Nestled at an elevation of almost 1,829 meters above sea level and en route to the holy shrine of Lord Vishnu, Pandukeshwar is one of the most popular divine places in Devbhoomi. There are many legends behind the origin of Pandukeshwar, and one of them is associated with King Pandu. It is believed that King Pandu, who was the father of the mighty Pandavas, worshipped Lord Shiva at this place. This incident is mentioned in the holy Hindu epic The Mahabharata. Pandukeshwar is home to two sacred holy abodes: Yogdhyan Badri and Lord Vasudev Temple. Hindu mythology states that the Vasudev Temple was constructed by the brave Pandavas in honor of Lord Vasudev.
The destination lies between Badrinath and Joshimath. Badrinath is located approximately 23 kilometers away from Pandukeshwar, and Joshimath is at a distance of about 18 km from the destination. One needs to cover almost 274 kilometers from Rishikesh Railway Station and about 302 kilometers from Dehradun.
Pandavas came Pandukeshwar to perform the funeral ceremony of his father while they were on their 12 years of exile. It is believed that Arjuna also meditated here during the exile period and pleased Lord Indra to seek his blessing. Afterward, Pandavas constructed the Vasudev Temple and dedicated it to Lord Vishnu, Madri, and Goddess Lakshmi.
Pandukeshwar is popular for holding many legends, each adding more glory to its importance. One of the most popular legends, mentioned in The Mahabharata, states that this is the place where King Pandu (father of the Pandavas) performed deep penance in order to get rid of the sin of killing sages. Mythology states that King Pandu used to stay with his wives Madri and Kunti in Pandukeshwar after giving his throne to his elder brother Dhritarashtra.
It is said that one day King Pandu went hunting and, by mistake, killed a sage who had transformed into a deer. As the sage was dying, he cursed him, saying that he would never be able to love anyone in the future, and if he tried, he would die.
To absolve himself of this sin, King Pandu visited Yogdhyan Badri, installed a bronze idol of Lord Vishnu, and performed deep meditation. During this time, Madri and Kunti gave birth to the Pandavas. Later, one day, when Madri was taking a bath in the Alaknanda River, King Pandu got attracted to her, and as per the curse of the sage, he died.
Nestled beautifully amidst the Garhwal Himalayan ranges, Badrinath Dham Darshan is believed to be one of the most important destinations for Vishnu worshippers. Located at an elevation of approximately 3,300 meters above sea level, Badrinath Temple holds great religious significance and is listed among the Char Dham in India and also the Chota Char Dham in Uttarakhand. The temple is believed to have been originally constructed by the great Hindu philosopher Adi Shankaracharya in the 7th century CE.
A naturally formed hot water spring, Tapt Kund lies between the Alaknanda River and the Badrinath Temple in the Chamoli district. The water in this kund remains at a temperature of 45°C irrespective of weather conditions. This sacred hot water kund is located to the right of the Badrinath Temple. There is an important ritual to take a dip in this divine kund before entering the temple.
Reckoned as one of the most important Badris among the Sapt Badris, Yogdhyan Badri Temple is located at Pandukeshwar in Badrinath. Devotees flock to this place to pay homage to Lord Kuber and Lord Udhava. In the winter season, one can pay homage to the reclining idol of Lord Vishnu. On the day the idols are shifted to Badrinath, locals and priests organize a major festival named Devwar. Another festival is organized when the idols are taken back to the shrine.
Although Pandukeshwar can be visited throughout the year, the best times to plan your trip are from September to November and April to June. The weather during these months is quite pleasant and favorable, with cool gentle breezes accompanying you throughout the trip. Being located at a higher elevation, the region receives higher rainfall, which can result in road blockages due to landslides.
One can reach Pandukeshwar via any of the transportation modes, such as airways, railways, and roadways.
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