Char Dham Yatra

(Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri)

Location: Uttaranchal
Famous As: Pilgrimage & Adventure Sports
Attraction: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Shri Kedarnathji, Shri Badrinathji & more like Mussoorie and Nainital

With the majestic and mystifying Himalayas as the backdrop, the four most holy pilgrimages of India never cease to amaze travelers and visitors. Char Dham, or the four pilgrimage centers, comprising of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are frequented by the religious minded as well as those intrigued by the remnants of bygone years. The holy river, Ganges, and her tributaries flow buoyantly past the four Dhams. According to the legend, Goddess Ganga descended upon Earth in the form of a river to help the suffering humanity. As the Earth would be unable to endure the force of her descent, the holy Ganges was split into channels, each of which also came to be considered as sacred. Four of these channels flow past the four Dhams, namely Alaknanda (in Badrinath), Mandakini (in Kedarnath), Bhagirathi (in Gangotri) and Yamuna (in Yamunotri). The four Dhams are blessed not only with extraordinary scenic beauty but also with a long history. This has contributed ancient temples to the panorama of these holy lands.

SHRI BADRINATHJI

State: Uttarakhand
Location: Garwhal Himalayas
Language: Kumaoni, Garwhali, Hindi, English and Bhotia(local dialect).

Introduction:
Nestled in the lap of Nar-Narayan hill, with the towering Neelkantha peak (6, 597 m)at the background , Badrinath is an important pilgrimage destination of Hindus in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is also makes a part of the Chardham yatra. Badrinath is believed to be the abode of Lord Vishnu.

Adi Guru Shri Shankaracharya, a 8th century saint has established Badrinath along with Rameshwaram(in south), Dwarkapuri(in west) and Jagannath puri(in east) as four major pilgrimage sites, to revive the lost prestige of Hinduism. This holy place is situated at a height of 3, 133 m. Badrinath is one of the main place of Char dham yatra that is considered as the tour to salvation.

Places To Visit:
Being a Hindu pilgrimage destination, Badrinath has several ancient and modern temples that attracts thousands of ardent devotees every year. Badrinath is also paradise for nature lovers. It has some verdant valleys that can charm you with their serene beauty. Some of the renowned tourist spots of Badrinath are

Badrinath Temple: The centre of attraction of Badrinath town is the famous Badrinath temple. This ancient temple is 15m tall with a small cupola on top, covered with a gold gilt roof. The architecture of this temple is similar to Buddhist Vihara. It is dedicated to Lord Badrinarayan.

Tapt Kund: Believed to be abode of Lord Agni(god of fire), Tapt Kund is a natural hot water pool fed by sulphur spring. It is compulsory to take bath at this pool before entering to the holy shrine. Water of these pool are said to be very nourishing to the body.

Brahma Kapal: Brahma Kapal is positioned to the north of Shri Badrinath temple. It is said that Lord Brahma used to reside here. People comes here to perform some rituals for the departed soul.

Apart from them, there are some more important tourist spots namely Paanch shila, Paanch Dhara, Narad Kund, Sheshnatra etc.

Nearby Excursions Places:
Charanpaduka: Located at a distance of 3km (1.86 miles) from Badrinath, Charanpaduka is a place known to have footprints of Lord Vishnu's on a large rock. The area has lots of caves and big boulders.

Neelkanth Peak:It is a snow-capped peak (6, 597 m) towering above Badrinath town. Popularly known as 'Garwhal Queen', Neelkanth peak provides a panoramic view of the nearby places.

Hemkund Sahib: Hemkund Sahib is a pilgrimage site for the people of Sikh religion. It is situated on the way to Badrinath.

Joshimath: Located 44km (27.34 miles) from Badrinath, Joshimath is the winter home of the Shri Badrinathji. This math was built by Adi Guru Shankaracharya and situated on the slopes above the confluence of Alaknanda and Dhauliganga.

Activities To Do:
Worship at various temples: Badrinath has numerous temples that woo thousands of pilgrimages. People comes here to pay their homage to their respective deities.

Nature Walks: A short trail in the lush green jungles of Badrinath region will surely give you immense pleasure of being close to nature. It will rejuvenate you and surely shed all your boredom.

Trekking: Badrinath is also a famous site among the adventure buff. Trekkers comes to here to enjoy trekking at the various mountainous trekking zones.

Best Time To Visit:
The most ideal time to visit this salubrious religious place is between May-June and September-November. Avoid monsoon season because heavy rainfall would create problems like landslide, road blockage. Don't miss to carry woolen clothes .

How To Reach:
By Road: Smooth roadways joins Badrinath to various hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon region such as Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun and Kotwdar. Even regular government and private buses operates from Delhi to Badrinath.

