The Char Dham Yatra is one of the holiest pilgrimages in the world. The four temples included in this yatra are Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Yamunotri is the abode of Goddess Yamuna, Gangotri of Goddess Gangotri, Kedarnath is related to Lord Shiva and Badrinath is a seat of Lord Vishnu. As per Hindu mythology, it is believed that every Hindu must visit these temples to be absolved of their sins and attain salvation. Every year thousands of Char Dham pilgrims come here to worship him. It is also known as Chhota Char Dham Yatra. Apart from these, there is another Char Dham which was established by Adi Shankaracharya. These include four holy pilgrimage sites in four different corners of the country, namely Badrinath in Uttarakhand, Dwarka in Gujarat, Puri in Odisha and Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu.
All the holy places of Chhota Char Dham Yatra are dedicated to different Gods and Goddesses. Kedarnath Dham is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Badrinath Dham is dedicated to Lord Badri or Vishnu. Gangotri Dham is dedicated to Mata Ganga and Yamunotri to Mata Yamuna.
Religious Significance of Chardham Yatra
These holy places are situated amidst the lofty peaks of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand. In Hinduism, the goal of life is to attain salvation. And believe that Char Dham Yatra takes you one step closer to fulfilling this goal.
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Chardham Yatra has a lot of religious significance in Hinduism. It has been believed that every Hindu should visit this pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. It is believed that the Chardham Yatra washes away the sins of a lifetime and opens the door to salvation. And it is said that when a pilgrim ends the Chardham Yatra, he attains complete peace of mind. It is visited by lakhs of devotees from all over the world every year.
Important information about Char Dham Yatra
These holy places are situated in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand. Traditionally, the journey is done from west to east. Thus, it starts from Yamunotri, then ends at Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Here is the essential information that will help you while planning a trip:
• The journey can start from Delhi, Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun as per your convenience.
• Biometric registration is mandatory for Char Dham Yatra.
• Carry essential documents like Aadhaar Card, Voter ID Card, PAN Card, Driving License, or Passport with you on the journey.
• The camping facilities in Swiss Cottage are available near the shrine and are equipped with basic amenities. Deluxe and budget accommodations are also available.
• Char Dham Yatra by helicopter is also available for the devotees. Offline and online booking facility is available. Palki, horse and pittu are also available for those who are unable to walk.
• Do not forget to carry a warm jacket, gloves, sweater, woolen socks and raincoat during the trip.
• Wear comfortable shoes with good grip while traveling.
1. Yamunotri Dham
The source of Yamuna River, Yamunotri is situated at an altitude of 3293 meters above sea level in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The Yamunotri temple is surrounded by Himalayan glaciers and thermal springs. According to Hindu mythology, Yamuna is the sister of Yama, the god of death. It is believed that taking a bath in the Yamuna brings peace. Dehradun is located at a distance of 182 km from here and Haridwar is 226 km away.
Date of opening of Yamunotri temple – 3 May to 24 October 2023
Visiting Hours – The Yamunotri temple opens for devotees at around 7 am. Closed in the period between 1 pm and 4 pm. The closing time of Yamunotri temple is 8 pm. Dehradun is located at a distance of 182 km from here and Haridwar is 226 km away.
Places to visit around the temple: Jankichatti, Surya Kund, Shani Dev Temple, Saptarishi Kund
2. Gangotri Dham
This temple is dedicated to Goddess Ganga. According to Hindu mythology, Gangotri Dham is the place where the river Ganges descended from heaven when Lord Shiva released her from his locks. Situated at an altitude of 3042 meters above sea level, Gangotri is located in Uttarkashi district. From here Haridwar is 285 km and Dehradun is 240 km.
Gangotri temple opening date – 3 May to 25 October 2023
Visiting Hours – The worship at Gangotri Temple starts at 4:00 AM with Aarti and ends with Shayan Aarti at 7:00 PM. The temple opens for darshan of pilgrims at 6:00 am. In the afternoon it closes from 2:00 to 3:00.
Places to visit around the temple: Bhagirath Shila, Bhairav Valley, Gaumukh, Surya Kund, Submerged Shivling
3. Kedarnath Dham
This Dham is situated in the lap of the Himalayas in Rudraprayag district at an altitude of 3553 meters above sea level. Kedarnath Dham is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Not only is it one of the most important pilgrimages of Chardham Yatra, but this ancient temple is also considered as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. In addition, Kedarnath, Kalpeshwar, Tungnath, Madmaheshwar and Rudranath temples together form Panch Kedar. It is 254 km from Dehradun and 125 km from Haridwar.
