Neelkanth Base Camp Trek
Tour Overview
Vashudhara Waterfall and Neelkanth Base Camp trek is an adventure-filled exploration starting from the holy town of Badrinath in the Garhwal Himalayan region of Uttarakhand.
Whether you are a pilgrim or trekker, you would be tempted to choose this expedition owing to its reputation of showcasing nature and mythology in a truly enthralling manner.
Attractions on the route include cave temples and ashrams, glaciers and rivers, meadows bedecked with rare wild flowers, footprints of Lord Vishnu and what not. The first instalment of the trek include visiting Vashudhara (or Vasudhara) Waterfalls which appear as a milky white trail from a distance and turn into a roaring vista when approached.
The second part takes you to the foot of the sky-reaching Neelkanth (or Nilkantha) Peak which impersonates Lord Shiva in the meditation pose. What’s even more exciting is that you would be visiting the holy Badrinath Shrine, one of the four foremost Hindu pilgrimage destinations (popular as Char Dhams).
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Day-by-Day Itinerary
Vashudhara Waterfall and Neelkanth Base Camp trek begins at Badrinath (elevation 3,300 m.), the holy town which is home to Badrinath Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Apart from being one of the Char Dhams and Chota Char Dhams destinations, the temple is also among the 108 Divya Desams.
Located on the bank of River Alaknanda, the temple houses a black idol of Vishnu, made of the sacred shaligram stone. As per the legend, it was here that Vishnu meditated and his consort Goddess Lakshmi protected him from cold weather taking up the form as a Badri (berry) tree.
Badrinath is about 296 km. from Rishikesh and about 319 km. from Haridwar, the closest railway stations and about 311 km. from Dehradun, the closest airport and is well-connected by road with these places.
On arrival, check in at the hotel or guesthouse for night stay. Please Note: Badrinath Temple remains closed from November start to April end due to heavy snowfall which almost disconnects the region’s road connectivity.
Start the day with a visit to the holy shrine of Badrinath which flaunts a spectacular architecture with a gold gilt roof. Pray at the temple and then get ready to visit the other attractions nearby.
Start with Mana (about 3 km.), popular as the ‘last village’ as it is the last inhabited village before the Indo-Tibetan border.
It is believed that the five Pandava brothers and their consort Draupadi began their journey to heaven from here. Get thrilled to discover a number of places linked to them.
One of them is Bhimpul, a rock bridge which according to the popular beliefs was built by Bhima, one of the five Pandavas, to let the family cross River Saraswati.
The river flowing with full force is yet another attraction. Next, visit Ganesha Cave which is associated with Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva.
From there, visit Vyasa Cave which is believed to be the place where the greatest Hindu epic Mahabharata was written by Ganesha as dictated by Sage Vyasa.
Do you know? There’s a huge rock in the cave resembling a pile of sheets which is believed to be the original copy of the epic. Get back to Badrinath for night stay. You must have acclimatized to high altitude by now.
Start early keeping in mind the unpredictable weather. Drive to Mana Village from where the trek begins. You may enjoy tea and snacks at shops with sign boards ‘last tea-shop of India’.
It is worth mentioning that the first 2-3 km. of the trek is rather easy to walk. However, the steepness increases thereafter.
You would come across multi-coloured tiny flowers springing out from lush green grasses and adding sparkling colours to the ambience. Feel thrilled as you walk over frozen mountain stream section.
Breathtaking views of snow-covered Chaukhamba, Balakun, Nilkantha and other peaks and equally incredible views of Alaknanda River Valley would keep you entertained throughout.
About 800 m. from the falls, you may stop at a cave temple where eight sons of River Ganga performed penance. Reach the waterfall (located at an elevation of about 3,657 m., it is about 122 m. high) and admire its exotic beauty.
It is believed that Vasudhara Waterfalls turn away from people with impure hearts. Its waters also possess medicinal properties as proven scientifically.
Enjoy the views of glaciers like Kuber Bamak and Bhagirathi Khark. Descend back and drive to Badrinath for night stay.
Please Note: You may choose to stay in camp at Vashudhara and enjoy activities and sports like volleyball.
Begin trekking early morning. The first destination is Charanpaduka (about 3 km. from Badrinath). It is believed that the foot prints on a rock at this place are those of Lord Vishnu. From Charanpaduka, the trek route turns steeper and relatively difficult.
Admire the meadows and views of hoary peaks on the way. If you happen to visit in the months of July-September, you may come across the beautiful Brahmakamal flowers that are sacred as well as are designated as the state flower. Reach the base camp (elevation 4,270 m.) and get bowled-over by the giganticness of the peak.
It is believed that Neelkantha (Lord Shiva) established himself as a mountain to block the passage between Badrinath and Kedarnath after he was infuriated by the sins of a priest.
The peak (6,596 m. high), also known as Garhwal Queen, is pyramid in shape and its summit glow in red during sunrise and in gold during sunset. Descend back to reach Badrinath for night stay.
Bid adieu to the beautiful region and drive to start your onward journey.
Trekking Tips: Carry adequate water, as there is no water source on both routes. Raincoat and rain protection gear is mandatory. Carry energy drinks, dry fruits, chocolates and biscuits for energy. Always start early in the morning to return on time.
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