Yatra

All you people who are planning any kind of trip or journey, Yaatra is the word for you. Yatra.com is the solutions to all your travel needs and planning. Yaatra India not only provides you with all the necessary and relevant information about the pricing, availability of airline tickets, hotels, buses and rental cars, but also you can book any of these through Yatra. India has got a huge and wide network covering over five thousands cities and many rural areas too all across the world. You can be relaxed and sure of getting the best offers and tickets at the best rates for endless destinations.

With multi lingual customer care service it can entertain the queries of people for different areas and regions. Yatra has collaborated with around 2500 hotels in India and ninety thousand hotels all around the world. So it also provides you with online room booking facilities and that too on very competitive prices. Yatra.com also provides its services through mobile phones and retail mediums.

In India there are many religious journeys that take place at different states and during different times. Yatra.com provides you an easy way to book travel services for these holy journeys. Here is a brief description of different journeys (Yatra) that take place in India.

India is the land of many religions. Since the start of mankind many religious and spiritual leaders have come here to this part of the world and preached different religion and ideology. The country of India has many religious and spiritual centres that will bring much more meaning to your life. There are many Yatra or pilgrimages that people do at least once in their lives so as to remove all the misdeeds and other ill-doings from their life. Some of the yatras that are done in India are:

a. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra b. Vaishno Devi Yatra c. Amarnath Yatra d. Char Dham Yatra e. Rath Yatra f. Shirdi Yatra g. Gangotri Yatra h. Pandharpur Yatra i. Deoghar Yatra j. Hemkund Sahib Yatra

1. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra: This pilgrimage is one of the holy pilgrimages in the Hindu religion. The trip comprises of a visit to the abode of Lord Shiva on the mount Kailash that is situated on the Nepal China border. This mountain is believed to be the most sacred spots on Earth. In order to visit this place you have to have good intentions in mind and a strong and healthy body in order to come here. One should visit this place to have a calm and composed atmosphere and to do away with all the misdeeds, ego, hatred and violence.

The Indian pilgrims must have a valid passport to take up this Yatra. There are a number of ways in which in this Yatra can be done. There are two standard routes to Kailash Mountain as there are less difficulties and less loss of lives. The first route is via the India which is organized by the Government of India. This route takes the pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh to Tibet. The other route is via Nepal but there are a number of restrictions that are imposed on this route. Every year an advertisement will be published in all the major dailies of the country in the month of February regarding the same. A definite batch of Yatris could only take the Yatra at a time. The pilgrims are chosen after a medical check-up and other formalities and then are grouped in separate batches. These batches would then be informed about their batch number and other information related to it by the month of May. The route to Yatra requires a lot of physical and mental strength. An estimated cost to visit Kailash Mansarovar for a single person is about Rs. 50,000.

2. Vaishno Devi Yatra: This is another holy Hindu Yatra that is done to the holy temple of Mata Vaishno Devi that is situated in the Jammu and Kashmir state of India. Vaishno Devi Mata is called as “Mata Rani” that is the manifestation of goddess Mother. This temple is dedicated to Shakti, which means a dynamic force that is capable of moving all the objects and activities in the universe.

In order to reach this holy temple, you have to take a train ride to Katra, which is a small town that is situated in the Reasi district of the state. This place is about 14 kilometres away from the main shrine of the goddess. The shrine is visited by almost 8 million people annually. You can visit this temple at all the times of the year.

The 14 kilometre route from Katra to main shrine room is full of twists and turns where you can enjoy the panoramic views of the valley. The first stop on your route should be at Banganga, which is about 1 km. away from Katra. Take a holy bath in Banganga and enjoy the famous langar (free food) that is organized by T-Series Industries.

The next stop will be at Charanpaduka which is about 3.5 kilometres away from Katra. The legend has it that Mata Vaishano Devi took rest on her way to Trikuta Hills. The place is believed to footprints of Mata and thus it is called as Charanapaduka. The last and final stop is the Ardhkuwari that is about 3 km. from Charanapaduka. You can visit the temple of Ardhkuwari and Gerbhjoon Caves where Mata Vaishno Devi hid herself from Lord Shiva.

The final destination before reaching the main shrine is the Sanjichat which is the highest and steepest point in the entire journey. From here you can enjoy the most beautiful and panoramic views of the valley.

All along the route there are a number of restaurants that serve light food, biscuits and other stuffs. Do follow the instructions that are issued by the shrine board.

3. Amarnath Yatra: The Amarnath Yatra is another popular Hindu Yatra that is visited by more than half million pilgrims annually. This Yatra is organized during the 45 day festival that is held during the month of Sharaavana. The holy cave is situated on the Amarnath Mountain which is in Jammu and Kashmir State of India. It lies in an ice stalagmite that resembles the Shiva Linga which grows during the months of August and September and takes an appropriate shape. The Shiva Lingam is expected to grow and shrink according to the shape and movements of moon. The legend has it that at this place, Lord Shiva explained the eternity and secrets of life to his wife, Goddess Parvati. The Amarnath Mountain also has two other formations that belong to Goddess Parvati and their son, Lord Ganesha.

