Editing Joshimath

{{about|the town|the monastery|Jyotir Math}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2017}}
{{Page numbers needed| article |date=September 2010}}
<!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian cities]] for details -->
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Joshimath
| native_name            = 
| native_name_lang       = 
| other_name             = Jyotirmath
| nickname               = 
| settlement_type        = Town
| image_skyline          = Joshimath.jpg
| image_alt              = 
| image_caption          = View of Jyotirmath from Narsingh Temple
| pushpin_map            = India Uttarakhand#India
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_alt        = 
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location in Uttarakhand, India
| coordinates            = {{coord|30|33|18|N|79|33|54|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type       = Country
| subdivision_name       = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1      = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1      = [[Uttarakhand]]
| subdivision_type2      = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2      = [[Chamoli district|Chamoli]]
| subdivision_type3      = [[Tehsil]]
| subdivision_name3      = Jyotirmath
| established_title      = <!-- Established -->
| established_date       = 
| founder                = 
| named_for              = 
| government_type        = 
| governing_body         = 
| unit_pref              = Metric
| area_footnotes         = 
| area_rank              = 
| area_total_km2         = 
| elevation_footnotes    = 
| elevation_m            = 
| population_total       = 48202<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joshimath Tehsil Population Chamoli, Uttarakhand, List of Villages & Towns in Joshimath Tehsil |url=https://www.censusindia2011.com/uttarakhand/chamoli/joshimath-population.html |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=Censusindia2011.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
| population_as_of       = 2011
| population_rank        = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym     = 
| population_footnotes   = 
| demographics_type1     = Languages
| demographics1_title1   = Official
| demographics1_info1    = [[Garhwali language|Garhwali]], [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| timezone1              = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1            = +5:30
| postal_code_type       = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code            = 246443<ref name="pincode">{{cite web |url=https://pin-code.net/in-loc/joshimath-pin-code/160598/ |title=Joshimath Pin code |publisher=pin-code.net |accessdate=8 July 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185947/https://pin-code.net/in-loc/joshimath-pin-code/160598/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| registration_plate     = UK-11
| website                = {{URL|http://chamoli.nic.in}}
}}
'''Joshimath''', also known as '''Jyotirmath''', is a town and a [[municipal board]] in [[Chamoli District]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Uttarakhand]]. Located at a height of 6,150 feet (1,875 m),<ref name=joshi>{{cite web |last=Singh |first=V.P. Flt.Lt. |title=Himalayan Journal 1967-68 |url=http://www.himalayanclub.org/journal/n-d-a-expedition-to-the-kumaon-himalayas-1968/ |publisher=The Himalayan Club |access-date=6 June 2013 |archive-date=26 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226113147/https://www.himalayanclub.org/journal/n-d-a-expedition-to-the-kumaon-himalayas-1968/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> it is a gateway to several [[Himalayas|Himalayan]] mountain climbing expeditions, trekking trails and pilgrim centres like [[Badrinath]].<ref name=trisul>{{cite web |last=Agarwal |first=Meena |title=The Ascent of Trisul, 1970 |url=http://www.himalayanclub.org/journal/the-ascent-of-trisul-1970/ |publisher=The Himalayan Club |access-date=6 June 2013 |archive-date=26 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226113003/https://www.himalayanclub.org/journal/the-ascent-of-trisul-1970/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is home to one of the four cardinal ''pītha''s believed by tradition to be established by [[Adi Shankara]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Jyotirmath |url=http://chamoli.nic.in/pages/display/80-joshimath |access-date=26 February 2015}}</ref>

Since 7 February 2021, the area was severely affected by the [[2021 Uttarakhand flood]] and its aftermath. The town is confirmed to be sinking due to its geographic location being along a running ridge.<ref name="Tripathi 2023">{{cite web |last=Tripathi |first=Sibu |title=Why is Joshimath sinking? Alarm bells in hill town ringing since 1976 |website=India Today |date=6 January 2023 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/why-is-joshimath-sinking-alarm-bells-in-hill-town-ringing-since-1976-2318223-2023-01-06 |access-date=7 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sinking land forces hundreds to leave Indian temple town |website=AP NEWS |date=7 January 2023 |url=https://apnews.com/article/science-politics-india-climate-and-environment-67400f2375f10986e026545f66d38923 |access-date=7 January 2023}}</ref>

