Tag Archives: Badrinath Dham

The 2017 Travel Stories: Flashback

The year 2018 has already begun and our travel tales and road trips too. But we can’t start the new tales without reviewing the tales of the year 2017.  So, this post is all about the 2017 travel stories, just as we have the travel book for the year 2016.

We started our travel and lifestyle blog AllGudThings in September 2016 without thinking how the things will move for us and will we actually survive in this blogging race. And look today we are surviving and have come this far, writing 2017 travel stories, and are much positive for the year 2018.

2017 Travel Stories

The year 2017 was like a roller coaster for us. We bought our house, reached our dream destinations, did several trips both personal and professional, learned so much new in blogging and on the other side fought with medical issues and lost our dear ones in between. So, it was a year where we saw both highs and lows. But as Lord Buddha quotes “Without rain, nothing grows, learn to embrace the storms of your life”; so we accepted every up and down graciously and kept on moving.

In the year 2017, we never targeted where we wanted to see ALLGUDTHINGS but now we are clearer. We have set up our targets for 2018 to write more strategically, be more social and learn to monetize the blog in a better way. And the travel stories of 2017 are epic, so let’s have a look at them.

January 2017

Snow Trip with Parents to Shimla

Just after welcoming 2017 and shifting to our own place, we took a break and did a personal road trip to beautiful Shimla. The colonial town was painted in white by nature and we saw our parents living their childhood. The rich heritage & culture of Shimla introduced us to a Himachali scarf known as Dhatu or Rahide. Check about Dhatu here: Shimla Trip in style with Dhatu as a fashion accessory.

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February – March 2017

Visit to the Highest Dam in India – Tehri Dam

In the last week of February, we visited Koteshwar and Tehri Dam for professional work. The holiday started after work and it continued until the first week of March. From Tehri, we took a detour to visit Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand, which proved to be a lot more than the entrance to the Char Dhams of India. Further, the trip continued to Harsil, Gangotri and ending at Mussorie.

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The whole trip was an experience in itself as we visited one of the Char Dhams, saw second time snowfall in a row, learned about Mani stones and for the first time stayed in the hostel. You must check the Backpackers must carry essentials for a Hostel stay here.

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April 2017

An hour of Patriotism at Hussainiwala Border

In April 2017 we visited our home in Punjab and for the first time we, saw the flag retreat ceremony at Hussainiwala Border, Firozpur. It was an hour of Patriotism, filled with deep emotions where just a white line and gate demarcated our country India from Pakistan.

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May 2017

Road Trip to Badrinath Dhams and the Last Indian Mana Village

In May 2017, our parents were with us, so we planned another personal road trip to the sacred temple Badrinath Dham. From here itself we further visited the last village near Indo China border Mana Village and checked out the lush green skiing slopes of Auli in summers.

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This was another remarkable and memorable trip of the year.

June 2017

June was the one month when we were actually at home and were fiddling with the ups and downs around.

July – August 2017

Dream Trip to Leh Ladakh

After a lot of stress, we really needed a long break. So, we did a 13 day long Leh Ladakh road trip from Delhi. Ladakh is also known as the land of high Passes. We took the circuit road trip at our own pace without rushing to the destinations. We checked the attractions on Srinagar Leh highway, explored hidden Leh Ladakh palaces, walked and talked with the soldier at Kargil War Memorial, got lost in the Leh Palace and tranquilized in the serenity of Hemis Monastery.

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We saw Bactrian Camels and reflection of the Himalayas in the Nubra valley, did off-roading and slept in tents near high altitude lakes like Tso Kar, Pangong Tso, and Tso Moriri.

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Do remember, you need Inner Line Permit for entering the sensitive zones in Leh Ladakh.

September 2017

Heritage Walk in the Historical Town, Mahabalipuram

After a year of blogging, we did our first FAM trip to Chariot Beach resort and explored Mahabalipuram, in Tamil Nadu to its best. The UNESCO monuments, monolithic structures, and caves, shore temple left us completely stunned with its beauty.

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October 2017

October the month of festivals in India, we decided to take a break from travels and celebrate each one of them at our new place, with our parents.

