Joshimath: In the Shadow of the Mountains


At 5:00 a.m., we set out from Rishikesh on the long road to Joshimath. The journey itself was uneventful, but the winding mountain roads slowly lifted us higher, each turn bringing us closer to the Himalayas. Somewhere along the way, we stopped at the revered Dhari Devi Temple, perched dramatically in the middle of the river. Legends surround this shrine, and though our visit was brief, the image of the goddess standing steadfast against the current stayed with me — a symbol of resilience, unshaken by the storms that come her way.




By late evening, around 5:00 p.m., we finally reached Joshimath. The air was crisp and cool, a welcome change from the heat of the plains. After checking into our rooms and freshening up, we set out to explore the sacred heart of this town.



The Narasimha Temple – A Living Link to Badrinath

Our first stop was the Narasimha Temple, a place of deep spiritual importance. Tradition holds that during the harsh winters, when the path to Badrinath is closed, the deity is shifted here from Bhau Bij to Akshaya Tritiya. To stand there, knowing that this modest temple becomes the spiritual seat of Badrinath for half the year, was humbling. It reminded me of how faith always finds a way — when one door closes, another opens.



A view of the surrounding mountains from the temple 


The Shankaracharya Mutt – A Meeting with a Modern Monk

From there, we walked to the Shankaracharya Mutt, a place steeped in centuries of wisdom. The quietness of the mutt invited us to sit in meditation, and as we closed our eyes, the sounds of the outside world faded away.


It was then that a Swamiji entered. Observing us meditating, he gently shared a few tips on how to deepen the practice. As he spoke, we discovered something remarkable — this Swamiji had once been an IIT graduate and a project director at Apple. A life of worldly success was his, yet a turning point led him to renounce it all in pursuit of a higher calling.


Listening to him, I was struck by how the mountains often call people in unexpected ways. Some come to trek, some to worship, and some, like him, to surrender everything for truth.



Rest Before the Climb

By the time we returned to our rooms, the night air had turned cold. Wrapped in warmth, we drifted to sleep with the plan of visiting the Narasimha Temple again at dawn.


Joshimath was more than just a stopover — it was a place of preparation. A reminder that before you step higher into the Himalayas, you pause, reflect, and listen. For in the silence of its temples and mutts, you hear not only the echoes of history but also whispers meant for your own journey.


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