All you need to know about the Holy Char Dham in Uttarakhand before undertaking this soul-awakening journey

Do you know that Uttarakhand is known as the Devbhoomi which translates to the Land of Gods. This place is famous for its countless holy temples and religious sites, out of which Char Dham Yatra is the most eminent one. For carrying out this yatra or pilgrimage,you need to visit the 4major religious destinations – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath which are located extremely high up in the Himalayas. Connect with one of the most popular travel agencies in Kolkata to go on a blissful and soul-uplifting trip to Char Dhamat pocket-friendly costs!

A bit on Char Dham

The first in this religious circuit, Yamunotri is located very close to the incredibly sacred Yamuna river’s source and is built out of dedication to Goddess Yamuna. The same district of Uttarkashi is devoted to Goddess Ganges, the most sacred river in India. Kedarnath lies in Rudraprayag district and it promotes the worship of Lord Shiva. And last of all, Badrinarayan which is a part of Badrinarayan Temple is constructed in the name of Lord Vishnu. Going from one holy site to another makes this Char Dham Yatra a divine and heart-fulfilling experience you can’t miss out!

Yamunotri

This is one of the most respected pilgrimage sites which Hindu devotees flock to in quest of liberation. This is the starting point of the auspicious Char Dham Yatra that commences from Yamunotri to Gangotri and ultimately to Kedarnath and Badrinath. You can take a dip in the river Yamuna to safeguard yourself from untimely death. You can take a walk or ride on a pony to reach this grand temple at an altitude of about 3233m above sea level from JankiChatti. If you choose to trek, that let us make it clear that this will be a steep trek of around 3kms that’ll take you at least 3 hours to complete. Some of the tourist attractions here include Yamunotri Temple, Kharsali, Saptarshi Kundu, HanumannChatti and JankiChatti. The most suitable time to visit Yamunotri is between April to June and from September to November. 

Gangotri

The small town of Gangotri in Uttarkashi has the main temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga at the center. This natural paradise that comprises of icy glaciers and dense forests is nestled among the magnificent Garhwal Himalayan peaks. This is one of the highest pilgrimage sites in India which is enveloped by a divine ambience and stunning scenery. The main origin of the very sacred Ganges or Ganga River is at Gaumukh located in Gangotri glacier which is 19kms from here and can be accessed by trekking. Do check out the breathtaking spots in Gangotri like Kedartal, Tapovan, BhaironGhati, Gaumukh, Underwater Shivling, Pandava Gufa, Gangotri Temple and Gauri Kund and Surya Kund. We recommend that you schedule your Char Dham Yatra between May to October as that’s the ideal timefor devotees to flock to these holy places.

Badrinath

The Badrinath Temple that’s situated in the Badrinath town is the next in line among the four prominent pilgrimages in Uttarakhand. Surrounded by gorgeous Himalayan vistas, Badrinath is located in the mighty Garhwal Himalayas at a height of about 3100m. The exact position of this sacred town is amidst Nar and Narayana mountain ranges on the banks of Alaknanda river. This temple was founded by sage Adi Sankaracharya during the 8^th century. We must mention that the temple remains open only during six months of the year and is inaccessible in winter owing to heavy snowfall. So, you can’t come here between October to April. Beautiful places that you can visit in Badrinath are Hemkunt Sahib, Vasudhara Falls, Satopanth Tal, Hot springs, BheemPul, Mana Village and Vyas Gufa.

Kedarnath

A highly revered temple destination of our country, Kedarnath lies in the lofty Garhwal Himalayas. The town, constructed around the sacred Kedarnath Temple is situated at an elevation of 38,500m close to Chorabari glacier from which the MandakiniRiver originates. You’ll be charmed to see the fascinating architecture of this temple built with massive yet even gray stone slabs. This temple falls among the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva within India as Shiva is worshipped here in his traditional rock form.

Legend has it that Lord Shiva, being sought by the Pandavas for blessing took shelter at Kedarnath in the guise of a bull and when he jumped onto land, he left behind his hump at Kedarnath. It’s believed that his other four parts fell in other places that are worshipped as shrines. Four of these shrines, namely Tunganath, Rudranath, Madmaheshwar and Kalpeshwar along with Kedarnath make the divinely glorious PanchKedar pilgrimage circuit. At Kedarnath, you mustn’t forget to see picturesque locales such as Sonprayag, ChorbariBamak Glacier, Mount Kedarnath and Kedar Dome.

Get in touch with a renowned tour and travel in Kolkata agency to have a blissful Char Dham Yatra that will surely fill your soul with divine peace, holistic rejuvenation and spiritual solace.