Sightseeing
The Char Dham in the beautiful state of Uttarakhand is considered Chota Chardham. The pilgrims, before starting the pious Chardham yatra, visit the Gateway to God- Haridwar and then proceed with their trip to Chardham yatra. Chardham is a set of four pilgrimage sites- Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The shrines of Yamunotri and Gangotri are devoted to Goddesses Yamuna and Ganga, respectively on the other hand, Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines are devoted to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, respectively.
As per Hindu belief, visiting the
The Char Dham in the beautiful state of Uttarakhand is considered Chota Chardham. The pilgrims, before starting the pious Chardham yatra, visit the Gateway to God- Haridwar and then proceed with their trip to Chardham yatra. Chardham is a set of four pilgrimage sites- Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The shrines of Yamunotri and Gangotri are devoted to Goddesses Yamuna and Ganga, respectively on the other hand, Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines are devoted to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, respectively.
As per Hindu belief, visiting the Chardham helps one achieve moksha/ salvation. One should complete their Chardham Yatra trip in a clockwise direction and thus devotees start from Yamunotri, proceed towards Gangotri, Kedarnath, and finally end their pilgrimage by visiting Badrinath.
One of the easiest and fastest ways to pay a visit to the entire pilgrimage in a short time. A helicopter tour for Chardham Yatra is ideal for those who have a shortage of time and for those who are also facing health issues and are not able to perform the pilgrimage relatively quickly. One can go for Charter planes available for Kedarnath and Badrinath Yatra. Pilgrims, as per their choice, can choose to visit only Kedarnath or Badrinath by charter. The helicopter operates from Sahastradhara, Dehradun helipad every morning for Chardham, and returns to the city every evening.
Significance of Yamnotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath
1. Yamunotri
Yamunotri temple seats Goddess Yamuna and requires a 5km trek to reach and starts from Jankichatti. It is situated on the bank of the holy river Yamuna. As per Legend, Yamraj, the brother of Yamuna bestowed a holy boon to her on the auspicious day of Bhai Dooj that whoever takes a dip in the Yamuna river at Yamunotri Dham will attain salvation and will thus have freed oneself from being taken to Yamlok.
2. Gangotri
Nestled in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, the pious Gangotri temple is devoted to Goddess Ganga. Gangotri temple is the highest temple. The river Ganga originates at Gaumukh. Gaumukh is located at the foot of Gangotri Glacier. The River Ganga is known as Bhagirathi here. This sacred temple is built close to Bhagirath Shila, which is a pillar where King Bhagirath prayed to Lord Shiva to bear the descent of the river Ganga. The devotees collect the water from the pillar and take it to their homes as Amrit and use it for various religious purposes.
3. Kedarnath
The ancient Kedarnath temple is in the Kedarkhand region of the state of Uttarakhand. The temple is located at a height of 3583 m and can only be reached by an uphill trek of around 22km. Kedarnath temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. As per the mythological account, Nara-Narayana requested Lord Shiva to reside here, to which he agreed. Legend says that Pandavas, on the advice of sage Vyasa, came here to ask forgiveness for killing their kith and kin in the Kurukshetra war. Lord Shiva thought otherwise and turned into a bull and camouflaged himself among the cattle, but on being recognized by Pandavas, sank himself into the ground, going head-first. It was Bhima who caught him by the tail, forcing lord shiva to appear before them and forgive them. Pandavas then built the temple at Kedarnath.
4. Badrinath
Badrinath Dham is located in the northern part of India and is situated at a height of 3300m. The Badrinath Dham area is referred to as Badrikaashram. Hindu scriptures and holy Bhagavata Puran mention lord Vishnu undergoing penance here in his incarnation as Nara and Narayan, since time immemorial, for the well-being of all living forms of the Universe. Another narrative from Hindu mythology states that Lord Vishnu sat meditating in the forest full of Badri bushes. To shelter meditating Lord Vishnu from the sweltering heat of the sun, Goddess Luxmi stood next to him, providing shade and with time, Goddess Lakshmi turned into Badri Vishal herself and Lord Vishnu became the Badrinath. Padma Purana mentions the area in and around Badri Dham as replete with spiritual treasure.
Places to visit on the way to Chardham Yatra
1. Haridwar
The Chardham yatra usually commences from the pious city of Haridwar. This holy place holds several revered temples, ashrams, and narrow lanes across the city. Every year numerous devotees come here to take a dip in the holy Ganga as it is believed that taking a dip in the sacred Har Ki Pauri relieves one’s sins.