The climate on the mount Amarnath is highly predictable mainly due to its location at such a high altitude. There can be heavy snowfall and rainfall and the temperature can fall to -10 degrees. The registration of the travellers is mandatory so that there is no chaos and confusion at the main site. It also helps in reporting the lost and dead persons. Many terrorist activities have taken in the past which have killed many innocent pilgrims. In case of death, the family members of the deceased will receive a compensation of one Lakh rupees. The Yatra is conducted by Jammu and Kashmir Government and allows only a certain number of pilgrims during a particular season. The registration of the travellers is done by the J&K Bank which is the sole authority and has the rights for doing registration. The charges for registration are Rs. 15 only.

The Yatra also involves long distances of mountainous terrains which need to be covered so that you can reach the main shrine temple. Thus you need to fit both physically and mentally. You are advised to do breathing exercises and cover at least 6 kilometres every day before coming for the Yatra. Hypertension is common at such high altitudes and thus you are advised to take appropriate opinions and medications from your doctor.

4. Char Dham Yatra: Char Dham Yatra is all about visit to the four spiritual centers in the country. These centers are known for their peaceful and cultural destinations that attracts visitors from all over the world. Hindus at least visit one of these centers once in their lifetime. These centers of spiritual pilgrimages are; Badrinath in the Northern India, Rameshwaram in the southern India, Dwarka in the western part of India which acts as a gateway to the country and Puri that is located in the eastern part of India. We will be explaining these four centers in brief and also give you some tips that you can follow while going on Char Dham Yatra.

It is believed that Adi Shankaranath in the 8th century decided to travel all over the country in order to unite and connect the Hindus all over the country. So he travelled all over the country and grouped these four centres as the avatars of Lord Vishnu. These Dhams (centers) form a perfect square representing these centres on the farther directions of India.

Badrinath: This is a beautiful city that is situated in the Uttarakhand state of India. This centre is considered as the holiest of all fours. The centre is in the Garwal Mountains that are located on the banks of River Alaknanda. The Badrinath Dham is said to be associated with Lord Shiva also. Lord Shiva discovered the image of Lord Badrinarayan made of black stone. He originally placed this image in the Tapt Kund but it was moved later to its present place by the king of Garwal.

Rameshwaram: This Dham is situated in the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India. Rameshwaram Yatra centre is situated in the Gulf of Munnar that is at the very tip of Indian peninsula. The temple was constructed here when Lord Rama built the Rama Setu to Sri Lanka. This temple is amongst the 12 jyotirlingas that are present in India. These jyotirlingas are the shrines of Lord Shiva that are worshipped also.

Dwarka: This is city is located on the banks of River Gomti. The city is located in the western part of India. This city was constructed by Vishwakarma and was built completely of sandstone and limestone. The legend has it that this city was the dwelling place of Lord Krishna and this city has been damaged and reconstructed six times before it was finally made to its present form.

The city is known for its Dwarkadheesh Temple that is dedicated to Lord Krishna.

Jagannath Puri: Puri is located in the Orissa state of India and is regarded as the Dham on the eastern side of India. Puri is situated on the Bay of Bengal coast.

The main deity is Lord Krishna which is called as Lord Jagannath. The city has the only shrine in the country where the sister of Lord Krishna, Subhadra is also worshipped along with here her brothers namely; Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra. The temple is about 1000 years old and is the main center for the Govardhana Matha, which is one of the four institutions that were established by Adi Shankaracharya.

5. Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra: The Rath Yatra is the auspicious Hindu festival of Lord Jagannath that is celebrated at Puri in the state of Orissa. This festival attracts more than 5 million devotees annually and is celebrated during the month of June or July. This festival marks the arrival of the Lord Jagannath to the temple of Gundicha Maa.

The Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath comprises of a fourteen meter long and 12 wheeled chariot that is made especially for the Lord. People used to draw this chariot from Snana Vedi, a holy bathing place where the Lord used to take his bath. Along with the chariot of Lord Jagannath, similar chariots of Lord Balabhadra and Subhadra are also drawn by the devotees from Snana Vedi. The images of the deities become discoloured during the bathing and thus they are kept away from the public eyes. These images are then painted beautifully and then sent to the Gundicha temple.

Devotees from all over the world come here to pull the chariot of the Lord with the help of ropes. On the day of the festival, the Hindu devotees are not allowed inside the temple premises, so that the foreigners and other non-hindu visitors can catch a glimpse of the Rath Yatra. This event is attended by millions of devotees and is telecasted on many Indian and international channels.