November 2017

Road trip to the colonial town: Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand

In November 2017, we did another FAM trip with Club Ten Pine Lodge to the colonial Mukteshwar town in Uttarakhand. We got lost in the beauty of Himalayan peaks during sunrise and sunsets; & trekked to explore the hidden gem – Bhalu Gaad waterfall.

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December 2017

Road Trip to Kasauli & Rajasthan

The last month of the year is always special as it is Tashi‘s birthday and we celebrated it in the hills of Kasauli. The last month also put us into the thoughts of our activities and achievements for the previous year. But simultaneously we also start deciding the place to celebrate the coming New Year. And, this year we decided to end 2017 and welcome 2018, in Rajasthan exploring the Sariska Tiger Reserve and one of the most haunted places in India – Bhangarh Fort. The stories are yet to come, so tuned.

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Conclusion: 2017 Travel Stories

That was our 2017 travel stories. It seems like a year was dedicated to the road trips especially to the hills traversing Himachal, Uttarakhand and Leh Ladakh. Overall, we did 9 trips, including personal, professional and FAM trips extending from 4 days to 15 days covering multiple destinations. We are really grateful as we got good health & the opportunity to make these trips and write 2017 travel stories. We wish to travel more and continue the travel stories in 2018.

Thanks for taking out the time to read our travel stories. Have the wonderful year 2018 ahead…
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Review: Auli Resort – The Royal Village

Rising up to the sun rays hitting snow clad peaks of  barren mountain, sipping hot lemon ginger tea admiring the mother nature; eating delicious breakfast under deep blue sky, the scenic stroll around lush green meadows,non-stop family talks and chairlift journey to the meadows are some of the golden moments which I can recall from my recent trip to Auli and stay at the Auli Resort – The Royal Village.

Views of Auli from the Auli resort- The royal Village
Panoramic View of Auli from Auli Resort

Auli Resort- The Royal Village is a cool environment-friendly holiday resort and is located at one of the most picturesque locations. It lies within the complex of GMVN (Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam), giving the panoramic view of majestic Himalayan ranges.

After a long drive and trip to Badrinath Dham and the Mythical Mana Village, we thought of rejuvenating our body and soul with the fresh air and serene beauty of Auli.

At Auli Resort

As soon as you reach Auli base, GMVN resort welcomed us. But somehow it didn’t attract us and far away the rowed yellow log huts with the green background were too enticing. That was the Auli resort – the royal village. It’s hardly a 100 meters drive or walk from GMVN.

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Reception

The reception is simply done with a seating and few Himalayas and trekking books are around, in the shelves. The staffs behind the desk are super friendly and they helpful you while checking in and assist you to your rooms. They too guide you about local sightseeing and how weather changes in Auli. Read here for the different shades of Auli in summers.

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Auli Resort

There are 12 luxurious huts in two rows lined one behind another on the mountain slope, each having its own patio facing towards the snow covered mountain peaks. The Auli resort is a perfect place to soak in the mountain atmosphere.

Auli Resort - The Royal Village

Rooms/ Huts

The rooms are designed keeping in mind the extreme winters at Auli and they are comfortable for summers too. The maximum temperature in Auli goes around 16 degree Celsius in summers and in winters the lowest can be up to -8-degree celsius.

The Auli resort huts are colorful, clean and cozy. The hut in which we had put up was painted in purple and white and there was a separate space for bedroom, dressing room, and washroom.

Huts at Auli Resort

The room has all basic amenities like television, chairs, room heater and tea-coffee maker. And yes! The views from the window of the hut were just not Wow but spectacular –Almost half of the Auli was visible.

View from Hut of Auli Resort

Restaurant and Food at Auli Resorts

One cannot stroll or enjoy without food and there is no worry when you are at Auli Resorts – The Royal Village. They have a variety of Indian, Chinese, continental and some local dishes in their menu. We tried Indian, Chinese and Uttarakhand’s local food. Everything was just scrumptious.

Restaurant at Auli resort - the Royal Village

The dining area behind the reception is clean. It has wooden roofs, giving the typical feel of a place in mountains.

