In Hinduism, the Char Dham Yatra is the most auspicious and holy journey covered by the devotees. Here we have discussed the Char Dham of Uttarakhand.

Best Time to visit Char Dham Yatra

Indeed, holy visits do not have any specific time; you can go anytime your heart calls, but the fact is not every time is suitable for Chardhamyatra. The best time for Chardham Yatra is the summer, from April to June. This is the ideal time to visit Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.

If you visit the temples at this time, you will witness how beautifully nature adorns itself with various flowers blooming everywhere on the mountains. As the temples of Chardham lie at higher altitudes, summer arrives a little late here, that is, by the end of April. The monsoon season of the temples from June to September is not a recommended time to visit as landslides and flooding are common during monsoon. Because of the zero degrees, the darshan is stopped after Diwali.

Where To Begin

Haridwar is the place where the pilgrims of the Chardham Yatra begin their journey. It’s the starting point of the holy journey to the holy shrines. From Hardwar, the pilgrims visit Yamunotri, and from there, they go to Gangotri, following Kedarnath, and then finally they end the holy journey after reaching Badrinath Dham.

Yamunotri Temple

Yamunotri temple is Char Dham of India and is situated in Uttarakhand at an altitude of 3291 meters above sea level. The temple is devoted to Goddess Yamuna and also has an idol of Goddess Yamuna made of black marble and has been decorated with flower garlands. Yamunotri Temple was constructed by Garhwal Naresh Pratap Shah in the 18th century but was damaged. It was reconstructed in the 9th century by the Maharani of Jaipur.

Gangotri temple

Gangotri temple religiously holy temple for Hinduism. The temple is located in the interior town of Gangotri, in Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand. The temple is devoted to Goddess Ganga. The holy temple offers the view of the beauty of nature of the breath-taking Himalayas and the purest river Ganga. According to Hindu mythology, the pure river Ganga was released by Lord Shive from his locks.

Kedarnath

More than 200 shrines are dedicated to Lord Shiva in Uttarakhand, and Kedarnath is the most important shrine. Kedarnath is located near Mandakini river. The temple presents an incredible view by standing in the mid of a wide plateau, and it is surrounded by snow-covered mountains. The temple was originally constructed by Pandavas and is one of the 12 jyotirlingas, and Kedarnath is the holiest shrine among them. Due to the extreme weather during the winters, Kedarnath remains closed from November to the end of April.

Badrinath

Badrinath Temple is located in Uttarakhand and is the last shrine of Chardham; the pilgrims visit within the state of Uttarakhand. Badrinath is located on the banks of the Alaknandariver. The holy temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu particularly, the double form of Lord Vishnu- Nar Narayan. According to Hindu legends, the Badrinath temple was originally established by AdiShankaracharya and was renovated numerous times after it was established. Like the Kedarnath temple, the Badrinath temple also remains during the winters from November till April.

Char Dham Yatra by Helicopter

Tours and Travels in Mumbai arrange Char Dham Yatra Package from Mumbai for every pilgrim. They also give the service of Chardham yatra by helicopter. The holy yatra starts from Dehradun, covering all the four Dham of Uttarakhand. All you need is to reach the government helipad on Sahastradhara Road in Dehradun.

The scheduled timings of the helicopter are specified to the pilgrims in advance. Before the journey, the pilot and the ground staff of the helicopter service explain to the passengers about the entire trip and what to expect from the air trip and some other information. Finally, the flight leaves for Kharsali.

Char Dham Yatra Travel Tips

The pilgrims going for ChardhamYatra should start preparatory exercises at least a month before leaving for the holy yatra. A brisk walk of 3-4 km per day would also benefit them. Breathing exercises would help them fight against the fewer oxygen places at higher altitudes.

Drinking water should also be avoided unless it’s a sealed bottle. Boiled, fried, or any cooked food is safer for the pilgrims than raw food. A basic emergency kit containing medicines and first aid items is also recommended while traveling. Chardham Yatra Package from a reliable service provider can also opt.

Char Dham Yatra: Packing List

While travelling for Char Dham Yatra, there are some things the pilgrims must carry as these shall be needed in their journey. The first thing you must carry is woolen clothes, and a blanket as the temperature is much less in these areas around the year.

Also, carry a raincoat, umbrella, torchlight, and a pair of canvas shoes. Some gadgets like cameras, mobile charger, the power bank is also something you can’t afford to forget. Towel, water bottles, first aid kit, comb are also some packages items for your holy trip.

Do’s and Don’ts of Char Dham Yatra

Do’s

• At high altitudes, eat cooked food only.
• Heavy and sufficient woolen clothes and blankets are needed.
• Carry dry foods like biscuits, nuts, chocolates, or tinned foods. Water bottles along with plates, spoons are also important.

Don’ts

• Overstraining on steep gradients
• For relaxation, don’t use the places where warning signs are given. Jewelry should be avoided during the journey.
• Alcohol is prohibited.

Culture And People

People are closely associated with culture. People here much religious and are mostly associated with worship.

Many religious events attached to River Ganga like aarti, Kumbh Mela are religiously done with many preparations, and everyone gets involved in it.

How to reach Char Dhaam Yatra

To reach Char Dham Yatra places in India is not a very tough job, even for a single person. The nearest rail station is Dehradun. It is a well-connected city. One can also travel up to Haridwar to reach Char Dham of India.  This was a brief guide on Char DhamYatra. Hope the Char Dham guide was helpful.