By Rail: Badrinath is well connected by Indian Railways. Haridwar 310 km (192.62 miles), Rishikesh 297 km (184.55 miles) and Kotwdar 327 km(203.19 miles) is the nearest railway head to Badrinath.

By Air: You can even reach Badrinath by air. The nearest airport to Badrinath is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, which is positioned at a distance of 327 km (203.19 miles)

SHRI KEDARNATHJI

State: Uttarakhand
Location: Nestled in Garhwal Himalayas
Language: Kumaoni, Garwhali, Hindi and English.

Introduction:
Kedarnath, one of the popular pilgrimage destination of Hindus, is located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. It is also the remotest of all the Chardham sites, nestled in the snow-laden mountains of Garhwal Himalayas, at an elevation of 3584 m above sea level, near the origin river Mandakini.

According to a legend, Kedarnath is named after King Kedar, a saintly ruler who has ruled the seven continents during Satya yug. Another legend says that this divine place is related to Pandavas of Mahabharata epic. Lord Shiva wished to elude the Pandavas, who had come to seek penitence for having killed their brothers Kauravas in the bloody battle of Kurukshetra. To hide himself, Lord Shiva took refuge in the form of a bull at Kedarnath. Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers, found Shiva amongst a herd of cattle. After identified Lord Shiva as the most arrogant bull in the entire herd, Bhima has grabbed the animal by the rear side. So, the Kedarnath shrine houses the rear end of the bull while the rest of the body scattered throughout the Garwhal region.

Places To Visit:
Kedarnath is dotted with many pious temples. Some of the most important temples in Kedarnath are

Kedarnath Temple: Kedarnath shrine is one of the highly revered temple of Hindus in India. Dated back to 8th century, present structure of Kedarnath temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya. It was constructed near an ancient temple that was believed to be built by Pandavas. The figures of various deities and scenes from Hindu mythology are used to beautify the inner walls of the assembly hall of this shrine. A large statue of Nandi bull which stands as a guard is built outside the door of this temple. The main attraction of this temple is a conical rock formation which is regarded and worshiped as a Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form. It is positioned inside the temple. The opening date of Kedarnath Temple is fixed and depends on the Shiva Ratri and decided by priests in Ukhimath. Normally it opens on Mid May for the devotees. On the basis of Yama Dwitiya (second day after Diwali, November), the closing date of Kedarnath is fixed.

Shankaracharya Samadhi: At the rear side of Kedarnath temple lies the final resting place or samaddhi of Adi guru Shankaracharya. It is said that after establishing the four dhams in India, Adi Guru Shankaracharya at an age of 32 years went for his samadhi.

Nearby Excursion Places:
The area near Kedarnath has some more alluring places of tourist value such as

Gaurikund,14 km(8.69 miles): Serves as a trekking base to Kedarnath, Gaurikund has a temple dedicated to Goddess Gauri, wife of Lord Shiva. Some thermal springs of medicinal value are also there.

Sonprayag,20 km(12.42miles): Sonprayag is positioned at the confluence of river Son ganga and Mandakini. The road to Triyuginarayan diverts from here.

Triyuginarayan,25 km(15.53 miles): It is famed as the wedding site of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. An interesting fact about this temple, an eternal flame which is said to have been a witness to the marriage , still burns in front of the temple.

Ukshimath(60 km): This place is the winter home of the Lord Shiva, the main deity of Kedarnath temple and also the seat of Rawal of Kedarnath.

Agastyamuni(73 km): As the name suggest this is the temple, dedicated to saint Agastya.

Deoria Tal(68 km): It is a tranquil lake at an altitude of 2, 438 m and situated just 2km(1.24 miles) away from Sari village, the last bus terminus on Chopta-Ukhimath roads.

Activities To Do:
Worship at temples: As Kedarnath is one of the earthly abode of Lord Kedar(Shiva), so it is the best place to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva.

Trekking: Not only Hindu devotees, Kedarnath region also attracts both nature and adventure lovers. The nearby barren mountainous area is one of the best zone for trekking. It would enable to explore the serene beauty of this region.

Best Time To Visit:
Positioned amidst the snow-caped Himalayan mountains at an high altitude, the temperature of Kedarnath always remain very cold. During the winter season, the ground covers with snow and the day becomes very cold whereas night becomes very chilly. So, the ideal time to visit Kedarnath is from May to October. But avoid monsoon as during this season, the area gets rainfall of 150cm and it would be risky to travel during this period.

How To Reach:
By Road: Kedarnath can be access from Gaurikund, which is well connected to Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun and from other popular hill stations of Garwhal and Kumaon valleys. After reaching Gurikund, tourists have to cover a steep 14 km(8.69 miles) trek by foot or horses or palanquins, to sreach the holy land of Kedarnath.

