Char Dham -Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath & Badrinath

Uttarakhand is known as the "Land of Gods" because it has many temples that attract religious pilgrims all year round. One of the most important and sacred pilgrimages in Uttarakhand is called the Char Dham Yatra. This refers to a circuit of four holy shrines located high up in the Himalayas - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.

These four shrines remain closed for around six months every year due to heavy snowfall and extreme cold in the winter months. They reopen in the summer from April/May until October/November. Pilgrims undertake this journey in clockwise order, starting from Yamunotri, then going to Gangotri, Kedarnath, and ending at Badrinath. Some pilgrims visit only the last two shrines of Kedarnath and Badrinath, which is called the Do Dham Yatra.

Each of these four shrines is dedicated to major Hindu deities - Yamunotri to the Yamuna river goddess, Gangotri to the sacred Ganga river, Kedarnath to Lord Shiva, and Badrinath to Lord Vishnu. While spiritually uplifting, this pilgrimage is difficult due to the high altitudes and remote locations. However, many devotees still undertake this challenging journey to experience the divine in Uttarakhand. To make the visitor's experience hassle-free, Go My Safar ensures to provide seamless travel services. From flight tickets to tour managers, we are committed to providing a fulfilling Char Dham Yatra experience to our travelers. 

History of Char Dham

The exact origins of the famous Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage in the Indian Himalayas are unknown, but it is believed to have begun around 1,200 years ago. According to Hindu traditions, it was the great religious teacher Adi Shankara who first established and popularized this sacred pilgrimage circuit in the 8th century AD. The Char Dham refers to the four most revered pilgrimage sites - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Each of these places has a special significance in Hindu mythology and is associated with different deities and legends. While there are no historical records, the origins of the Char Dham Yatra date back many centuries according to Hindu beliefs. Visiting these four sacred sites is considered highly auspicious and spiritually significant for Hindu pilgrims.

Yamunotri

Yamunotri is among the four most sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites in the Himalayas, along with Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Badrinath. Together, these four places are known as the Char Dham. The small village of Yamunotri has the Yamunotri Temple at its center. Thousands of devotees visit this temple every year. Yamunotri is the starting point for this sacred Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage which usually takes place from May to October each year. The pilgrimage route goes from Yamunotri to Gangotri, then Kedarnath, and finally to Badrinath. The Yamunotri Temple is located close to the source of the Yamuna River and is dedicated to the Yamuna River goddess. Hindus believe that taking a dip in the Yamuna River protects one from untimely death. To reach the temple which is at a height of 3,233 meters, devotees either trek for 3 hours uphill from Janki Chatti or ride ponies or palanquins. The best months to visit are April to June and September to November when the weather is milder. 

Gangotri

Gangotri is the next one of the four most sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites of Char Dham in northern India. It is a small town located high up in the Garhwal Himalayan mountains in Uttarkashi district. At the heart of Gangotri town is the famous Gangotri Temple dedicated to the Goddess Ganga (Ganges River). According to Hindu legends, this is the place where the sacred Ganges River descended from heaven when Lord Shiva released it from his locks. While the temple marks a holy spot, the actual source of the Ganges is about 19 km away at a glacier called Gaumukh. Devotees can trek to Gaumukh to see the river's glacial origin. After originating here, the river is first called Bhagirathi and later merges with the Alaknanda River to be called the Ganga. With its location at around 3,415 meters above sea level amidst towering peaks and forests, Gangotri offers stunning natural scenery apart from its spiritual significance. The peak pilgrimage season is during the Char Dham Yatra from May to October when thousands of devotees visit Gangotri.

Kedarnath

Kedarnath town is a very important Hindu pilgrimage site located high up in the Garhwal Himalayan mountains of India. The ancient Kedarnath temple in this town is dedicated to the Lord Shiva, who is one of the most revered gods in Hinduism. The Kedarnath temple has beautiful stone architecture and contains a unique conical rock formation that is worshipped as a representation of Lord Shiva. This temple is part of the famous Char Dham pilgrimage circuit as well as one of the 12 most sacred Jyotirlinga shrines for Lord Shiva in India. According to Hindu mythology, after the epic Mahabharata war, the Pandava brothers were looking for Lord Shiva to atone for their sins. Lord Shiva kept evading them until he finally appeared at Kedarnath and four other locations in different forms, creating the sacred Panch Kedar pilgrimage sites. Kedarnath is surrounded by stunning Himalayan peaks like Kedarnath Peak and Kedar Dome. The best time for pilgrims to visit is between May and October when the weather is favorable, as the town remains closed in winter due to heavy snowfall in this high-altitude region.

Badrinath

The Badrinath Temple is the last most important Hindu pilgrimage site in Char Dham Yatra. Along with Yamunotri, Gangotri, and Kedarnath, it forms the sacred Char Dham pilgrimage circuit that attracts a huge number of pilgrims every year from across northern India. Located high up at around 3,100 meters in the Garhwal Himalayan mountains, the town of Badrinath lies between two mountain ranges on the banks of the Alaknanda River. The ancient temple here is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is believed to have been established in the 8th century by the famous Hindu scholar Adi Shankaracharya. The deity in the Badrinath Temple can only be viewed by pilgrims for six months each year from around April/May to October/November. After that, the temple closes for the winter season due to heavy snowfall in this high-altitude area. The temple doors are open for pilgrims to have a view or darshan of the Lord Vishnu deity inside. The best time for pilgrims to plan their visit is during the summer months between May and October when the weather is favorable.

How To Reach Char Dham?

To reach Char Dham, you need to travel to Uttarakhand. There are various travel options you can include in your Uttarakhand travel package:

By Train/Rail

One of the main ways to travel to Uttarakhand is by train. There are several major railway stations in the state that connect to beautiful hill stations, lush valleys, and plains. The key railway stations are in Dehradun, Haldwani, Kotdwar, Haridwar, Roorkee and Tanakpur. If you are wondering how to reach Uttarakhand, taking a train to one of these stations is a great option to explore the scenic destinations. 

By Road

The cities and towns within Uttarakhand are well-connected by road. If you are coming from neighboring states, you can easily book bus tickets online. Buses range from ordinary to deluxe services. Buses run to and from major nearby cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Agra, Ludhiana, Jammu and many more places. Traveling by road is a safe and trusted way to go around in the state. For a hassle-free vacation, you can book Uttarakhand holiday packages from us at different price points to enjoy both summer and winter trips.

By Air

There are several airports that serve Uttarakhand - Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, Gauchar Airport in Chamoli, Pant Nagar Airport, and Naini Saini Airport in Pithoragarh. These airports have domestic flights arriving from major Indian cities. Once you land, you can take private cabs, taxis, or buses to go to the nearest tourist places you want to visit in the state.

So, excited to plan your Char Dham Yatra? Let Go My Safar help you in the process! Explore our Uttarakhand travel packages and choose the one that best suits your preferences.

Your tour package includes

• Airport pickup and drop service

• Hotel accommodations

• Similar 4 star property OR Radisson Blu or Similar 5 star property

• Daily Breakfast

• Hotel taxes and service charges

• Hotel taxes and service chargepght is not included in this package

• Tour guide is available

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