Kedarnath temple opening date – 7th May to 24th October 2023
Visiting Hours – The worship rituals at Kedarnath Temple begin at 4:00 AM with Maha Abhishek Aarti and end with Shayan Aarti at 7:00 PM. The temple opens for darshan of pilgrims at 6:00 am. In the afternoon it closes for two hours from 3:00 to 5:00.
Places to visit near the temple: Gaurikund, Bhairav Nath Temple, Tungnath, Chandrashila Track, Vasuki Tal, Trijugi Narayan
4. Badrinath Dham
Badrinath Dham situated between Nar and Narayan mountain ranges is situated at an altitude of 3300 meters above sea level. It is located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Badrinath Dham is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who is believed to be the protector and preserver of the divine Hindu trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). Apart from these important reasons, Badrinath Dham is considered important in the Char Dham Yatra because it is the place where Adi Shankara attained salvation, thus, gaining his freedom from the process of rebirth. The distance from Kedarnath is 218 km and from Haridwar its distance is 316 km. Badrinath is located 334 km from Dehradun.
Badrinath temple opening date – 8 May to 20 November 2023
Visiting Hours– The daily rituals in the temple begin at around 4:30 am with Maha Abhishek and Abhishek Puja and end at around 9:00 am with Shayan Aarti. The temple opens for the general public at 7:00 am and closes in the afternoon between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm.
Places to visit around the temple: Tapt Kund, Charan Paduka, Vyas Gufa, Ganesh Gufa, Bhim Pul, Pandukeshwar, Yogdhyan Badri Temple, Mana Gaon, Satopanth Lake
Char Dham Yatra start and end date
The journey to Gangotri and Yamunotri temple begins on Akshaya Tritiya. The starting date of Kedarnath Yatra is fixed on Shivratri and the opening date of Badrinath temple is fixed on Basant Panchami. The Chardham Yatra begins in April-May and closes around Diwali in October-November every year.
How to reach Chardham
Chardham Yatra starts either from Haridwar or Dehradun. There are two ways to start the journey – by road and by helicopter. Here is a brief guide on how to reach the holy sites:
By Road:
Char Dham Yatra by road can start from Haridwar, Delhi, Rishikesh, and Dehradun. Haridwar Railway Station is the nearest railway station to these holy places. Haridwar is connected to Delhi and other major cities through road and rail network. State transport and private buses are available to these holy pilgrimage sites. Taxis are also available from Hirdwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun.
Route to complete Char Dham Yatra: Haridwar – Rishikesh – Barkot – Janki Chatti – Yamunotri – Uttarkashi – Harsil – Gangotri – Ghansali – Agastmuni – Guptkashi – Kedarnath – Chamoli Gopeshwar – Govind Ghat – Badrinath – Joshimath – Rishikesh – Haridwar
By Helicopter:
Helicopter service is available from Sahastradhara Helipad, Dehradun to Char Dham. Helicopter service is available from Dehradun to Kharsali, which is about 6 km from Yamunotri Temple. Harsil Helipad is the nearest helipad to Gangotri Temple, located 25 km from the temple. Helipads of Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham are also located near the temple.
Helicopter Routes – Dehradun (Sahastradhara Helipad) – Yamunotri (Kharsali Helipad) – Gangotri (Harsil Helipad) – Guptkashi Helipad – Kedarnath Helipad – Guptkashi – Badrinath – Dehradun
Best Time To Visit Chardham Yatra
The best time to visit Char Dham is from April to June and from September to October. The weather is pleasant during these months which makes travel comfortable and enjoyable. The weather is pleasant during summer. It is advised to avoid traveling during the monsoon season as the region receives heavy rains, making some areas prone to landslides and floods. During the winter season, the region receives heavy snowfall due to which the temples remain closed for almost six months. In winter, the idols of Kedarnath are shifted to Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath and idols of Badrinath to Joshimath. Devotees can go there and have darshan.
If you are planning a trip to this holy pilgrimage, get in touch with www.helmholidays.com to book a Chardham Tour Package. In this package, you will get food, vehicle and accommodation according to the budget. Contact us today for more information.
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