New Delhi: India is a religious country dotted with myriad pilgrimage sites. Many of these are not easily accessible, but this challenge is no match for the indomitable spirit of the countless pilgrims who traverse the most treacherous paths to reach the almighty. The highest peaks and the remotest caves don’t deter devotees; in fact, they consider undertaking this difficult journey to be a test from God. While many people succumb to harsh conditions or the limitations of their bodies, those who complete their spiritual journeys are said to attain a different kind of peace and enlightenment. Let us look at some of the toughest pilgrimage treks taken by Indian devotees.
Toughest pilgrimage treks
Kailash Mansarovar
Kedarnath
Amarnath Cave Temple
Vaishno Devi Temple
Hemkund Sahib
Shrikhand Mahadev
Nanda Devi
Kailash Mansarovar
4,590 m above sea level, Hindu devotees consider this holy site the birthplace of Lord Shiva. One of the world’s toughest yatras (journeys), it includes trekking at extremely high altitudes in inhospitable conditions like sub-zero temperatures and difficult terrain. Beginning in the small town of Darchen, this trek is around 52 km long and takes about 14 days to complete.
Kedarnath
Located at an altitude of 3584 m above sea level, Kedarnath temple is one of the most revered temples in India. A 16 km-long trekking route begins from Gaurikund, Uttarakhand. Many pilgrims prefer to travel by foot, crossing forests, rivers, and waterfalls.
Amarnath Cave Temple
Situated at an altitude of 3,888 m above sea level, this significant shrine is far from civilisation, with the nearest city, Srinagar, 141 km away. This cave is in the Sind Valley, surrounded by glaciers and covered by snow for a large part of the year. The trek, beginning from Pahalgam, is 36 to 48 km long and takes 3 to 5 days one way.
Vaishno Devi Temple
Perched on the Trikuta mountain at 1,585 meters, this temple is thronged by several million devotees yearly. The trek to Vaishno Devi is a challenging 15km stretch that takes an average of 10-11 hours to complete. The route is also famous for birding, hiking, and walking.
Hemkund Sahib
Standing at a height of 4632m, this is the highest Gurudwara of the Sikh community. Taking almost a week yet drawing thousands of pilgrims every year, this difficult trek, beginning from the small village of Ghangaria, is 13 km long, including steep ascents, and is not recommended for children and the elderly.
Shrikhand Mahadev
This pilgrimage site is located in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh at a height of 5660 m from sea level. The impressive Shivalingam, measuring 75 ft, is incredibly hard to access. The 32 km trek from the base village of Jaon is challenging, with long, steep ridge walks, and the route is only open in July and August. It takes about five days of continuous trekking to reach the site.
Nanda Devi
Considered an incarnation of the Hindu goddess Durga, this sacred shrine, situated at an elevation of 1604 m from sea level in the Almora district of Uttarakhand, is considered one of India’s most challenging treks. From Munsyari, the trek to the temple is almost 200 km, ascending up the Gori Ganga river gorge and finally reaching the temple after a two-week trek of 8-10 km daily.
India, a highly spiritual country, presents some of the toughest pilgrimage treks, challenging devotees with their remote and high-altitude locations. From the snow-capped peaks of Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib to Amarnath Cave Temple, these journeys test the faith and endurance of devotees. Read more to learn about some of India’s most arduous pilgrimage treks. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