Attend the Ganga aarti at Har ki Pauri, where several devotees come together to pray to the holy Ganga, which is in itself a mesmerizing thing to witness. Here are some of the places to cover in Haridwar- Har Ki Pauri, Chandi Devi Temple, Rajaji National Park, Mansa Devi Temple, and Vaishno Devi Temple.
2. Rishikesh
Another amazing place to explore is the Yoga Capital of the World, Rishikesh. Renowned for meditation and yoga, Rishikesh also offers various thrilling adventure activities to adventure junkies. Enjoy activities like rafting, trekking, rock climbing, and Kayaking. Attend the pious Ganga aarti at Parmarth Niketan Ashram and at Triveni ghat which is performed every day. Visit some astounding places here like Shri Neelkanth Mahadev, Vashishtha Gufa, Shatrughna Mandir, Bharat Mandir, Parmarth Niketan, Kunjapuri temple, Ram Jhula, Lakshman Jhula, Beatles Ashram, Janki Setu, and Laksham Mandir.
3. Joshimath
A serene hill station located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. This destination is the winter home of Lord Badri as the idol is shifted from Badrinath to Joshimath during the winter season. Joshimath is renowned as the gateway for mountain climbing expeditions, trekking, and several other thrilling adventures. Here are some beautiful places to visit- Jyotirmath temple, Tapovan, and Narsingh Temple.
4. Guptkashi
A serene destination beautifully located on the banks of the river Mandakini and snuggled between the Chaukhamba peaks of the Garhwal Himalayan ranges, Guptkashi is yet another must-visit place to explore. Witness some of the astounding places here, like- Vishwanath temple, the Ardhanarishwar temple, Sonprayag, and Gaurikund.
5. Dhari Devi
Located between Srinagar and Rudraprayag on the Badrinath road, the pious Dhari Devi temple is the center of faith for Ma Kali devotees. This revered temple is situated on the banks of the Alaknanda River in Kalyasaur. Dhari Devi temple holds the deity of Dhari Devi.
As per legends, the upper part of Goddess Kali is said to be here and the lower part is in Kalimath. There is a strong belief that the Dhari Devi idol shall not be put under any roof and thus, there is always an open sky above the idol in the Dhari Devi temple. Another belief is that the idol of goddess Dhari Devi takes the form of a girl in the morning, a woman in the afternoon, and an elderly woman at night. Numerous devotees pay a visit to this temple during Navratras to seek blessings.
Dhari Devi is considered to be the guardian deity of Uttarakhand and is revered as the protector of the Chardham. Just note that clicking pictures of the Dhari Devi idol is strictly prohibited.
6. Mana Village
The last Indian village, Mana is one of the offbeat tourist places located at the Uttarakhand Indo-Tibetan border. Neelkanth Peak, Tapt Kund, Mata Murti temple, Vasudhara Falls, Vyasa Gufa, Ganesha Gufa, and Bheem Pul are some amazing places to explore in Mana Village.
7. GauriKund
Gaurikund is located around 15 km away from Guptkashi and is the base site from where the Kedarnath trek starts. The devotees take a bath in the hot waters of Gaurikund and pay homage to the Gauri temple before proceeding with their journey to Kedarnath.
8. Vasuki Tal
Vasuki Tal can be reached by commencing an 8km trek from the Kedarnath temple. This lake is sacred. It is believed that this is the lake where lord Vishnu bathed in ancient times.
9. Chopta
Chopta is yet another serene place to witness during your Chardham tour. A fantastic destination for trekkers, this place offers some amazing places to explore- Tungnath is one of the Panch Kedar and is the highest Shiva temple in the world, Chandrashila- Catch the 360-degree jaw-dropping view of the Himalayas from here, and indulge in the Deorital Tal trek. It is an amazing spot and quite famous among the trekkers, Kanchula Korak Musk Deer Sanctuary, Ukhimath, Baniyakund, and Rohini Bugyal.
10. Sonprayag
With cascading waterfalls, gushing rivers, and jaw-dropping views, Sonprayag is a must-see place in Uttarakhand. This is the place where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were married. Capture the astonishing views of the snow-capped peak. Sonprayag is the place where the river Mandakini meets the river Basuki. It is believed that Sonprayag is one of the five Prayags of Uttarakhand state.