By Rail: Rishikesh, situated at a distance of approximately 220 km(136.70 miles) is the closest railway station to Kedarnath.

By Air: Tourists can even reach Kedarnath through air travel. Nearest airport to Kedarnath is Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun. Even the government has started Pawan Hans Helicopter Service from Agastyamuni and Phata to Kedarnath.

GANGOTRI

State: Uttarakhand
Location: Gangotri mountains that are subsection of Garwhal Himalayas
Languages: Hindi, Garwhali and English.

Introduction:
Gangotri is a holy place of Hindus, nestled in the magnificent Greater Himalayan ranges, at an altitude of 3, 042m above the sea level. Located in the Uttarkashi state of Uttarakhand, Gangotri is the remotest pilgrimage destination of Char dham circuit. This small holy town is built on the banks of river Bhagirathi.

Gaumukh, set in the Gangotri glacier is considered as the origin of Ganga river. It is 14 km(8.69 miles) further up the Gangotri valley. At the source, the river is known as Bhagirathi but after Devprayag Bhagirathi river merges up with Alaknanda river become big and acquires the name Ganga.

According to Hindu mythology, Ganga was enticed to earth from heaven by acts of penance performed by King Bhagirath, who wanted revitalize the ashes of his people. To reduce the impact of river Ganga, Lord Shiva received Ganga into his matted locks.

Places To Visit:
For Hindus, Gangotri is the spiritual source of great river Ganga. Pilgrims from various parts of country comes here to witness this pious spot. As Gangotri is a pilgrimage destination, so it houses a beautiful temple named after the place.

Gangotri Temple: Dedicated to Goddess Ganga, Gangotri temple is an ancient temple dated back to 18th century. It is built near a sacred stone where King Bhagirath has worshiped Lord Shiva. It is said that river Ganga has touched earth at this spot after coming out of the hair locks of Lord Shiva. Gangotri temple was constructed by Gurkha General Amar Singh Thapa. It is a 20 ft high temple made up of white granite. It opens either in the last week of April or in the first week of May, on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya and closes on the day of Diwali. The closing ceremony of the temple is marked by row of oil lamps.

Bhagirath Shila: It is a slab of stone which is located adjacent to Gangotri temple. It is called as Bhagirath Shila because it is said that King Bhagirath has meditated here.

Submerged Shivling: It is another amazing tourist attraction of this place. It is a natural rock shivling, submerged in the water. According to a legend, Lord Shiva sat at this place to receive Ganga in his matted locks. During winter season when the water level of the river goes down, Shivling becomes quite visible.

Nearby Excursion Places:
The picturesque and sacred land of Gangotri is surrounded by some wonderful places of tourist value. Some of the important tourist destinations nearby Gangotri are

Gaumukh: Gaumukh is considered as the origin of India's most sacred river Ganga. Positioned at a distance of 14km up from Gangotri, Gaumukh is a pious place. Pilgrims trek up to this sacred spot on foot or on ponies to take a holy dip in the icy water of Bhagirathi river.

Nandavan and Tapovan: Nandavan and Tapovan are the base camps for the Bhagirathi peak. A backbreaking trek of 6km(3.72 miles) from Gaumukh along the Gangotri glacier leads to the beautiful Nandavan and Tapovan region. It provides a panoramic view of the nearby Shivaling peak. These places are popular for light weight trekking and mountaineering.

Kedar Tal: Kedar tal is a tranquil lake, situated at a height of 4425 m above the sea level, against the backdrop of Thalaiyasagar peak. Kedar tal is 18km from Gangotri and serves as a base camp for nearby peaks.

Activities To Do:
Worship at the temple: As it is a pilgrimage destination, so ardent Hindu devotees comes here to worship to Goddess Ganga. Don't miss to attend the morning mangalaarti and sandhyaarti.

Trekking and mountaineering: Beside pilgrimages, Gangotri also attracts large number of adventure enthusiasts. The verdant valleys, deep forests and high mountaineering peaks are popular for trekking and mountaineering. Gangotri serves as a base camp for the Gangotri-Gaumukh-Tapovan and Gangotri-Kedartal trekking routes.

Best Time To Visit:
The ideal time to visit Gangotri is between May-June and September-November. Avoid monsoon season(late June to August) because due to heavy rainfalls visitors may face difficulty in reaching the temple.

How To Reach:
By Road: Gangotri is well joined to Rishikesh,248 km(154.10miles) by roads. Gangotri is also linked with Haridwar, Rishikesh, Tehri, Uttarkashi etc. Regular bus services and taxi-cab services are also available from these places to reach Gangotri.

