Liberation over a weekend
Are you exhausted by your daily repetitive mundane lifestyle? Then, maybe you need to reset, restart again with a refreshed heart and mind. To help you, we have not just any weekend plan, but rather more of a transformational soul enriching journey. Yes, it can be done in 1 night and 2 days.
We have a Yamunotri yatra by helicopter package. Everyone is aware of river Yamuna. Yamuna flows from the Himalayas down through the plains, for more time than has existed for any recorded history of mankind. River Yamuna is known for providing not only resources and nourishment for civilizations. But, it has also witnessed the rise and fall of many empires. Yamuna, have heard the prayers of millions of people filled with tears, grief, seeking salvation within its ancient current the cumulative devotion of the people of India. The citizens of the nation treat River Yamnua as not like any other waterbody but as sacred, alive and personal. It is in a very high and relatively difficult to access part of the Garhwal Himalayas. The true origin is at an elevation of 3293 meters, which is an extremely beautiful and sacred valley that the Yamunotri Temple sits on, which is the first of the four sacred Dhams of the Chardham Yatra. Did you know that, at this site the goddess who is the daughter of the Sun god and the twin sister of Yama also known as the god of death receives the worship and devotion of those people who make the pilgrimage to her source with pure intentions.
If you opt for a non helicopter route following the traditional path, to reach Yamunotri it takes several days worth of mountain travel followed by hours of hiking through the lush valleys that surround it. It is indeed very rewarding, and seekers who have enough time still opt for this trekking and roadways route. It also requires significant time and physical effort. But, With a new Helicopter service from Sahastradhar Helipad in Dehradun to Yamunotri. The iconic Yamunotri yatra can be completed in just two days and one night. And yes, you won’t miss a thing, you can enjoy all aspects of this incredibly sacred location including the Surya Kund natural hot springs, mandatory darshan of the Yamunotri Temple. Also, during your return journey to Dehradun, you will be fully renewed by this revered journey. And with the ultimate blessings of Goddess Yamuna, who is also known as a sacred river that parallels the Ganges. They meet each other at Prayagraj which is in Allahabad. The approximately 1,376 km course of the Yamuna from its glacial origin at Yamunotri flows through numerous towns, villages and crops before eventually merging with the Ganges.
Generally, in the Char Dham Yatra, Yumotri is the first pilgrimage site you visit, before the other three Dhams. Yamunotri Temple is located within a very narrow valley surrounded by gigantic himalayan peaks followed by the river yamuna. The environment is a mixture of the natural beauty combined with the sacredness of nature . Since this might be your first visit, you might feel overwhelmed seeing the Yamunotri. Then you also have the opportunity to visit Surya Kund which is a sacred hot spring beside Yamunotri Temple. The temperature of Suyra kund goes up even around 88 degrees celsius. Pilgrims place a bundle of rice and potato into the water at Surya Kund to allow their Prasad to be cooked. According to the geologists and their intensive research, due to geothermal activities deep inside the Rock Formations that create the Himalayas, but what scientists are unable to explain using their studies or geological models is why Surya Kund is located at the very start of the Yamuna River. That was the cause of the formation of Surya kund.
Kharsali, The Village That Represents Sacredness with Everyday Life
Then there is Kharsali village, which is an ancient hamlet at the base of Yamunotri pilgrimage. It is located on the mountainside overlooking the entire Yamuna valley. Kharsali village is at the altitude of 2675 meters above the sea level. It can be easily accessed via a helipad as well as to the Yamunotri Temple, which is within a short hike. In the village, there is the ancient kharsali shani dev temple, dedicated to Lord Shani. It is believed to be one of the most powerful deities in all planets by many Hindus. As a matter of fact, it is one of the most respected Shani temples in India. The priests of the Kharsali temple have maintained and taken care of the temple for generations. Kharsali’s Shani Dev Temple is considered to be one of the oldest and mightiest Shani temples around. There is an additional interesting fact, that it has a unique idol of Lord Saturn that many believe to be able to help remove any problems related to Karma and reward their devotees who make efforts to come there for darshan, in addition to the Yamunotri pilgrimage. People travel very long distances to visit Kharsali for this special shrine darshan.
The Yamunotri Yatra by helicopter from Dehradun's Sahastradhara Helipad helps devotees like you to have a sacred encounter. Starting from the more serene and raw himalayan scenery, the landing at Kharsali, the trek to the temple, the Surya Kund, the darshan of the goddess. This might not feel like a two day trip, but it is. You get to spend overnight in the sacred kharsali village without compromising a single element of what makes Yamunotri the extraordinary and irreplaceable first Dham that it is.