6. Shirdi Yatra: This Yatra involves a visit to Shirdi which is known as the state of Sai Baba. Shirdi is a small village that is situated in the Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra state of India. Shirdi is one of the peaceful on the earth where you can feel Sai Baba all around.

The Shirdi Yatra is one of the biggest accomplishments for the Sai Baba devotees. Some of the places that you must visit when you come to Shirdi:

Samadhi Temple: This is place where Sai Baba took his Samadhi and left the world forever. His last parting words were “Do Not Think I Am Dead and Gone. You Will Hear Me From My Samadhi And I Shall Guide You”. This place also has the famous margosa tree that has been mentioned in the Shri Sai Satcharitra. The Samadhi of Sai Baba is made up of white marble completely and this natural majestic demeanor is views and worshipped by millions of followers every year. There is an aarti that happens at 5 in the morning which is followed by morning song and the temple finally closes at 10 PM after the Shej Aarti. If you happen to come to Shirdi do come here on Thursday when the Palki of Sai Baba is carried out.

Khandoba Temple: This temple complex has a special place in Shirdi. At this site, Sai Baba is dressed in traditional kafni. Legend has it that a white beard man with sparkling eyes came to the temple as one of the guests of a marriage party and the priest addressed him as ‘Ya Sai’.

Gurusthan: This place is meant as ‘Place of Guru’. This place is significant in Shirdi because Sai baba spent most of his life here. The tomb of his guru is also present here under the Neem tree. This tree has been an extension of the Gurusthan and a pair of marble padukas and a shivalinga is also kept for the devotees. A small dhuni is also kept which is lit on every Thursdays and Fridays.

Lendi Gardens: Sai Baba used to spend most of his time in these gardens. The gardens have some tombs and a shrine room which has a lamp that was lit by Sai Baba.

Dwarkamai: This is another one of the cherished treasures of Sai Baba. Dwarkamai used to be an old mosque before the visit of Sai Baba. Sai baba restored the mosque and a portrait of Sai baba sitting on a stone. The mosque also has other belongings of Sai baba such as Palkhi, Kolamba, Water Pot and a grinding stone.

7. Yamunotri Yatra: Yamunotri is the source of Yamuna River and serves as the seat of Goddess Yamuna. The place is one the four sites of the sacred Chota Char Dham Yatra.

The sacred shrine of Yamunotri is situated on the banks of River Yamuna. The shrine of Yamunotri is the western most shrines of the Garhwal Mountains. The main attraction of this place is the temple that is devoted to Goddess Yamuna and the holy springs of Janki Chatti.

Some of the other attractions of this place are:

Surya Kund: This is a group of hot springs that are situated about 7 kilometres away from the main temple. This Kund is used mainly for cooking potatoes and rice that will be offered to the deity.

Jankichatti: This is the last point en route to Yamunotri. This place is used by the pilgrims to stay at night because there are limited accommodation options at Yamunotri. Another spectacular sight at this place is the thermal springs that offer a refreshing bath to the pilgrims.

Hanumanchatti: this place is located about 216 kilometres away from the Rishikesh. This place is the confluence of rivers Hanuman Ganga and Yamuna.

8. Pandharpur Yatra: This is also called as the Palkhi festival of Maharashtra. This Yatra is held during the months of June and July at the famous temple of Pandharpur. Thousands of pilgrims from all over India carry palkhis which bear the images of the saints in Maharashtra. These pilgrims are called as Warkaris which worship the Vithoba which is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

9. Deoghar Yatra: This Yatra is organized on the state of Jharkhand. Deoghar is known as the Baidyanath Dham which is situated on the eastern side of India. This jyotirlinga at Baidyanath Temple is amongst the twelve jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva that is found in the country. Many pilgrims called as Kawaria carry the holy waters of River Ganga and offer it to the jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva. The Yatra starts during the Sharavani month of Hindu calendar and lasts for more than 30 days. During this time many camps are organized all over the country to help these Kawarias.

10. Hemkund Sahib Yatra: This is an important pilgrimage tour amongst the Hindus and Sikh. The holy lake of Hemkund is situated in the valley of flowers at an altitude of more than 3000 meters above sea level. The lake is surrounded by seven snow covered mountains which are collectively called as Hemkund Mountains. Along the shores of the lake, Guru Gobind Singh ji, which is the tenth and last guru of Sikhs, was unified with the god after undergoing a long and hectic meditation. Nearby to the lake is the Lakshman Temple that is devoted to Lakshman who was the younger brother of Lord Rama.

According to Hindu mythology, a number of Hindu sages and teachers performed their penance. The lake is the source of Lakshman Ganga that streams out and merges with Pushpawati stream at Ghangaria.