==History==
Between the 7th and 11th centuries C.E., [[Katyuri kings]] ruled the area of varying extent from their capital at "Katyur" (modern day [[Baijnath, Uttarakhand|Baijnath]]) valley in Kumaon. The Katyuri dynasty was founded by Vashudev Katyuri. The ancient Basdeo temple at Joshimath is attributed to Vasu Dev.<ref name=handa>O.C.Handa, 2002, History of Uttaranchal, Indus Publishing Company. {{ISBN|9788173871344}}.</ref> Vasu Dev was of Buddhist origin, but later followed Brahminical practices and the brahminical practices of Katyuri kings in general is sometimes attributed to a vigorous campaign of [[Adi Shankara]] (788-820 CE).<ref name=handa/>

According to [[Badri Datt Pandey]] in his book ''Kumaon Ka Itihas'', Joshimath was the original capital of the Katyur dynasty before it moved to Kartikeyapur (modern day [[Baijnath, Uttarakhand|Baijnath]]). According to the story, king Vasudev was a devotee of [[Narasimha|Narsingh]] (avatar of lord Vishnu). One day he went hunting and lord Narsingh came to his home disguised. His wife offered food to the god. After eating the food the god went in the king's room for some rest. When the king returned from hunting he got angry after seeing a man sleeping in his bed. He took his sword and cut the left hand of god. Instead of blood, milk started flowing from the wound. After seeing this, the king realised the disguised person was not a common man. He asked for forgiveness from the god. The god said he came because he was happy with his kingdom but after this incident he cursed the king to move to a new location (Baijnath). Because of this wound, the statue in the temple will also have a weak left hand. When the statue's hand will fall off, this will be the end of his dynasty.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pāṇḍe |first=Badarī Datta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BXZwQgAACAAJ |title=History of Kumaun: English Version of "Kumaun Ka Itihas" |date=1993 |publisher=Shyam Prakashan |isbn=978-81-85865-01-0 |language=en}}</ref>

Katyuri kings were displaced by the [[Garhwal Kingdom#Rulers of Garhwal|Panwar dynasty]] in the 11th century AD.<ref name="handa" />

==2021 glacial outburst flood and aftermath==
{{Main article|2021 Uttarakhand flood}}
A part of the [[Nanda Devi glacier]] broke off in [[Nanda Devi National Park]] in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on 7 February 2021, causing flash flood in [[Rishiganga]] and [[Dhauliganga River]], devastating among others the village [[Rini, Uttarakhand|Rini]], the [[Dhauliganga Dam]], the Rishi Ganga dam, [[Tapovan Vishnugad Hydropower Plant]], killing and endangering people. According to media, at least 31 people were confirmed to have been killed and around 165 were reported missing after the flash flood. A PTI report put the number of workers missing at 150.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

In the aftermath of the floods, residents began noticing cracks in homes; eventually over 600 houses were evacuated after a local temple collapsed.<ref>{{Citation |website=ABC News |date=January 7, 2023 |vauthors=((B. Banerjee)) |title=Sinking land forces hundreds to leave Indian temple town |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/sinking-land-forces-hundreds-leave-indian-temple-town-96283860 |access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |website=BBC News |date=January 5, 2023 |title=The scenic Indian town in danger of sinking |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-india-64172954 |access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref> Eventually over 700 of approximately 4,400-4,600 structures would show cracking and the streets and paved areas in the affected area also showed cracking.<ref>{{Citation |vauthors=((Masih, N.)) |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 12, 2023 |title=Himalayan town sinks, leaving residents to count costs of rapid development |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/01/12/joshimath-sinking-india-town-himalayas/ |access-date=12 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |vauthors=((Soutik Biswas and Raju Gusain)) |date=9 January 2023 |title=Joshimath: The trauma of living in India's sinking Himalayan town |website=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-64201536 |access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref> Hundreds of residents were able to evacuate and authorities classified zones within the town as "danger", "buffer" and "completely safe" areas; demolition work began on 9 January 2023.<ref>{{Citation |website=Al Jazeera |date=10 January 2023 |title=Demolitions begin in India's 'sinking' Joshimath, hundreds moved |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/10/demolitions-begin-in-indias-sinking-joshimath-hundreds-moved |access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-64201536 | title=Joshimath: The trauma of living in India's sinking Himalayan town | work=BBC News | date=9 January 2023 }}</ref>