By Rail: The nearest railway station to Gangotri is at Rishikesh.

By Air: Tourist can even reach Gangotri by air. Nearest airport to Gangotri is Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun, which is located at a distance of 265 km (164.66 miles).

YAMUNOTRI

State: Uttarakhand
Location: Western parts of Garwhal Himalayas.
Language: Hindi, English, Garwhali.

Introduction:
Yamunotri, one of the pious pilgrimage destinations of Chota Char dham yatra, is perched atop the edge of Bandar Punch Parvat in the Garhwal Himalayas. Yamunotri is regarded as the one of the sacred land due to the origin of the India's second holiest river, Yamuna. According to Hindu mythology, Yamuna is the daughter of God Surya(sun) and Sangya and twin sister of Yama, the God of death.

People believed that the journey of Yamuna river begins from the place where the Yamunotri is constructed. But actually, Yamuna river originates from a frozen lake on the top of the Kalind Parvat. The are is surrounded by four hot water springs, among which only two are favorable for bathing.

Places To Visit:
Nestled in the upper fringes of snow-caped Himalayas, Yamunotri is a picture-perfect valley. It houses one of the highly revered temple of Hindu religion and some hot sulphur springs.

Yamunotri Temple: As the name suggests, the Yamunotri temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna and positioned at a height of 3,291 m. A controversy revolves around this holy temple. According to some historians, the original temple of Yamunotri was constructed by Maharajah Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal whereas some believed that it was built by Maharani Gularia of erstwhile Jaipur state. It is a new but architecturally uninteresting temple. Every year due to heavy rains and winter snow falls, the temple has to rebuilt completely. It is believed that a holy dip in the water of a nearby tank filled by hot springs would spare a painful death. Another ritual which is strictly follow by the pilgrims is to cook raw rice in the water of this tank. The temple usually remain open from last week of April to first week of November.

Yamuna bai kund: Devotees take bathe in this hot water pool before entering to the Yamunotri shrine.

Surya Kund: Surya kund is one of the important hot thermal springs. The temperature of the water of this spring is 190 F. Devotees loves to cook raw rice and potatoes in the water of this spring to offer the main deity of the temple.

Divya Shilla: It is a huge rock pillar that is worshiped by the devotees is placed at the entrance of Yamunotri temple.

Nearby Excursion Places:
Apart from Yamunotri shrine, the nearby places of Yamunotri region are worth watching. These places are real treat to eyes. Some of the nearby excursion places to Yamunotri are

Sayanachatti: Sayanchatti is a picturesque place, located near approximately 29 km (18.02 miles) from Barkot. It is a enchanting spot lies on the banks of river Yamuna.

Hanuman Chatti: It is another alluring place, positioned just 13 km (8.08 miles) away from Yamunotri. The confluence of Yamuna river and Hanuman Ganga, from where the trek to Dodi tal( 3, 307m) starts is known as Hanuman Chatti. A short but a steep mountainous trek from Hanuman Chatti, will take you to Yamunotri.

Janki Chatti: Another nearby excursion place from Yamunotri is a Janki chatt. A short walk of 5 km (3.11 miles) by foot or ride on horses and palanquins would enable you to reach Yamunotri. This place is popular for its thermal springs.

Activities To Do:
Trekking: The region near Yamunotri is dotted with some fine trekking routes. A short trek of approximately 13 km (8.08 miles) from Hanuman chatti and a 6 km (3.73 miles) route from Janki Chatti are the two most favourite trekking sites of tourists. Not only devotees but also trekkers loves to explore this region while enjoying trekking.

Bathe in the hot water springs: After a tiring trekking activity people loves to bathe in the hot water of the nearby thermal springs . It helps to refresh themselves after such tedious journey.

Photography: Don't miss to carry camera while your trip to Yamunotri. Photographs of this scenic region will help you to keep the memories of this tour alive through out your life.

Best Time To Visit:
The ideal time for a trip to Yamunotri is between May to June and September to November. Avoid monsoon season, late June to August, as heavy rains may create problems to reach the shrine. Also avoid winter season because heavy snow falls can cause road blockades.

How To Reach:
By Road: The road to Yamunotri diverts at Dharasu, on way to Uttarkashi. Even a short trek of 5 km (3.10 miles) from Jankichatti one can reach Yamunotri. Janki Chatti is the end point of motorable road that is connected to Dehradun, Mussorie and Rishikesh by bus.

By Rail: The nearest railway head to Yamunotri is Rishikesh, which is just 250 km (155.34 miles) from Yamunotri.

By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun ,which is at distance of 317 km (196.98 miles).