Joshimath: Wandering The Trail Of Wanderlust

The wonderful town of Joshimath opens to you like the layers of an onion. The beautiful weather that keeps changing. Once you peel that layer off the natural beauty will stun you.  And as you keep pulling these layers away you will finally find a hill station that is brimming with joy and warmth.

Joshimath is used more as a base to travel to other lovely places, Joshimath itself is quite beautiful to the ones willing to explore it. From Joshimath, you can travel to places like Auli, Tapovan, Badrinath, Hemkund.

Joshimath also has some amazing trails and hidden routes through the snow-covered mountains. These routes will truly awaken the adventure lover inside you.

Adi Sankaracharya established as one of the four famous Peeths.

If you wish to visit Nanda Devi you will have to go through the wonders of Joshimath.

From cinema halls to bustling malls, from continental cafes to modern hotels- the town has grown over the years.

A lot of people visit Joshimath as a base to travel to Badrinath. The shrine in Badrinath due to heavy snowfall, remains closed for six months. Thus, all the residents from Badrinath come to Joshimath and stay here during that time.

It is here that the idol of Lord Vishnu, Lord Badrinarayan, as the locals call it is brought to the Narasimha Temple located right here in Joshimath. This particular event is celebrated with great pomp and fare and visitors must witness this spectacle at least once. Joshimath is more like a winter residence for Badrinath. Thus, even though the weather is extremely cold in the winter months, you will find several tourists coming to Joshimath to witness the ceremony.

En Route Joshimath

source: Amigonow.com

There are different routes that you can take to reach the town of Joshimath.

One of the most preferred and popular routes is through Rishikesh. The route is beautiful and pristine, and you would not keep driving forever.

Many buses ply on this route to Joshimath from Haridwar. It will take you around 12 hours to reach Joshimath from Haridwar via a bus.

The other route is through Haldwani and Almora. While this route is much more scenic, with lush green trees and tall snowy mountains, it is still a less preferred route. You will have to change two to three buses to reach Joshimath on this route.

However, if you are willing to take that extra effort to enjoy the stunning landscape that this route has to offer then, by all means, do it.

If you choose the Haridwar- Rishikesh route, you will find several shrines and temples scattered around. These little temples pop up and make the winding roads even more amazing. If you wish you can visit shrines like Adi Badri, Vridha Badri Bhavishya Badri, Yoga Badri Dhyan Badri, and Ardha Badri.

Another mesmerizing thing you will come across as you drive down to Joshimath is the rivers. There are several confluences, that you will find- the notable one being Vishnuprayag.

It is divine to see two rivers merge and the scene is magical. It feels as if the two rivers are old lovers who are reunited after a long time.

If you have time and your vehicle you can easily stop at the many towns that you will pass by en route Joshimath. These towns are all a visual treat and will take you through the heart of nature.

In Joshimath

Once you enter Joshimath, you will realize that the green trees have faded in the background, and a more commercialized atmosphere has taken its place.

While at first glance you might feel Joshimath has turned into a completely commercialized town. Yet, if you explore more you will understand that the essence of Joshimath is not lost.

Here are some of the places you must visit while you are at Joshimath:-

Jyotir Math

source: Cloud9miles

Founded by Adi Shankaracharya, the Jyotir Math or the northern monastery is an important landmark in Joshimath.

Here you will find the shivling that Adi Shankaracharya had kept after attaining enlightenment with the Jyoti.

Adi Shankaracharya has established a matha in all the four corners of India, and Jyotir Matha is one of them.

According to the legacy established by Adi Shankaracharya, each matha is responsible for a Veda. The Jyotir Math is thus, in charge of the Atharva Veda.

There is also a temple of Badrinarayan and Rajrajeshwari Devi inside the complex.

You will find many historical elements buried inside the walls of this monastery.  It is like the monastery is trying to tell you stories about the past long gone by

A highly pious and religious institute. Jyotir Math is also serene and humbling.

In this matha, you also come across the famous Kalpavriksha. This is allegedly a 2400-year-old tree. Below the tree is a naturally occurring cave. Such is the beauty and magic of nature.

Adi Sankaracharya believed that the tree was an incarnation of Lord Shiva, and thus he practiced his meditation under this charming tree regularly.

In And Around The Matha

• Bhavishya Kedar Temple – Located close to the matha, this temple will be the next abode of Kedarnath and Badrinath. Thus, the unique name of the temple- Bhavishya Kedar- which translates to Future Kedar Temple. In this temple, you will also find a little shivling. You will also find the weapons of the Pandavas kept inside a small enclosure in this place. They kept their weapons here before climbing the Himalayas.
• Ropeway Fiesta – This scintillating journey will take you through some of the most amazing scenery. Up and above the clouds, the Auli Ropeway is one of the longest ropeways in Asia. This is an easy way to travel from Joshimath to Auli, and the views around you are stunning. You will rise above the clouds as the peak of Nanda Devi glares at you. As the clouds slowly clear away and the brilliant peaks of Himalayas reveal themselves, you will surely hear the entire crowd inside the ropeway gasp.
• Narsimha Temple – This is the winter temple of Badrinath. It is extremely revered by the devotees. The temple is about 1200 old and is dedicated to the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu – Narsimha.

A popular belief that surrounds this temple is that the left wrist of the idol is extremely thin. Onlookers believe that the wrist is getting thinner, and eventually, the idol will fall. Due to this fall, the role of Badrinath will be closed permanently, thus, ushering in a new era.

This temple is truly a spectacle during the winter season. The colorful ceremonies and the breathtaking rituals look majestic amid snow-covered land.

A Trekkers Paradise

source: The Great Next

Joshimath is not only a paradisiacal place but also an important location in terms of its geography. There are so many trekking trails that emerge from here that you will be at a loss which one to embark upon

You can try unearthing the story behind a failed CIA mission. The mission was allegedly carried out in Nanda Devi. You can take it upon yourself and try to follow the trails to this mystery.

Joshimath is a place which is laden with stories which one you can dig up as you go along the way.

Some of the most popular treks that start from Joshimath are Pangarchulla Peak Summit, Kauri Pass Trek and Dharansi Pass Trek.

Best Time To Visit

The Winter months are truly a treacherous time to visit Joshimath or its neighboring towns. Except for Auli (which is one of the best ski destinations in India during winters), most of the towns advise visitors not to come. Thus, you will find Joshimath to be like a ghost town during the months of winters. However, if you can brave the cold and witness the wonders of Joshimath and the ceremonies in the Narsimha temple in the winters, then it is a must-visit time for Joshimath.

Summer Months are great and the best time to visit. You can spend the entire time exploring and trekking. You will also find a lot of crowd and pilgrims during this time.