The four pilgrimage destinations of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, collectively known as Char Dham, are nestled among the calm heights of the mighty Himalayas. These pilgrimage sites attract the greatest number of pilgrims each year, making them the most important religious travel hubs in Northern India. Traditionally, the pilgrimage begins from the West and ends in the East. Thus, the Char Dham Yatra commences from Yamunotri, then proceeding to Gangotri and finally to Kedarnath and Badrinath.
Overview
Region: Rudraprayag Uttarakhand Duration: 07 Days
Difficulty: Moderate
Age limit: 7 to 50 Years
Approx Trekking Km: 14 km
Season: April to June & Sept to Oct
Each of these four websites is dedicated to a different god. Yamunotri is devoted to the Goddess Yamuna, who travels with pilgrims to the scenic Rawai Valley’s high heights. A bath in the Yamuna’s waters is thought to preserve the devotee from an untimely death. Gangotri is a Hindu pilgrimage site devoted to the Goddess Ganga. The shrine stands on the banks of the River Bhagirathi, another name for the Ganga, which gets its name from the legend of ancient King Bhagirath’s penance, which brought her down from heaven.
Kedarnath is a component of the Panch Kedar and is devoted to Lord Shiva. It is the northernmost Jyotirlinga and is located near the Mandakini River’s source. Lord Vishnu is honoured in Badrinath. It is located on the Alaknanda River’s bank. Lord Vishnu meditated here, according to mythology, while his spouse Lakshmi took the form of a berry (Badri) tree to provide him with shade.
Prior to setting out on this excursion, one must be ready to encounter physical just as mental difficulties on the Himalayan streets. The Char Dham Yatra is one of the very open yet most laborious excursions. The Yatra course in the state is typically clamoring with movement, particularly throughout the mid year. The picturesque excellence of the mountains gravely gives solidarity to the pioneers as they move towards their objective.
How To Reach
- By Air: Fly to Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport, which is the nearest airport to Rishikesh. From Dehradun, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Rishikesh or Haridwar. Continue your journey by road from Rishikesh or Haridwar to Govindghat as mentioned above.
- By Train : Haridwar or Rishikesh and then by Road Reach Haridwar or Rishikesh by train, as both cities are well-connected by rail. From Haridwar or Rishikesh, proceed by road to Govindghat, either by taxi or bus.
- By Road : Start your journey from Rishikesh or Haridwar, which are well-connected cities in Uttarakhand. Hire a taxi or take a bus to Govindghat, the nearest roadhead to the Valley of Flowers. The road journey takes around 9-10 hours from Rishikesh and slightly less from Haridwar, depending on the traffic and road conditions.
