Joshimath, a popular center of pilgrimage, lies close to the side of a deep valley, 250 km northeast of
Rishikesh above the rivers
Alaknanda and Dhauliganga. The main attractions at Joshimath are the awesome peaks of the
Himalayas, the dense forest that covers the slope, and the trails passing through quiet villages.
The word Joshimath is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Jyotirmath’, the place of the Jyotirlinga of Shiva. It is believed that
Shankaracharya, a philosopher and theologian, founded this place as a center for
sadhus. Joshimath has thus earned the name, 'the sacred place of the Hindus'. Several temples sanctify this place, among which the most popular one is the temple dedicated to Narasimha. Others are dedicated to Hanuman, Ganesh, Surya, Gaurishankar, and Naudevi. Besides being a pilgrim spot, Joshimath is a unique place for adventure lovers. It is the base for trekking to the famous
Valley of Flowers.