Cactus Garden - Panchkula ( Asia's largest outdoor Cactus garden)

We attended morning ceremonies we left for Cactus Garden - Panchkula.

Cactus Garden, situated in the heart of the city of Panchkula. It is Asia's largest outdoor Cactus garden spread over 7 acres.

Chandigarh - The first planned city of India

How Plan was made

Year 2013 was not good from the point of Ghumakkari because of constrain of time & finance as we were busy in renovating the house. Once everything was settled we planned to visit Dalhosiee / Khajjiar in Dashera holidays, by the time we were planning we got news that we have to attend a relative‘s marriage during that time in Panchkula. 

As my family never have been to Chandigarh before we decided to go in advance so that we can visit Chandigarh, Panchkula & Pinjore during our three days stay over there.

SHANGHAI – CHINA

 CHINA

1. Suzhou - China 
2. Shanghai - China  
In continuation to my previous write –up,  City of Gardens & Canals – SUZHOU (China).

Morning we checked out from the hotel Sofital – Suzhou (China), had our breakfast & left for Shanghai. My flight was to be departed same day -late night so I decided not to take a room in hotel. Some of my friends from the other countries were staying in Hotel JW Marriot -Shanghai as their flight was scheduled next day morning. I dumped my luggage in their room and proceed for sight seeing.

View from Hotel Marriot 

City of Gardens & Canals – Suzhou (China)

 CHINA

1. Suzhou - China 
2. Shanghai - China  
I was enough fortunate to visit China just one month before Olympics 2008. One can see the level of preparation & enthusiasm of Chinese to make the Olympics successful. Even the Inauguration ceremony date was interesting, it was 08.08.08.

It’s my suggestion for vegetarians, they must carry some dry ration. Food & language is a big problem there. I reduced almost 5 kg weight in 5 days. 

14.07.08 (Delhi – Shanghai – Suzhou)
There are direct flights from Delhi for Shanghai, but I was supposed to join some one in Mumbai. Jet airways operates Mumbai – Shanghai – St. Francisco. I reached Shanghai at 9.00 PM (as Per Chinese Time), the time hr. difference between India & china is approx. 2 1/2 hrs. same as Singapore /Malaysia.

Visit to BADRINATH and village MANA

1. Introduction to Dev Bhoomi - Uttarakhand
2. Scenic Spots on the Way to Yamnotri
3. Yamnotri - Origin of River Yamuna
4. Scenic spots on way to Gangotri
5. Gangotri - The origin of Holy river GANGA
6. Reverse gear to Dehradun 
7. On the way to Kedarnath  
8. Kedarnath  
9. Scenic beauty on the way to Badrinath  
10. Visit to BADRINATH and village MANA


We relaxed a while and left the hotel around 7.30 PM for Badrinath Darshan.On reaching we took the coupons for darshan from the market which was just near the temple on which expected time for darshan was mentioned. After crossing the market and a foot over bridge over Alaknanda river we reached near the temple, from there stairs go down to Tapt kund. Kund is filled with hot spring water. It is said that one should take a bath in Tapt kund before the visit to Badrinath temple.

Badrinath – Sunrise

Scenic beauty on the way to Badrinath

 Chardham Yatra
                           
1. Introduction to Dev Bhoomi - Uttarakhand
2. Scenic Spots on the Way to Yamnotri
3. Yamnotri - Origin of River Yamuna
4. Scenic spots on way to Gangotri
5. Gangotri - The origin of Holy river GANGA
6. Reverse gear to Dehradun 
7. On the way to Kedarnath  
8. Kedarnath  
9. Scenic beauty on the way to Badrinath  
10. Visit to BADRINATH and village MANA 


Our day started at 5.30 AM , It was deadly cold. We ordered our bed tea and requested for buckets of hot water.

We left the hotel around 7 O’clock and reached Shankaracharya Samadhi Sthal , which is situated at a few minutes away behind the Kedarnath temple.

On the way to Shankaracharya Samadhi Sthal

Kedarnath

 Chardham Yatra
                           
1. Introduction to Dev Bhoomi - Uttarakhand
2. Scenic Spots on the Way to Yamnotri
3. Yamnotri - Origin of River Yamuna
4. Scenic spots on way to Gangotri
5. Gangotri - The origin of Holy river GANGA
6. Reverse gear to Dehradun 
7. On the way to Kedarnath  
8. Kedarnath  
9. Scenic beauty on the way to Badrinath   
10. Visit to BADRINATH and village MANA 




We got up around 4.30 AM and left to have a holy bath in Gauri kund . There are two kunds , one for bathing and other for worshipping only. 

Kund for bath

On the way to Kedarnath

 Chardham Yatra

                           
1. Introduction to Dev Bhoomi - Uttarakhand
2. Scenic Spots on the Way to Yamnotri
3. Yamnotri - Origin of River Yamuna
4. Scenic spots on way to Gangotri
5. Gangotri - The origin of Holy river GANGA
6. Reverse gear to Dehradun 
7. On the way to Kedarnath  
8. Kedarnath  
9. Scenic beauty on the way to Badrinath   
10. Visit to BADRINATH and village MANA 



In 2010 we had been to Yamnotri & Gangotri along with my sister’s family and that time only we decided that next year we would visit Kedarnath & Badrinath. But due to some health problem it was not materialised.

But in June 2012 we were fortunate to plan the visit to Kedarnath & Badrinath with my sister’s family who also dropped their plan to visit Kedarnath & Badrinath because of us. This time my younger brother’s family and my parents also joined us. So a big group of 13 members was ready to visit. We booked 13 seater Tempo traveller @ ₹ 6000/- per day for five days from Dehradun.
We all reached my In-law’s house on June 10th, 2012 & next day morning at 6.30 AM we started our journey for Kedarnath.

Journey Begins …………