Where the Heaven Starts

The word was well known to me "DEVOBHUMI", but I was not familiar with it. In the moth of May, just before monsoon we are there, my dad, my mom and me... just a small family tour. When I got a call from my dad, that he had some meeting in Delhi and wants to visit the Devobhumi once again, there was nothing to look back. It was my first opportunity to see the place where the Heaven starts.

When we reached the Gateway of Himalaya, "Haridwar" - Hari ki Dwar, means the door to heaven where God Bishnu (Hari) Lives. The Sun had already ready to fly down and a pleasant breezy air was playing with the Greens of the valley. The small town Haridwar, bears the eternal symbol of Bhakti, in its construction, in its atmosphere and in its people. As the Marbel Murti of God Shiva attracts you so as His Monkeys, even just walking on the road you will feel that "No you are not in this Cruel and Selfish World, you are in some where else, where everything is beautiful from its heart. When we walked to the "Har Ki Pouri", the Sun had already finished his job of this part of the world. Thousands of people were gathered there to watch "Sandhya Aaroti". It was a wonderful moment, a great mixture of Bhakti and Beauti. The Bells of Manosa Mandirs were ringing from the top of the Hill. Every where there is only one "Mantra", only one sound "Ganga Maiya Ki Jai".

Haridwar The Holy City

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Another Nice day, the morning Haridwar was covered with Holy Smoke all over. When we left Haridwar towards the Garhwal Valley, Sun was yet to flourish his power. The nature had already woke up from her beautiful dream, refreshed by the early morning's drizzle and it was reflecting in the trees, in the birds, in the sky everywhere.

Our car was moving at quite a good speed. After a hour and half we had our first halt at Narendranagar, a small hilly town, perhaps the first one in this route. The road was decorated with flower and coloured leaves crossing like snake passes and each of the hillocks near the roads are captured by small small cottages and houses. Unlike Haridwar, its calm and quite attitude was really impressing. After a small break, we again continued our journey. It was still 280km away. As we are climbing higher and higher the Garhwal Valley, nature was continuously changing its character. Near Tehri Garhwal, massive construction of roads and Tehri Dam was hampering the scenic beauty, but the attraction of this place is not at all diminished, but shifted from the greenish hills towards the Calm, deep blue water of Ganga near the Dam.

When we were in Uttarkashi it was around 3'Oclock, we had already our lunch, so there was no meaning of wasting time. It was always better to have night shelter closer to the goal in this hilly area, because the most unpredictable parameter of such tours is the weather. We had already experienced some drizzle in the meantime. After an hour of leaving Uttarkashi, we were stopped, a completely new look of the valley appeared to us, it was amazing. The mountains, the river and the blue sky, all were welcoming us to the way of Heaven. The stunning beauty of Garhwal valley was just in front of us, we are stared with amazement.

The Amazing Garhwal

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Darkness is knocking at the doors; temperature is dropping drastically, the roaring sound of the river king is suppressing all other sounds. It is the time for Day to leave, Night is wearing the throne, his emperor is about to start. The called a Good Bye to the Daylight, his was still gazing at us from the top of the snowy mountain.

After a hectic drive of around 100km fully on the hilly tracks, we stopped at Harshil. Harshil is a small village, growing in a fast pace, 6km away from Gangotri and the most suitable halt for night stay. We got a Hotel near the Bank of Ganga, more precisely Bhagirothi. The magical sound of river, the sound of mountains led us to a different world. The cold blowing wind was also felt pleasant then. That night was a memorable one, the first night in such a high place.

Bright Sun shine welcomed us to the sacred place; at last we were at Gangotri in the early morning next. The morning Puja was going on at the Temple. Great atmosphere devotion was created by the sound of ringing bells, the holy smoke of the “Dhoop-Aaroti”. Saints and Monks were wandering, the place was full of “Darshanarthi”. Lots of Youngs and Semi-Olds were finishing their “Punna-Snan” in the chilled water of Sacred River Ganges. We didn’t have that dare to take a bath, but touched the holy water to our heads.

The snowy Himalayans were smiling at me and I was staring at Him, “Hey the King of Mountains!! this is not yet finished, I will be again coming for you, till then Good Bye”. Way to Gomukh was just in front of me....

Gangotri - Truly Heaven

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