A two year study released in 2023 by the [[Indian Institute of Remote Sensing]] used satellite sensing to determine the area was sinking {{cvt|6.5|cm|in}} each year.<ref>{{Citation |website=NDTV |date=11 January 2023 |title=Joshimath, Neighbouring Areas, Sink 2.5 Inches Every Year: New Report |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/every-year-joshimath-and-neighbourhoood-sinks-by-2-5-inch-study-finds-3680887 |access-date=11 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 January 2023 |title=Joshimath subsidence: Satellite-based preliminary |url=https://www.nrsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/pdf/DMSP/Joshimath_landslide_11Jan2023.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112080218/https://www.nrsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/pdf/DMSP/Joshimath_landslide_11Jan2023.pdf |archive-date=12 January 2023}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{As of|2011}} India [[census]], there are total 3,898 families residing in Joshimath city. The total population of Joshimath is 16,709 out of which 9,988 are males and 6,721 are females. Thus the Average Sex Ratio of Joshimath is 673.<ref name="census">{{cite web |title=Joshimath Population, Caste Data Chamoli Uttarakhand - Census India |url=https://www.censusindia.co.in/towns/joshimath-population-chamoli-uttarakhand-800291 |website=www.censusindia.co.in |access-date=5 May 2017}}</ref><ref name="c2011">{{cite web |title=Joshimath City Population Census 2011 - Uttarakhand |url=http://www.census2011.co.in/data/town/800291-joshimath-uttarakhand.html |website=www.census2011.co.in |access-date=5 May 2017}}</ref>

The population of Children of age 0–6 years in Joshimath city is 2103 which is 13% of the total population. There are 1127 male children and 976 female children between the age 0–6 years. Thus as per the Census 2011 the Child Sex Ratio of Joshimath is 866 which is greater than Average Sex Ratio (673).<ref name="census" /><ref name="c2011" />

As per the Census 2011, the literacy rate of Joshimath is 91.3% up from 77% in 2001. Thus Joshimath has a higher literacy rate compared to the 82.7% of its own district, Chamoli. The male literacy rate is 95.2% and the female literacy rate is 85.2% in Joshimath.<ref name="census" /><ref name="c2011" />

Joshimath had a population of 13,202 in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999 |archive-date=2004-06-16 |title=Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional) |access-date=2008-11-01 |publisher=[[Census Commission of India]]}}</ref>

==Religious significance==
[[File:JyothirMutt.JPG|right|thumb|150px|[[Jyotir Math]] monastery]]
Jyotirmath is the ''uttarāmnāya [[matha]]'', or northern monastery, one of the four cardinal institutions established by Adi Shankara, the others being those at [[Shringeri]], [[Govardhana matha|Puri]], [[Dwarka]]. Their heads are titled "[[Shankaracharya]]". According to the tradition initiated by Adi Shankara, this matha is in charge of the [[Atharvaveda]]. Jyotirmath is close to the pilgrimage town of [[Badrinath]]. This place can be a base station for travellers going to Guru Gobind Ghat or the [[Valley of Flowers National Park]]. The temple Narasimha, is enshrined Badrinarayan along with a pantheon of deities. The presiding deity Lord [[Narasimha]] is believed to have been established by Adi Sankara. It is one of the "[[Divya Desams]]", the 108 temples of [[Vishnu]] revered by the 12 [[Tamil language|Tamil]] poet-saints or [[Alvars]], and god and goddess are known as Parimalavalli sametha Paramapurusha Perumal.<ref>''108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Pandya Nadu''. M. S. Ramesh, Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanam.</ref>

==Joshimath Cantonment==
Joshimath Cantonment is one of the important military stations of [[Indian Army]], present in Uttarakhand. It is the permanent station of "The Garhwal Scouts", the scout battalion of the [[Garhwal Rifles]]. It is the closest army station to the Indo-Tibetan Border. It was used as a base camp for the rescue of the victims of 2013 Kedarnath Floods.