Dining Area at Auli resort
Dining Area at Auli Resort

Sightseeing at Auli

  1. The Hanuman Temple: It lies just after a refreshing trek of 15-20 minutes from the royal village Auli Resort.
  2. The Panoramic View of Snow clad Mountain Peaks: From the resort itself complete panorama of majestic Himalayan peaks is visible and the prominent are Nanda Devi, Chaukhamba, and Panch Chuli.The view of Himalayan Ranges from Auli Resort
  3. Gurso Bugyal Meadows: The Meadows lies 3kms from Auli resorts and are spread amidst forests of oak and conifers. They turn lush green in summers and are snow covered in winters. So, if you love winters sports you surely cannot miss visiting Auli as a winter destination in Uttarakhand. One can try skiing, ATV rides, and others sports here.
  4. Ride by Chairlift till meadows and highest artificial lake:

Parking at Auli Resort

There are enough parking spaces available around Auli Resorts.

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Conclusion

I will say the Auli resort lives up to the name of Auli and is a complete value for money. We paid Rs. 3000/- per night. The colorful huts, delicious food, impeccable services, and beautiful views – everything is perfect here. The place not only relaxes your mind and body but make you feel in the abode of heaven.Review: Auli Resort - The Royal Village

Rating of Auli Resort

I rate it 4.5 out of 5

Some Additional Info 

  1. One can get the huts booked at Auli resort from MakeMyTrip, Tripadvisor or Booking.com.
  2. The Gondola Chairlift is only 100 meters away from the Auli resorts.
  3. The resort arranges day treks, only on prior information.
  4. Auli resort is a good place for families, friends, and couples.

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The different shades of Auli in Summers

Auli also known as Auli Bugyal is nestled among the Himalayas and is graded as one of the best skiing destinations by ski lovers. But unfortunately, it is not much famous among travelers and tourists and fortunately, it was really high on my travel bucket list. I was already captivated by the pictures posted by the fellow traveler of its skiing slopes and wide green meadows extending in Kilometres.  So, here was the chance for us to explore Auli in summers and cross one of the more travel bucket list destinations in Uttarakhand.

The different shades of Auli in summers, uttarakhand

Travel Guide to Auli in Summers

Distance from Delhi to Auli

Auli lies 509 Km from Delhi

Route to Auli from Delhi

Delhi – Noida- Meerut – Roorkee- Haridwar – Rishikesh – Srinagar – Rudraprayag – Karanprayag – Chamoli – Joshimath – Auli

Time to Reach Auli

Almost 13 -14 hrs in one stretch

Stoppages in Between

One can drive in a stretch but still we will advise you to take a halt in between at Haridwar or Rishikesh.

Auli in summers

Auli is at a hilltop; just 43 Kilometres short from Badrinath Dham and Mana Village. The steep road deviates and rises 16 Km up from Joshimath. The other way one can reach Auli is by Asia’s highest and longest Gondola cable car which directly connects Joshimath to Auli covering the total distance (slope distance) of 4 kilometers in 15-20 minutes.

Auli Ropeway Gandola Cable Car - Auli in Summers
Source: Beautiful places in India

Auli is already famous as a winter destination for snow and skiing but not in summers. We traveled and explored Auli in May and trust me- it did not disappoint us!! In fact, it surprised and treated us with different shades and colors.

While returning from Badrinath; clouds were following us and they were seen floating in between the Himalayas. And here was the first glimpse of the Auli.

Auli in Summers

We wanted to check-in before the rain. But within minutes, as we reached our hotel Auli Resorts the rain started and the Highland got crystal clear. The subtle colors and shades of the resorts and buildings became bright and started jutting out; leaving us completely spellbound.

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Our plan was to sit, sip hot coffee, and enjoy rain in the lush mountains but nature was ready to shock us pleasantly with some more colors and thrill. Just then, a strong orange light was sparkling in the sky from one side, making it look like a glowing ball. Yes! The sunset along with rain. I should say one of the best views. The sun and its rays did their work tremendously well making the whole valley look more alluring.

