Chamoli City is a beautiful town in the Chamoli district. Known for its vivid landscapes, the town offers you a breathtaking view of surrounding areas. The town's beauty combined with its religious sites, draw a number of travellers round the year. Due to its natural paradise and spiritual significance, Chamoli is regarded as the “Abode of God”. It is home to many revered sites that are prominent in Hinduism. Of these, dedicated to Lord Hari and regarded as the gateway to heaven “Badrinath Temple” is situated here.
Every year thousands of pilgrims visit here to attain utmost salvation and to receive the blessings of Lord Vishnu. Situated around 254 km from the state capital, the town is easily accessed by road. Transportation services like bus, shared taxi, cab and others are easily from the nearest bus and taxi stands. As soon as you enter the town you can feel a distinct sense of spirituality in its ambience. It was established in the year 1960 post separated from Pauri Garhwal.
Throughout the history, various rulers reigned the place for years, among them Katyuri dominated the most. It is said that, during Katyuri reign, the revered guru of Hindu Aadi Shankaracharya Ji laid the foundation of Jyotirmath. Historically, the region was known as the Kedar Khand and it was mentioned in the puranas that the Kedar Khand was the Abode of God. It is believed that the epic Ramayana and Mahabharata scriptures were written in Kedar Khand. Legend has it that Lord Ganesha wrote the first script of Vedas in the Vyas Gufa, located just one km from Badrinath in Mana Village. Additionally, Maharishi Ved Vyas also scripted the Mahabharata in this cave, which is why this cave is known as Vyas Gufa.
Most of the relics found here are usually associated with the Mahabharata and other ancient periods. Legend has it that King Pandu performed a great penance in the village of Pandukeshwar, and the area known to be his Tapasthali, hence the earned name after him. Kedar Khand Purana reads that the Chamoli is the land of Lord Shiva. Visitors can also explore the workplace of the prominent Rishi Atri Muni Ashram, which is located in Anusuya and the ashram of Rishi Kashyap at Gandhamadan.
After beholding the beauty of Chamoli, visitors can also explore notable nearby areas including Auli, Valley of Flowers, Hemkund Sahib and the first village of India Mana. Auli gives a breathtaking view of snow-covered Himalayas and a popular place for skiing. It receives heavy snowfall during winter, which covers its long meadows in snow sheets. Whereas, a UNESCO heritage site “valley of flowers” is a home to more than 600 species of flora, while Hemkund Sahib Ji, is the revered pilgrims site of Sikhs. From these attractions, one place that lure the most is ‘Mana’ Village.
Earlier, the village was known as India's last village but was renamed the First Village of India in 2021. Here, visitors should explore the Vasundhara waterfall. It is believed that Pandavas stayed here during their exile. One interesting fact about this waterfall is that people believe that if it's water falls on you then your soul is pure.; if not then it's a sign of sin. Moreover, you can also see the mystical “Saraswati river”.
It is said that Ved Vyas ji cursed the Saraswati river to disappear for disturbing him, while he was reciting the Mahabharata to Lord Ganesh. Interestingly, rivers disappear from that place and reappear at Prayagraj Sangam, which is why the river is also known as Gupt Gamini (Hidden River).
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