There is another strong belief that by touching the water of Sonprayag, the first ladder of Baikunth Dham is obtained and if one takes the dip in the confluence here, liberation from the sins made by man is attained. Explore some amazing places here, like Triyuginaraayan temple- located close to Sonprayag at Triyugi village, Gaurikund, Gandhi Sarovar- a pretty lake near Sonprayag that has fresh, clean water, and Vasuki Tal.
11. JankiChatti
Janki Chatti is the last motorable stop en route to Yamunotri and also this is the place from where your trek starts to reach the Yamunotri Dham. Janki Chatti is renowned for its hot water springs where the devotees take baths. One needs to commence a 6kms trek to reach Yamnotri.
12. Hanuman Chatti
Hanuman Chatti is the base camp for the three famous trekking excursions- Yamnotri, Dodi Tal, and Darwa Top. Pay a visit to the revered Hanuman temple here. From Hanuman Chatti, one can hire a jeep or taxi to reach Janki Chatti, from where one needs to commence a 6km trek to reach Yamnotri Dham.
13. Barkot
Barkot is a prominent stopover during the Chardham yatra. It is a sereen hill station enroute to Yamunotri. Catch the panoramic vistas of the snow-covered Bandarpoonch Peak. Do not forget to pay a visit to the revered Shiva temple here.
The best time to visit Chardham
1. Summer(May to June)
This is the most apt time for the Chardham Yatra. The days are pleasant and are perfect for visiting. The temperature ranges between 6 degrees and 25 degrees Celsius.
2. Monsoon(July to September)
Although monsoon season makes the terrain lush green and yes, you can get various discounts on hotels and transportation, this monsoon season should be avoided for the Chardham yatra as there are chances of landslides. The overflowing rivers and flooding, helicopter services are adjourned at regular intervals in this particular season due to unfavorable weather. This is the most significant reason to avoid it. The temperature ranges between 10 degrees to 20 degrees Celsius.
3. Autumn season(October to November)
This is the perfect time for a yatra. The landscape is adorned with post-monsoon greens offering jaw-dropping views. The closing date of the Chardham temple is observed either in October or November, which is decided by the temple committee every year. The temperature ranges between 0 degrees and 10 degrees Celsius. These two months are the last time one can have darshan.
4. Winter(November-March)
Winter season is the most harsh period as there is heavy snowfall which makes it impossible to commence the Chardham yatra. The temperature in all four Dhams ranges between -5 degrees to 15 degrees Celsius. Due to inaccessibility, Chardham temples stay closed during the six months of winter ie between November to April.
Opening and Closing Times of the Chardham Yatra
The four pilgrimage sites- Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath are holy pilgrimage sites and are open only for six months. The dates are generally declared by the Chardham committee, Kedar-Badri Mandir Samiti, before the holy day of Akshaya Tritiya or Adha Teej. The Yamunotri and Gangotri temple opens on the day of Akshaya Tritiya every year, followed by the portal opening of Kedarnath and Badrinath temples after a couple of days. The Yamunotri and Kedarnath Dham close on Yama Dwitiya Bhai Dhooj, whereas Gangotri Dham closes on the day of Diwali and Badrinath temple closes on the day of Vijay Dashmi. The holy shrines of Chardham open every year with the arrival of summer in April-May and close with the start of winter months, October-November.
Important tips for Chardham Yatra
- Make sure to do your Chardham Yatra registration beforehand.
- When asking for directions, speak to shopkeepers, not pedestrians and also check with at least two persons or more.
- Do not take pictures if cameras are not allowed in any particular area.
- Avoid yatra in the rainy season as there are a lot of landslides during that time.
- Book hotel rooms in advance if you are traveling close to the temple's opening dates.
- Alcohol and non-vegetarian food are not allowed during the Chardham yatra tour.
- It is advised to go for a guided tour arranged by an expert local agent.
Things to carry
- Carry your Aadhaar card, voter ID, or driving license.
- Carry a first aid box with you.
- Carry your woollen clothes, umbrella, raincoat torchlight, canvas shoes, minimum luggage, monkey cap, and muffler.
- Keep with you moisturizers and sunscreen.
- Carry a medical kit including painkillers, antibiotics, antiseptic cream, and medicines for cold and fever.
- Carry your routine medicines, as you might find only limited and general medicines at such remote locations.
- Make sure to keep dark chocolates, dry fruits, glucose, and ORS, to provide instant energy during trekking.
- Carry a power bank and batteries for your camera, as electricity is not regular in such remote places.
