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About
Tapovan |
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Tapovan comes from the two root words tapasya - meaning
specifically austerity, and more generally spiritual practice,
and vana, meaning forest, or wilderness. Tapovan then
translates as forest of spiritual practice, wild place for
practicing austerities, etc.
Traditionally in India, any place where someone has engaged in
serious spiritual retreat may become known as a tapovan. As
well as particular caves and other hermitages where sages and
sadhus have dwelt, there are some places, such as the western
bank of the northern Ganges river around Rishikesh, that have
been so used by hermits that the whole area has become known
as a tapovan. |
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Tapovan (place) |
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The
most famous tapovan in India is the area above the Gangotri
Glacier at one of the primary sources of the Ganges in
Uttarakhand, India. Tapovan area is full of meadows, streams and
flowering plants and the meadows are considered as one of the
best high altitude meadow in India. At the foot of Shivling
peak, a barren area at about 4,463 m altitude is a seasonal home
to sevaral sadhus living in caves, huts etc. and it has become a
trekking destination also. The trekking generally starts from
Gomukh and the trek was considered moderate to difficult prior
to the destruction of much of the trail from Gangotri to Gamukh
by the 2013 North Indian Floods. Tapovan area is base camp for
several mountaineering expeditions including Bhagirathi peak,
Shivling peak etc. There is also a place named Nandanvan near
Tapovan, and Nandavan is also trekked by trekkers and pilgrims.
Nandanvan is also a spacious meadow located at the base of
Bhagirathi massiff.
In contrast to the annoying hustle and bustle of city life of
Joshimath, Tapovan is a peaceful place known for its hot springs
which are believed to possess miraculous healing powers. Tapovan
is 15 kms. from Joshimath. A 3 kms. trek from here leads to
Bhavishya Badri, one of the five Badris. |
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