Sunset at Auli in summers along with rain

It was raining & drizzling the whole evening and we spent time enjoying the Himalayan ranges from our resort; hoping the next day to be sunny. The next morning sun was shining at its best. The barren mountain tops covered with snow were ready to wear the golden crowns. At some places in between, these majestic Himalayan ranges were decorated with green patches. Everything in the valley seemed to be muted, except the birds who had full freedom to chirp and sing. Literally, the feeling was that all forces of nature are united here.

Auli in Summers

The snow-clad mountains appeared to be so close yet so far too and they are equally inviting.  One doesn’t need to think to get lost in their charm. Just sit and see them, you will be with them.

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When you are in the thoughts of these stuffed ranges; your dreams can only be pinched out by the noise of flying a helicopter in between them. And the only sentence you can utter out is! Wow! I missed this and need to add this to my bucket list for sure.

Helicopter flying in between the Himalayan ranges at auli in uttarakhand- Auli in Summers

Ride to meadows through Chairlift

To reach the meadows, one needs to go by the chair lift. It opens around 9:00 am and takes one from 2500 meters to 3050 meters elevation in just 4-5 minutes. This seemed like fun just on listening and it actually was.

Chairlift- Auli in Summers

You can check this out here in a video.

OMG! The views were spectacular and beyond my words. We could see the huge green meadows extending in kilometers, the highest manmade artificial Auli lake standing in between making Auli meadows and slopes more worthy, with the panoramic views of Himalayan ranges around it. Below and above from the chair lift, one can too see thick oak and coniferous trees.

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From the meadows, the top one can witness the complete Himalayan range. The third highest peak Nanda Devi (7817 meters) stands out with others peaks like Trishul, Chaukhamba, Kamet, Hathi, Godhra, Palki, Neelkanth, etc, in line to it.

Himalayan ranges and green meadows at Auli in summer, uttarakhand

One can hover over these long stretched meadows to see the huge rock formations, grazing cattle’s and flowers.

Rock formations in meadows at Auli in Uttarakhand: Auli in Summers
Rock  which looks like Toad at Auli in Uttarakhand

Apart from this; Auli acts as a trekking base for this part of Uttarakhand. One can opt for a day or multiple days treks from here. The shortest of all is till Gurso Bugyal (3 km) Further; 9 km ahead the trail continues till Kwani Bugyal. Some other popular ones are Auli – Gorson which is around 7 km, Gorson- Tali (6 Kms); Tali – Kuari Pass (11 km) etc.

Best Time to Visit Auli

Auli can be visited throughout the year. In winters i.e. from November to March, it is a perfect skiing destination. From April to November days are pleasant with moderate climate. July to October are the monsoon months but the place receives a scanty rainfall.

Expected temperature at Auli

The temperature in Auli in summer May, varies between 7 to 18 degrees Celsius, whereas in June it can go up to 20 degrees Celsius. July & August are rainy months so the temperature varies and after August till October, it lies between 4 – 15 degrees celsius. In November – December Temperature lies between 2 – 10 degrees celsius. January and February are the coldest months and temperature can go as low as -5 degrees celsius.

Places to Stay at Auli in summers

There are budget as well as luxury resorts in Auli for accommodation. The Auli resort and Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) Hotels are located at the Auli base whereas Hotelli Clifftop and Nanda Devi Eco-tourist resort is on the hilltop or in between the meadows. The views from all of these places are breathtaking.

Hotels and Resorts at Auli: Auli in Summers

Some points to take note of while traveling to Auli in summers

  1. The road is really steep and narrow (single vehicle) from Joshimath. So, be slow and patient while driving.
  2. Try to cover the journey from Joshimath to Auli, only during the day.
  3. Temperature can dip anytime at Auli in summers, so always carry woolens with you.
  4. One needs to climb a few stairs to reach a chair lift.
  5. The ticket of a Chairlift for to and fro journey is Rs 300/- per head.
  6. The ticket for Gondola cable car from Joshimath to Auli is Rs. 750/- and there is some time limit for returning back too.
  7. On the hilltop, there are shacks where you can get tea, coffee, and some snacks.
  8. April, May, June are the good months to visit Auli. In July, Auli receives a good amount of showers whereas in August and September there is a flowering season.
  9. Try to keep the surroundings neat and clean.
  10. Do check out the wonderful artwork of Shri Badrinath Temple, Kedarnath Temple, Himalayan flower, and Monal Bird done by a travel lover.
Graffitis in the meadows of Auli in Uttarakhand: Auli in Summers

If you find it interesting, please let us know and share it with others. You can read the complete review about Auli resort here.

