An attempt to visit Pancha Kedar and Pancha Badari - Conclusion! Day 15

Day 15: 13/08/2025 – From Sati's Sacrifice to Shuka Muni's Eternal Words: The Final Day's Itinerary 

River Reverence and Sacred Farewells

The morning of 13th August began with a quiet surprise. Sujata and I went to collect water from the Ganga and were struck by the river’s rising levels – swollen from the incessant rains cascading down the mountains and valleys upstream. Nature’s rhythm was palpable, and the Ganga, ever majestic, mirrored the monsoon’s intensity. We bid farewell to Kashi Matha and left the place after Suma took some pics.

   

Guru Parampara at the Kashi Math

Daksha Yagna: An Epoch 

After attending the morning aarti, we had a simple breakfast and checked out of our rooms, setting off toward our next spiritual waypoint: Daksha Yagna Kund. According to legend, this is where Daksha conducted his fateful yagna, leading to Sati’s self-immolation and the ensuing cosmic clash with Shiva. The site is a temple complex, housing shrines dedicated to various deities – each echoing ancient stories and divine energies.

      

        

Shuka Stal: Witness to the First Bhagavat Katha Discourse

From there, we bid farewell to Radha at Haridwar Railway Station and continued toward Shukratal (Shukteerth) – a serene haven where Shuka Muni, son of Sage Vedavyasa, first narrated the Srimad Bhagavat Katha to Raja Parikshit beneath the sacred Akshay Vat tree. This sprawling banyan, believed to be over 5,000 years old, stands as a living witness to spiritual discourse and devotion. The atmosphere was charged with tranquility – ideal for meditation and reflection. Numerous halls and lodging facilities cater to pilgrims attending the seven-day Bhagavat Saptaha, drawing seekers from across India and beyond.

       

Shuka Stal - The Pepal Tree where Srimad Bhagavat was narrated

      

Lord Hanuman in the premises - Lord Krishna with the Sages

     

Shuka Muni & Raja Parikshit - Lord Ganesha 

Ab Dilli Door Nahin

Our journey then turned toward New Delhi, with a lunch halt at Haldiram’s en route. As we approached the capital, Sujata and I indulged in a humble delight – maska buns and ginger tea from a roadside chaiwallah. His coal-fired stove featured an ingenious heat-regulating contraption, a testament to local innovation.

        

            Maska Bun and Ginger Tea     Electric Fan used as a heat-regulating device

We reached the airport well ahead of schedule – around 18:00 for a 21:55 flight. Mukesh, ever dependable, dropped us at Terminal I and helped unload our luggage. We thanked him warmly, reflecting on how seamless this journey had been under his care – especially compared to last year’s experience. The only hiccup was his rain protection for the luggage, which we’ll address next time.

At check-in, we were met with unexpected leniency. The assistant offered to check in our handbags and backpacks, too, despite our collective excess baggage. She didn’t flinch, and we exchanged amused glances, grateful for this quiet blessing.

Security clearance was smooth, but just as I settled into a seat at the gate, I received a call – my wallet had been found. I informed Suma and walked briskly back. The security official returned it intact, thanks to my business card with contact details. After signing the Lost and Found register, I returned, relieved and grateful. I shared the incident with the others, who were amazed at the swift recovery. With UPI handling most transactions, I might not have noticed its absence for hours. Small mercies.

Setting Sail towards Home, Ahoy! 

Dinner followed, and soon we boarded the flight – among the first, as our seats were at the rear. I realized then why the assistant had insisted on checking in our hand baggage: the last few overhead bins were reserved for crew equipment. I shared this insight with the group.

Sleep was fleeting. The captain’s voice signaled descent, and since the rear door wasn’t opened, we were among the last to disembark – ironically, this worked in our favor as our luggage arrived promptly.

Dilip, who had dropped us off at the start of our journey, was waiting. He managed all our bags with ease. We dropped Suma first, then Vidya, followed by Sujata. I reached home at 03:15 on 14th August.

Epilogue: Reflections & Gratitude

This trip to Uttarakhand was challenging – especially for Sujata, on her maiden journey. Despite daily updates, our families remained concerned. Suma and I stayed in constant touch with local contacts, tracking road clearances and landslide alerts. Yet, unsettling social media videos often disrupted our calm.

We missed Badarinath, Kedarnath, and the focal point of our journey – Bansi Narayan Temple. Other sacred sites from the Pancha Kedar and Pancha Badari circuits also remained out of reach. I was particularly keen to witness developments at Bhavishya Badari, but we consoled ourselves with the thought: “There is always a next time.”

Just before I conclude, a brief about each of my travel companions.

Suma Rao – a veteran and a seasoned traveller who has visited almost all the Temples of Ancient importance in India. A retired banker, she has been the cornerstone of our group. She is more a friend than a relative to me and my brother. An aficionado of coffee, naturally, she took it on herself to brew our first cuppa, day in and day out, during our sojourn. This is my third trip with her, and I'm enjoying it. She took off for her next trip to Scandinavia and Iceland just a week after we arrived in Bengaluru. 

Radha Krishna – another seasoned trekker, she has been an inspiration for all our treks. An ex-Headmistress at Kendriya Vidyalaya and the wife of a Serviceman, her travel stories are quite interesting. Being the wife of an Air Force man, she was envied by us for having travelled across many places, out of bounds to us, as civilians.

Vidya Simha – another seasoned traveller and the wife of a Group Captain in our Air Force and retired official with the AG's Office. Oh yes, she too has interesting stories to narrate. 

Both Radha and Vidya left for the Manasarovar and Mount Kailash trip at the end of last month. Great travel companions! 

Sujata Vasant – A retired banker and one of my best friends over the last few decades (since our college days), she was inspired by my blog last year to take up this trip, and one of the key reasons I pestered Suma to take up this trip. A fitness junkie, she enjoyed this trip thoroughly and, to her surprise, found Radha to be connected to both her siblings. 

I couldn't avoid naming these three as 'Teen Deviyan' as they jelled so much during our 15-day trip and were almost inseparable from Day 1.

An Ode to Mukesh

Mukesh, our driver, hails from Bhopal and has been with Arun’s company for five years, operating out of Dehradun. Though not formally educated, he’s deeply committed to his children’s schooling. He questions the logic of exorbitant fees and tuition, believing schools should deliver quality education. His children attend a Christian Mission school, and he’s pleased with their progress. Not a night passed without him chatting to his children. 

Mukesh is cheerful, patient, and meticulous – his vehicle always spotless. He often says, “You must be the master of your vehicle, not the other way around.” I hold him in high regard and would recommend him without hesitation.

Thank you, Mukesh ji.

Acknowledgements

• Arun Joshi: For his stellar logistical support and unmatched network in Chamoli.
• Pt. Shubranshu Joshi: For his guidance at Dev Prayag and as a valuable contact for future journeys to Badarinath.
• My travel companions, especially Sujata, whose resilience and spirit enriched this journey.

Many places from last year’s travelogue haven’t been revisited here, but links to those entries are provided where relevant.

Closing Thoughts

सर्वे जनाः सुखिनो भवन्तु। समस्ताः मंगलानि सन्तु।
ॐ शांति, शांति, शांति॥

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