==Tourist attractions==
===Shankaracharya Math===
This is the math established by Adi Shankaracharya in North India. The math has temples of Badrinarayan and Rajrajeshwari Devi. It has a sacred cave where Adi Shankaracharya supposedly undertook [[tapasya]].

===Narsingh Temple===
This is an ancient temple of Lord Vishnu in Narsingh [[Avatar]] and main temple of Joshimath. It has an idol of Lord Narsingh, which is considered established by Shankaracharya. As per local belief, the left hand of this idol has become as thin as hair. On the day when it will break, the mountains Nar - Narayan (नर - नारायण)(which are situated on a way to Badrinath) shall join and become one and Lord Badrinath of Badrinath temple will disappear from the present temple and re-appear as black stone ([[Shaligram]]) at new place called Bhavishya Badri, which is situated at a distance of 10&nbsp;km from Joshimath. During the period when Badrinath temple remains closed during winter every year, an idol of Lord Badri is brought to Narsingh temple and worshiped for six months.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bhavishya Badri {{!}} Chamoli District Website {{!}} India |url=https://chamoli.gov.in/tourist-place/bhavishya-badri/ |access-date=2021-02-19|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Bhavishya Kedar Temple===
As per local belief, present Kedarnath will disappear along with Badrinath and re-appear in Bhavishya Kedar temple at Joshimath. This temple has a small shivling.

===Tapovan===
[[File:... Tapovan near Joshimath (7752121336).jpg|thumb|Tapovan]]
Tapovan is situated 10&nbsp;km from Joshimath. It has natural [[Hot spring|hot water springs]]. The river Dhauliganga is visible from this spot.

===Ropeway===
A ropeway to [[Auli, India|Auli]] is popular among tourists and one of the longest ropeways in Asia. It is open only during the winter season (November to March) and costs ₹1000 for two way journey. The ropeway is the fastest means for tourists to go to Auli.

===Gari Bhawani Temple===
A temple is located 6&nbsp;km away from the main town of Joshimath toward Rishikesh highway.

===Kalpeshwer===
{{Main|Kalpeshwar}}
Kalpeshwar is situated near the village called Urgam, which is located in a valley. Urgam is off the highway NH-58 and is reached from Helang which is situated at about 18&nbsp;km from Joshimath. There are sometimes shared vans from Helang to Nyari/Urgam before noon. Public bus transportation is available everyday from Joshimath to Helang from 05:00 to 19:00.