Badrinath Dham: The Road trip to one of the four Dhams

Badrinath Dham: Road trip to one of the four DhamsSince childhood, I was hearing from my parents about the four Dhams of Hindus and the perception for the same was Ok! I will travel to these places, once I am old. But there are some things or trips in life which are bound to happen and you can’t change them. In fact, such things and trips change your mindset and you feel why you didn’t do this earlier. Last week, my parents were here and they wanted to travel to Badrinath. And we being the quick planners; planned and packed everything in an hour and took off for another long Road trip to Badrinath Dham.

Badrinath Dham, Uttarakhand

Distance to Badrinath from Delhi: 538 Kms via Haridwar and 576 Kms via Lansdowne

Route from Delhi to Badrinath Dham: We went from the route:  Delhi – Noida – Najibabad – Kotdwara – Lansdowne – Srinagar – Chamoli – Joshimath – Badrinath; And came back from Badrinath – Joshimath – Chamoli – Srinagar – Rishikesh – Haridwar – Muzaffarnagar – Meerut – Delhi

Total Time to reach Badrinath Dham: Almost 16 -17 hrs

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Stoppages on the way: We halted at Lansdowne that covers almost 1/3rd of the total journey Or one can opt to stay at Srinagar.

Best time to visit: Between May – October; as the temple is open only during this period for 6 months.

Road Conditions: Excellent except 4-5 broken patches.

The Badrinath Dham

The Badrinath Dham is located in between the folds of Garhwal hills of Uttarakhand along with the banks of river Alaknanda; at an elevation of 10,000 feet. In fact, the whole of the Badrinath town is encircled around the Badrinath or Badrinarayan temple; dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Badrinath temple is also known as Vishal Badri.

Badrinath Town around Badrinath Dham

History behind Badrinath Temple

The temple is believed to have Buddhist origin and later in the 8th century was converted to Hindu temple by Adi Shankara. I somehow too felt its colorful facade and architecture resembles Buddhist temple. Look at the image isn’t it resembling the Buddhist Vihara (Temple).

Badrinath Dham in Uttarakhand
Badrinath temple During Night

According to the Hindu Legends, Lord Vishnu sat here in the midst of Himalayas for meditation (Mudra position); being completely unaware of the harsh weather conditions. His consort Goddess Lakshmi couldn’t stop herself seeing this and she protected him by forming Badri tree. The Badrinath town used to be rich in Badri till 1979  which bear Jujube or Indian Dates. Seeing the devoutness, Lord Vishnu got pleased and named this place as Badrika Ashram.

My impression seeing the Badrinath Temple

The Badrinath temple architecture and convention of bright colors completely captivated me and left me awestruck. I was literally staring at the decorations of the temple for almost half an hour; without even winking my eyes. In fact, the pristine temple enclosed between the series of Himalayas, do all justice for the long drive. One actually forgets everything and get lost in the aura of this place. The only word I could utter out was WOW!!

Badrinath Dham, uttarakhand

The temple stands proudly on the plinth; between the two mountains Nar & Narayan, overlooking River Alaknanda. The arched windows and doors, facade and the intricately designed carvings around the pillars each speak for themselves.

Door, Windows, Facade of the Badrinath Dham

Every year almost 12 -13 Lakh pilgrims pay a visit to this temple, but still, there is calmness and serenity in the air. This place is a perfect example that how nature replenishes the valley itself during the winters.

