Badami - Temple

BANASHANKARI TEMPLE

We started the day at 6:45, check out of the hotel and went to Banashankari (Shakambhari) temple. The temple is around 6 kms from Badami. The temple pooja was on the way when we went at 7 AM and had a good dharshan of the Goddess as the abhisekhams happened. It took around 15-20 minutes to complete the dharshan and come out. Old mantapas are all around the lake of the temple and a good opportunity for shutterbugs.

Haridwar

Haridwar - Har Ki Pauri

Har Ki Pauri is a famous place by the Ganges where it is believed that Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu visited together. This place is very auspicious in Hindu mythology -  Haridwar is one of the four places along with Ujjain, Nashik, and Allahabad (Prayag) where drops of Amritham, the elixir of immortality, spilled while being carried. We took bath here in the freezing cold breeze and water! It really required mental preparedness to get into this water and we did it at our own pace. We spent less than 5 minutes in the flowing water. The water runs so fast that anyone can be washed away, There are iron chains put across and once needs to hold it as one gets into the water. After spending an hour around the place, walking around, feeling the flow of the mighty Ganges from several spots, we planned to visit 2 temples - Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi temple.

Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi temples

Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi temples are very popular among tourists and are on top of steep mountains. Both have rope car facilities. Mansa Devi temple is quite near to Har Ki Pauri while Chandi Devi temple is around 4 kms from Har Ki Pauri. We bought a combo ticket for Rs.333 per person which included the rope car rides 2-ways for both temples and the transportation between both temples. Mansa Devi temple is dedicated to a form of Lord Sakthi and devotees visit here to fulfill their wishes. It is also connected to Goddess Naga. This temple is also one of the Siddh Peetha temples. The view from this temple of the mighty Ganges and town of Haridwar is amazing. The views can be relished even during the rope car rides.

We were transported to Chandi Devi temple through a tempo traveller. We had difficulty in locating lockers near the temple and had to give over to a small petty shop keeper for 100 bucks! This temple is located higher than Mansa Devi temple and the rope car ride gives excellent views of the town. The temple was not crowded and we came out in few minutes. This temple is also one of the Siddh Peetha temples. Goddess Chandi originated to kill the demons - Chanda and Munda sent by Shumbhan and Nishumbhan after they captured Indralogam. Goddess Chandi is said to have rested in this spot and hence the temple.

Ganga Aarti @ Haridwar

It was 5:30 in the evening by this time and we tried to go back to Har Ki Pauri to see the Ganga Aarti. Unfortunately, the aarti just got over by the time we reached. Then, we spent we minutes to enjoy the night view of Ganges as it became dark instantaneously. We then took a share auto - Rs.50 per person to reach Rishikesh.