Situated amidst Uttarakhand’s majestic Himalayas are four pilgrimage destinations known as Char Dham, which are Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. They are home to revered temple (Read More)s, sacred sites and are known for their natural beauty and serenity offered by the imposing mountains, lush greenery, rivers, streams etc. Holidify’s customisable Char Dham tour packages are great for embarking on this spiritual journey.
The Starting date for the Char Dham Yatra for 2023 is 22nd April. The temples stay open from April to November. The first destination to visit is Yamunotri, the source of the Yamuna river. Accessible via a trek from Janki/ Hanuman Chatti, it’s essentially visited for the Yamunotri Temple dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. It offers stunning views of the Garhwal Himalayas and the flowing river. Darshan is held between 6:30 am to 7:30 pm.
When you travel to Yamunotri, you must go and see Surya Kund and Saptarishi Kund, which is believed to be the place where the Yamuna river originates from. Then, you can soak in the region’s breathtaking beauty while trekking and revel in the allure of the vegetation, the snow-covered Himalayas, waterfalls and solitude.
Char Dham travel packages then take you to Gangotri, the source of the Ganges river. The most accessible of the four, it’s known for the holy Gangotri Temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga. It is open for darshan from 6:00 am to 7:45 pm and is renowned for its marvellous views of the mighty Himalayas and the Ganges river.
Trek to Gaumukh, which is supposedly where the river originated from; you would catch glimpses of the magnificent Gangotri Glacier. Surya Kund, a waterfall, is also a popular attraction here. After Gangotri, Kedarnath is the next pilgrimage destination of the Char Dham yatra, which also houses one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
On your trip to Kedarnath, you must visit the Kedarnath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva; it is believed that praying here rids one of the cycles of life. You must also visit the Bhairavnath Temple, scenic Chorabari Lake and Triyuginarayan. In addition, you can trek to Kedarnath from Gaurikund in Guptkashi, which is known for the Gaurikund Temple.
The last leg of your Char Dham yatra is Badrinath, where you would find the Badrinath Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Located near the temple is Tapt Kund, which is said to have medicinal properties. When you travel to Badrinath, you must also see Charan Paduka, where you would supposedly find Lord Vishnu’s footprints, Brahma Kapal, Bheem Pul and Vyas Gufa.
The best time for the yatra is from May to June as the four destinations are closed during the other months owing to harsh weather conditions. While trekking is an option, there is also a helicopter service from Dehradun so that you can cover all 4 Dhams in one day. You need about 7 to 10 days to perform the yatra otherwise. There are hotels, guesthouses, camps etc. to stay at. Holidify has many affordable Char Dham tour packages, ideal for solo and group travellers.
The Char Dham yatra, one of India’s most revered pilgrimages, takes worshippers across the state of Uttarakhand every year, specifically across four destinations: Yamunotri, Kedarnath Gangotri and Badrinath, where they can pay their respects at the different shrines. If you are embarking on the yatra, the first place to visit is Yamunotri, where you would find the shrine dedicated to Goddess Yamuna since it is situated at a point where the River Yamuna finds its source. Then you would visit Gangotri, Kedarnath and finally end the yatra at Badrinath.
Is going to Kedarnath safe?
Kedarnath is one of the 4 Char Dham destinations and attracts large crowds of worshippers and tourists regularly. Though relatively safe, owing to the crowds, it’s vital that you take care of your belongings and do not leave anything unattended. Another thing to be cautious of when visiting Kedarnath is the weather. Situated at a high altitude, it experiences snowfall and heavy rains, which have been known to cause major landslides and floods. Therefore, plan your trip between September and October or May and June, especially since it remains closed from November to March when the weather conditions worsen.
Is Char Dham yatra difficult?
The holy Char Dham yatra, which goes through Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath in Uttarakhand, is not an easy one to undertake. Besides the weather conditions, which can get harsh at times, the journey is arduous since the shrines in Badrinath and Gangotri are the only ones accessible by road (from Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun or Kotdwar). To reach the ones in Kedarnath and Yamunotri, you must undertake a long trek from Gaurikund and Janki Chatti. The entire yatra will take about 10 to 12 days. However, if you cannot undertake the journey on foot, helicopter services are available, which will enable you to visit all four shrines in about two days.
Is registeration required for Char Dham Yatra?
The registration required for Char Dham Yatra is free of cost and mandatory for everyone traveling for Char Dham Yatra. It can be done both online and offline. Registration is an important process for hassle-free travel and accommodation. Here are some steps you can follow:
Visit registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in and search for Char Dham Yatra 2023 button.
Fill in your details.
Verify the OTP on your mobile number and email to confirm registration.
You can then log in with your number and fill out the details of the names of the pilgrims traveling, tour type, destinations to be covered, yatra dates, and more.
Click Submit, and you will receive a unique registration number from which you can download the registration letter for the tour.
The offline registration can be done at any registration booth on your yatra route. There are multiple booths to help you with the registration, but make sure to carry all the documents required.
How far is Badrinath from Kedarnath?
Badrinath is about 247 km from Kedarnath and can be most easily be reached via car/cab, and it will take over 7 hours to complete the journey. While helicopter services are available to visit the 4 Char Dham sites, there is no direct service from Badrinath to Kedarnath. You must board the helicopter from the Sahastradhara Helipad, which is in Dehradun though it will undoubtedly be a long journey.
What is the order of visiting the four Dhams?
The first destination to visit is Yamunotri, the source of the Yamuna river. The next destination is Gangotri,the source of the Ganges river. The most accessible of the four, it’s known for the holy Gangotri Temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga. The third stop is Kedaranath, famous for the Kedarnath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The last stop of your Char Dham yatra is Badrinath, where you would find the Badrinath Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
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