Shiva performed the Tandava Nritya -Panchtarni pilgrim

by Madugundu Krishna    October 01, 2012

 Beyond Sheshnag, one faces the uphill bare route bare route to the 4419 meters high Mahagnas (meaning the Great Viper). From here a downhill march along grassy slopes, interspersed with flowers of variegated hues, takes the pilgrim to Panchtarni (3840 meters) where, it is said, Shiva performed the Tandava Nritya (the cosmic and out came five streams of the Ganga. It is after this that the place takes its name.

The sacred Gangabal Lake (3657 meters) at the base of the snow clad peak of Harmukh (5151 meters). For the Hindus of the valley, it is Hardwar of Kashmir. Apart from its sacredness, the lake is `an exquisite turquoise –colored sheet of water reposing immediately beneath the great cliff and glaciers of the Harmukh.’ From the lake one can visit Wangat and Naran-nag, where lie the 10 th century ruins of ancient temples. At Wangat, it is believed, Rishi Vasishtha and his ashram; king Sandimat had his Vanaprastha here; and Kalhana is said to have written his Rajatarangini at this place.

West of the Sindh Valley lies the Gurais and Tilet valleys, which posses a beauty of their own, heightened by the majesty of the river Kishenganga. One reaches Gurais from Bandipur and Tragbal. A tortuous motorable road winds up the wooded mountain and leads to the Rajdiangan pass 3627 meters high  

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