How to Make Your Char Dham Yatra a Complete Success?

Do not get confused with the Char Dham Yatra in India as this article talks about Chota Char Dham in Uttarakhand. Yamunotri (dedicated to River Yamuna) falls first in the circuit then the Yatra continues to Gangotri (the originating place of River Ganga), Kedarnath is the next stopover of the circuit, and the Yatra concludes by paying homage at Badrinath Dham which is the most eminent destination of Vishnu worshippers. Chardham yatra Yamunotri Location: Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, India. Significance: Source of the Yamuna River and one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites. Temple: Dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, located at an altitude of 3,293 meters. Trekking: Requires a 6 km trek from the town of Hanuman Chatti. Hot Springs: Known for its thermal springs, particularly in the vicinity of the temple. Best Time to Visit: April to November, before the harsh winter. Dedicated to River Yamuna, Yamunotri falls first in the Char Dham Yatra circuit in Uttarakhand. Nestled gorgeously at an astounding elevation of 3293 meters above sea level, Yamunotri Shrine is nestled beautifully amidst the majestic mountain peaks, cascading glaciers, lush green valleys, and scented meadows. There is a huge black stone idol of River Yamuna standing graciously inside the temple. Devotees flock in huge numbers to this shrine which was originally constructed in the year 1839 by Naresh Sudarshan Shah, a brave Tehri King. The idol of Yamunotri Dham is brought down to Kharsali Village during the winter season and then taken back to Yamunotri when the summer season commences in the region. Gangotri Location: Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, India. Significance: Source of the Ganges River, another Char Dham pilgrimage site. Temple: The Gangotri Temple is dedicated to Goddess Ganga. Trekking: A short trek to the Gaumukh Glacier, the actual source of the Ganges. Scenic Beauty: Surrounded by breathtaking Himalayan landscapes and snow-capped peaks. Best Time to Visit: April to November, during the Char Dham season. One of the holiest places in the Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage circuit, Gangotri is dedicated to the holy River Ganga. It is believed to be the place where Goddess Ganga ascended on the earth for the first time after getting free from the mighty hair-locks of Lord Shiva. This ancient shrine is located at an elevation of 3415 meters above sea level. Gangotri Dham is beautifully studded with rugged terrains, snow-capped mountain peaks, and gorgeously flowing Bhagirathi River. Likewise other pilgrimages in the circuit, Gangotri is also closed during the winter season, and the idol gets shifted to Mukhba Village. Kedarnath Location: Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, India. Significance: One of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and a Char Dham site. Temple: Kedarnath Temple, situated at an altitude of 3,583 meters. Trekking: Requires a 16 km trek from Gaurikund to reach the temple. Weather: Known for its extreme weather conditions, especially during winter. Best Time to Visit: May to November, as the temple remains closed during the winter months. Nestled beautifully amidst the Garhwal Himalayan Ranges, Kedarnath is renowned as one of the prominent destinations for Shiva worshippers. Located close to the banks of River Mandakini, Kedarnath holds great religious significance in Hinduism, and paying homage to the Linga of this shrine is a cherished dream of each Hindu devout. This ancient shrine is located at an extreme altitude of almost 3584 meters above sea level and due to its huge elevation this revered pilgrimage has to face the problem of insane climatic conditions. During the monsoon season, the region gets affected badly by heavy rainfall and similarly, in the winter season, it experiences heavy snowfall. The idol of this shrine is shifted to Ukhimath during this season and with the onset of the summer season, it is again shifted to Kedarnath. Suggest To Read: Panch Kedar – The Lord of Shiva Temple in Uttarakhand Badrinath Location: Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India. Significance: One of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Temple: Badrinath Temple, located at an altitude of 3,133 meters. Scenic Views: Surrounded by the Nar and Narayan mountain ranges. Trekking: Accessed by road, with a short trek to nearby locations like the Tapt Kund hot springs. Best Time to Visit: May to October, as the temple closes during the harsh winter season. The last pilgrimage in Char Dham Yatra circuit, Badrinath Dham is reckoned as one of the most eminent destinations of Vishnu worshippers. Perched gorgeously at an astounding elevation of almost 3200 meters above sea level and amidst the two majestic mountain peaks Nar and Narayan, Badrinath holds a great religious significance in Hinduism as it is the only pilgrimage that is a part of both Chota Char Dham in Uttarakhand and Char Dham in India. Every year millions of tourists flock to this place to pay homage to the black stone idol of Lord Vishnu. Suggest To Read: Panch Badri – Sacred Shrines of Lord Vishnu in Uttarakhand What sort of planning is required to make your journey a complete success? Covering Char Dham Yatra is a cherished dream of each Hindu devout. All four holy pilgrimages in the circuit are located amidst the arduous and rugged valleys of the Himalayas and are very difficult to access. Despite being located on such rugged routes Char Dham yatra is one of the most acclaimed and demanding expeditions Hindus want to cover at least once in their lifetime. One needs to prepare himself/ herself well in advance to make it a hassle-free journey. You should Read Before Planing: Interesting Facts about Uttarakhand Hire a trusted and reputed tour operator We can find several travel agencies nowadays who claim to be the best and promise to offer you many things in their tour packages but the reality comes differently. So, do not go on fake promises, and think well before hiring any tour operator. After selecting a tour operator, browse all the tour packages offered by the company and select the most customized and affordable one. Note: Besides complete Char Dham tour packages, there are individual pilgrimages tour packages also available if you are planning to visit Kedarnath only then you can opt for Kedarnath tour packages and so on. Advance bookings are to be made As the pilgrimages are open only for half a year during these months the regions get flooded with millions of devotees. You may not find the tickets all of a sudden and even the hotels are left with no rooms. So, be wise and make advance bookings to make your journey a complete success. Group trips are highly recommended As stated above the routes are quite challenging and arduous and one will have to face many challenges so it is always advised to plan for a group tour to lessen the number of difficulties on the trip. Start doing physical exercise at least 2 months before the journey You need to cover the challenging trekking trails on this divine journey. So start practici Full Name*Do not get confused with the Char Dham Yatra in India as this article talks about Chota Char Dham in Uttarakhand. Yamunotri (dedicated to River Yamuna) falls first in the circuit then the Yatra continues to Gangotri (the originating place of River Ganga), Kedarnath is the next stopover of the circuit, and the Yatra concludes by paying homage at Badrinath Dham which is the most eminent destination of Vishnu worshippers.