==Climate==
{{Weather box
| location = Jyotirmath (1971–2000, extremes 1958–1987)
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 21.6
| Feb record high C = 21.1
| Mar record high C = 28.6
| Apr record high C = 30.6
| May record high C = 31.9
| Jun record high C = 34.2
| Jul record high C = 30.2
| Aug record high C = 29.9
| Sep record high C = 30.0
| Oct record high C = 28.0
| Nov record high C = 25.1
| Dec record high C = 21.2
| year record high C = 34.2
| Jan high C = 11.0
| Feb high C = 11.8
| Mar high C = 17.3
| Apr high C = 21.3
| May high C = 23.5
| Jun high C = 24.8
| Jul high C = 23.3
| Aug high C = 23.0
| Sep high C = 22.3
| Oct high C = 22.0
| Nov high C = 16.9
| Dec high C = 13.4
| year high C = 19.1
| Jan low C = 2.0
| Feb low C = 3.0
| Mar low C = 6.7
| Apr low C = 10.7
| May low C = 13.6
| Jun low C = 16.3
| Jul low C = 16.9
| Aug low C = 16.6
| Sep low C = 14.5
| Oct low C = 10.7
| Nov low C = 6.7
| Dec low C = 3.9
| year low C = 9.9
| Jan record low C = -15.1
| Feb record low C = -4.3
| Mar record low C = -4.0
| Apr record low C = 0.0
| May record low C = 4.9
| Jun record low C = 6.0
| Jul record low C = 10.0
| Aug record low C = 12.6
| Sep record low C = 8.0
| Oct record low C = 1.8
| Nov record low C = 0.1
| Dec record low C = -3.1
| year record low C = -15.1
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 57.1
| Feb rain mm = 93.5
| Mar rain mm = 118.7
| Apr rain mm = 51.3
| May rain mm = 72.9
| Jun rain mm = 93.3
| Jul rain mm = 224.6
| Aug rain mm = 201.6
| Sep rain mm = 111.1
| Oct rain mm = 43.2
| Nov rain mm = 10.2
| Dec rain mm = 26.8
| year rain mm = 1104.1
| Jan rain days = 3.8
| Feb rain days = 5.7
| Mar rain days = 7.4
| Apr rain days = 4.1
| May rain days = 6.0
| Jun rain days = 7.5
| Jul rain days = 15.4
| Aug rain days = 15.3
| Sep rain days = 9.1
| Oct rain days = 2.9
| Nov rain days = 1.0
| Dec rain days = 1.6
| year rain days = 79.7
|time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 55
| Feb humidity = 52
| Mar humidity = 52
| Apr humidity = 51
| May humidity = 51
| Jun humidity = 62
| Jul humidity = 79
| Aug humidity = 80
| Sep humidity = 73
| Oct humidity = 59
| Nov humidity = 50
| Dec humidity = 53
|year humidity = 60
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215220604/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Normals%20%281971-2000%29.pdf |archive-date=15 February 2020 |url=https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Normals%20%281971-2000%29.pdf |title=Station: Joshimath Climatological Table 1971–2000 |work=Climatological Normals 1971–2000 |publisher=India Meteorological Department |date=October 2011 |pages=367–368 |access-date=31 March 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDextremes>
{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf |archive-date=5 February 2020 |url=https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf |title=Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012) |publisher=India Meteorological Department |date=December 2016 |page=M225 |access-date=31 March 2020}}</ref>
}}

==Transportation==
[[File:Ropeway at Joshimath, Uttarakhand.jpg|thumb|Ropeway from Joshimath to [[Auli, India|Auli]]]]
The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport near [[Dehradun]] {{cvt|293|km}} away.

The nearest railway station is at [[Rishikesh]], which has a small railway terminal. [[Haridwar]] railway junction, 24&nbsp;km farther from Rishikesh, has train connections to most of the major cities in India.

Joshimath lies on national highway [[National Highway 58 (India)|NH58]] that connects Delhi with [[Badrinath]] and [[Mana Pass]] in Uttarakhand near the Indo-Tibet border. Therefore, all the buses and vehicles that carry pilgrims from New Delhi to Badrinath via Haridwar and Rishikesh in the pilgrim season of the summer months pass through Joshimath. Rishikesh is the major starting point for a road journey to Joshimath. Regular buses operate from Rishikesh bus station to Joshimath. The road distance from Rishikesh to Joshimath is {{cvt|251|km}} via [[Rudraprayag]] and [[Chamoli]].

==See also==
*[[Adi Shankara]] 
*[[Shankaracharya]] 
*[[Kalady|Kalady, Kerala - the holy birthplace of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya]] 
*[[Govardhana matha|Govardhan Peetham (East), Puri, Odisha]] 
*[[Dvaraka Pitha|Dwarka Sharada Peetham (West), Dwarka, Gujarat]] 
*[[Sringeri Sharada Peetham|Shri Sringeri Sharada Peetham (South), Sringeri, Karnataka]] 
*[[Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham|Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu]] 
*[[Gaudapada|Gauḍapāda]]
*[[Govinda Bhagavatpada]]
*[[Shri Gaudapadacharya Math]]
*[[Mandukya Upanishad]]
*[[Advaita Vedanta]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Joshimath}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150713212218/http://www.joshimath.org/ Joshimath Portal] (archived 13 July 2015)
*[https://archive.org/details/CentralHimalayanGeology/mode/1up Central Himalaya] – Geological Observations of The Swiss Expedition 1936 by Arnold Heim and August Gansser (on [[Internet Archive]])

{{Shankara mathas}}

{{Chamoli district}}
{{Municipalities of Uttarakhand}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Chamoli district]]
[[Category:Adi Shankara]]