their own dynasty.
Guptkashi is situated at an elevation of 1319 mts. The one Stupa is situated in Nala which is quite close to Ukhimath. Some local people call it the grave of Rana Nal.
3 kms. from Guptkashi, the remains of Ramgarh(in Ronitpur) still seem to echo the love between Lord Krishna’s son Anniruddha and Vanasur’s daughter Usha.
Sonprayag
At an elevation of 1829 mts. and on the main Kedarnath route, Son Prayag lies at the confluence of river Basuki and Mandakini. The holy site of Son Prayag is of immense religious significance. It is said that a mere touch of the holy water of Son Prayag helps one to attain the “Baikunth Dham”. Kedarnath is at a distance of 19 kms. from Son Prayag. Triyuginarayan, which is supposed to be the marriage place of Lord Shiva and Parvati, is at a distance of 14 kms. by bus and 5 kms. on foot from here.
Khirshu:
The snow covered mountains of Khirsu offers a panoramic view of the central Himalayas and attracts a large number of tourists. From here one can get a clear view of many named and unnamed peaks.
Located 19 kms. away from Pauri at an altitude of 1700 mts., Khirsu is a peaceful spot, free from pollution. The tranquility of the adjoining thick Oak and Deodar forests and people orchards, is broken only by chirping of birds.
The ancient temple of Ghandiyal Devta in the vicinity is well worth a visit. Accommodation is available at Tourist rest house and Forest rest house.
Gaurikund:
At a distance of 5 kms. from Son Prayag and at a altitude of 1982 mts., Gaurikund is the last bus station on the Kedarnath route. Before proceeding for Kedarnath on foot, people bath in the hot water pond here and visit the Gauri Devi temple. This is the place where Goddess Parvati meditated to attain Lord Shiva.
Deoriatal:
It is situated on the Chopta-Ukimath road about 2 kms. from road head at Sari village. This lake has captivating surroundings with forest all around. Te reflection of the mighty Chaukhamba peak in the lake creates a beautiful effect.
The road is motorable upto Sari, 10 kms. from Ukhimath and from there one has to trek about 2 kms. All arrangements have to be made for a night halt at the spot.
Chopta:
Situated on the Gopeshwar – Ukhimath road, about 40 kms. from Gopeshwar at an altitude of about 2900 mts., Chopta is one of the most picturesque places in the entire Garhwal region. It provides a breathtaking view of the Himalayan ranges and surrounding areas. P.W.D. guest house is available at Dogalbhita 8 kms. from Chopta.
Ukhimath:
This is the winter seat of Lord Kedarnath and worship is done here during the winters when the temples of Kedarnath remain closed. The temples of Usha and Aniruddha, Lord Shiva and Parvati are worth visiting. Ukimath is at a distance of 41 kms. from Rudraprayag and 13 kms. from Guptkashi. It is situated at an elevation of 1311 mts.
Gandhi Sarovar :
A small lake from where Yudhishthir, the eldest of the Pandavas, is believed to have departed to heaven is known as Gandhi Sarovar. The floating ice on the sparkling water is a fascinating site.