Mountains behind the temple at Badrinath Dham

Just outside and below the temple, there is a Tapt Kund (hot water sulfur spring); separate for both men and women. The water of this Kund is believed to have medicinal properties and pilgrims prefer to take bath in it before visiting the temple. Interesting is the temperature of the spring is around 55 degree Celsius throughout the year whereas outside temperature in Badrinath is around 17-18 degree Celsius.

Tapt Kund at Badrinath Dham

Inside the temple, the main shrine houses 1 meter tall Black stoned image of Badri Vishal, housed in a gold canopy under the Badri tree. While circumambulation around the main shrine; we too observed certain more idols of Goddess Lakshmi, Garuda, Lord Hanuman etc. There are two more ponds in the temple known as Narad Kund and Surya Kund.

Temple Timings

The Badrinath temple opens from 4:00 am to12 noon and 3:00 pm -10 p.m.

Badrinath Temple during winters

The temple opens only for a period of 6 months, during summers and for the rest 6 months; the deity of Lord Badrinarayan is taken to Narasimha temple at Joshimath. Amazing is before closing the temple doors, priest lightens up an Akhand Jyot (Diya) filled with ghee to last for 6 months and locals told that when the door are reopened the Diya/lamp is seen flickering.  Isn’t that Interesting!

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Important points while visiting Badrinath Dham

  1. Photography is prohibited inside the temple, so don’t try to attempt it.
  2. There are fixed timings for opening and closing of the temple, do make a note of it for convenience.
  3. One is allowed inside the shrine only for 10-20 seconds.
  4. Avoid taking Prasad inside the temple, as half of it is thrown on the floor and it really irritates your feet while walking. And I too believe it is an insult to the Prasad and God.
  5. Always keep woolens handy with you, because the temperature here dips anytime during the day.
  6. On an average, Badrinath temple receives 8000- 10,000 pilgrims per day, so be prepared for the queue and the rush you have to face.
  7. There are more devotees on Saturdays and Sundays as compared to the weekdays.
  8. Nothing is free inside the temple. I mean for Prasad too, you need to shed some money from your pocket.
  9. Take bath inside the Tapt Kund, it really soothes out your body. Initially, I too was skeptical and felt the water smelly and never wanted to go inside the Kund for the bath. But after my mother’s decision, I felt my body was feeling relaxed.
  10. Make a visit to the temple at night after it closes down, to capture good bright shots.
  11. You will find too many Sadhus and Saints sitting on the roads. Don’t try to encounter or get into their talks with them.
  12. Bargain while buying souvenirs outside the Temple.Market in Badrinath Dham

Interesting facts about Badrinath Temple

  1. Badrinath and Kedarnath Temple are run by the Government body and there is a special act for these temples known as Shri Badrinath and Shri Kedarnath Temple act.
  2. The head priest of the temple is a Nambudiri Brahman and he is always chosen from the Kerala state. There are strict norms for him while servicing.
  3. On an average 20 crore, rupees are donated to the temple which literally goes in the maintenance and salaries of the priests.

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Places to stay at Badrinath Dham

For budgeted stay, there are many Dharamshalas, guest houses, and hotels around the temple. The price for the double room with the geyser in hotel varies from Rs. 1800-2500. Whereas, for a luxurious stay; one can opt to stay at Sarovar Portico. And if you are traveling in season; prefer to get your bookings done prior hand as 10,000 is a huge no for a small town with limited options.

Hotel Sarovar Portico at Badrinath Dham

Food in the Badrinath town

One can find a variety of Dhabas and restaurant serving Indian food, but don’t expect the quality to be too high. So, just look for a clean place and feed yourself and do ask or check the prices before ordering.

Another option to travel to Badrinath Dham

There are several private as well as government companies running Char Dham yatra service by helicopter. And the prices for each vary drastically. Here is the link for Uttaranchal Tourism.

Road Trip to Badrinath Dham

Overall, I will say the Badrinath Dham is a must visit. Don’t wait for the old age. Go, when you are young because there is so much around to explore and see. When around also visit Mana Village and Valley of flowers.

You can read about Uttarkashi: the entrance to Char Dhams of uttarakhand here.