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CHAR DHAM, In Uttarakhand, popularly known as Devbhoomi or the Land of Gods, which is home to many temples, devotees are always welcome.
Among the many holy places and circuits that pilgrims visit while passing through Uttarakhand, the Char Dham Yatra is among the most well-known.
Yatra, or pilgrimage, visits the four holiest sites in the Himalayas: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Places of worship are referred to as “dham” and the number four is referred to as “char” in Hindi.
The high-altitude shrines are open from the start of the summer season (April or May) to the start of the winter season (October or November), following which they are closed for around six months every year.
The Char Dham Yatra is meant to be completed in a circular motion. The trek thus starts in Yamunotri, goes through Gangotri and Kedarnath, and concludes in Badrinath. Your excursion can either come to an end on dry land or in the air (helicopter services are offered). Some devotees visit Kedarnath and Badrinath as part of the Do Dham Yatra.
The River Yamuna, India’s second-most sacred river after the River Ganga, has a shrine dedicated to the goddess Yamuna in the Uttarkashi region not far from its source.
The Ganga, the most revered of all Indian rivers, is honored in Gangotri in the Uttarkashi district. The Kedarnath temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is located in the Rudraprayag district. In Badrinath, there is the well-known Badrinarayan Temple, which is devoted to Lord Vishnu. The Char Dham Yatra is both stunning and soul-satisfying at the same time.
- Yamunotri
- Gangotri
- Kedarnath
- Badrinath
Char Dham Yatra Registration
Yamunotri – CHAR DHAM
Yamunotri is one of the Char Dham, the four most significant Hindu pilgrimages in the Himalayas, along with Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.
Every year, thousands of pilgrims flock to the Yamunotri Temple in the little mountain village at the beginning of the Char Dham Yatra, From May to October, they travel from Yamunotri to Gangotri, then on to Kedarnath and Badrinath.
The Yamunotri Temple honors the Yamuna, the second-most revered river after the Ganges, in a small canyon not far from Yamuna’s source. A plunge into the Yamuna River is said to prevent early death. It is a challenging 3-kilometer trek from Janki Chatti to the temple, which is situated at a height of roughly 3,233 m, and takes visitors about 3 hours to complete.
Gangotri
A little village in Uttarkashi called Gangotri is home to a temple dedicated to the goddess Ganga. It is one of the four holy sites that make up the char dhams, the most revered pilgrimage route in northern India.
It takes 12 hours to go from Rishikesh to Gangotri, one of the highest pilgrimage sites in India (approximately 3,415 m), which is surrounded by lofty Garhwal Himalayan hills, glaciers, and dense forests. Gangotri not only boasts a beautiful atmosphere but also has amazing vistas all around.
According to Hindu legend, Lord Shiva released the strong river from his chains in Gangotri, bringing the Ganges (or Ganga), the holiest of all rivers, to earth. The river’s actual source is located in Gaumukh in the Gangotri glacier, 19 kilometers from Gangotri, and is reachable by hiking. After leaving Gaumukh, the river is known as Bhagirathi; however, it acquires the name “Ganga” when the Alaknanda River joins it close to the town of Devaprayag.
Kedarnath
Kedarnath village, one of India’s most respected religious locations, lies tucked away in the formidable Garhwal Himalayas. At a height of 3,580 meters, the community, which is home to the well-known Kedarnath temple, is situated close to the Chorabari glacier, which serves as the Mandakini River’s source.
The incredibly large but consistently shaped slabs of grey stone make up the ancient temple with a stunning design and are dedicated to Lord Shiva. Inside the temple, a conical rock formation is recognized as Lord Shiva in his “Sadashiva” form. One of Lord Shiva’s 12 Jyotirlingas in India is the Lord Shiva temple in Kedarnath, which is a stop along the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. Behind the Kedarnath temple are the Kedarnath mountain, Kedar Dome, and other Himalayan peaks.
The area was formerly referred to as “Kedar Khand,” and legend has it that after defeating the Kauravas, the Pandavas from the Mahabharata epic felt horrible about having killed so many people and pleaded with Lord Shiva for forgiveness. The Lord repeatedly avoided them before seeking refuge at Kedarnath as a bull. The Lord submerged himself at Kedarnath, leaving his hump exposed. The other parts of Lord Shiva made their appearances in four more places and are venerated as his incarnations there. The Lord’s arms may be seen at Tungnath, his face at Rudranath, his belly at Madmaheshwar, and his arms at Kalpeshwar.
Badrinath
One of Uttarakhand’s Char Dhams (four significant pilgrimage sites), the Badrinath Temple, also known as the Badrinarayan Temple, is situated in the town of Badrinath. Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath are the four pilgrimage sites that make up the Char Dham. These pilgrimage sites gather a sizable number of travelers each year, making them the most significant centers for religious travel in all of Northern India.
The elevation of Badrinath is around 3,100 meters. On the banks of the Alaknanda River, in the Garhwal Himalayas, between the Nar and Narayana mountain ranges, is this holy town. The temple is supposed to have been started in the eighth century by the saint Adi Shankaracharya. The temple is open for six months out of the year and worships Lord Vishnu as its patron deity. It is inaccessible because of the amount of snowfall that occurs during the winter.