M.K. Ramachandran, so far, has visited 39 different destinations in the Himalaya. Chardham yatra, Puncha Kedar Yatra, Dodi Lake and Roopkhund Yathra, Go Mukh - Tapovan and deep in to the Kahatling Glaciers of Gangothri Dham, Trisul Peak Satopanith Lake in the Baadrinath Dhami are some of the important Yathras affected in the Garwhal Himalayas.
Patal Lokg, Aadikailasam, Om Parvath, Kailash Manasasarovar (Tibet) many sacred places in Almora, Bhageswar, and Dharchula, Bhim Tal, Naini Tal are the important pilgrimage spots visited in Kumaon Himalayas, Sacred places in Jammu Kashmir Himalaya included Amarnath, Vaishnav Devi, Dhamundi Devi, Jwalamudhi Devi, Ladhak etc.
In Eastern Himalaya Gagtok, Nathula Pass, Baba Mandir, Khajani Janga and into the deep forest of Jeorthang and the Glaciers there.
In Himachal Pradesh Himalayan Range the following places were visited, Kinnor Kailash, Mani Mahesh Kailash, Srikandh Mahadev Kailas, Rothang Pass, Dharmasala, Manali, Delhouru and through the banks of Satlej, Bhaspa and Raavi rivers.
Shrikant Mahadev Kailash: To reach this destination one has to take up an arduous and dangerous trek over glaciers for about a week. It is located about 120 km from Rampur (nearest motorable destination) in Himachal Pradesh. The Shiva linga is an 80 feet sheer rock face jutting out from the middle of a glacier stretch at an altitude of 21,700 feet above sea level. The pass opens only for a week in a year in the month of July (Shravana Sankramam), from 16 to 24.
Manimaesh Kailash: Located at an altitude of 14000 feet in the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas, it lies on the banks of Manimahesh Ganga, which originates from the peak. The route to Manimahesh is via Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. Motorable road goes till Hadsur and the rest of the path is to be covered on foot, which is about 13km of steep climb.
Sources of origin of the sacred rivers visited include: Brahmaputhra, Satlaj, Sindhu, Karnali, Ganga, Alakananda, Mandakini, and Saraswathi,
Important sacred and spiritual centers like Kasi, Ayodhiya, Gaya, Mathura, Vrindavan, Dharaka, Puri, Khamakhya and venues of south India, were also visited several times. |