Char Dham Yatra - Yamunotri Dham, Gangotri Dham, Badrinath Dham and Kedarnath Dham

It is revered united of the foremost sacred pilgrimages within the world - four temples nestled in seclusion, among the mighty Himalayan peaks. Nothing spells devotion over a visit to the Char Dhams. Ganga, Yamuna, Vishnu, and the mighty Shiva exist in their purest incarnations up there, and for a Hindu, it's the nearest one will return to experiencing heavenly elation.

What is Char Dham Yatra and why is it so important?

Char Dham, literally ‘the four abodes’, yatra refers to the journey up the mountains to four sacred temples within the North Indian state of Uttarakhand. It's conjointly stated as 'Chhota Char Dham' to differentiate it from the bigger circuit of Char Dham sites. The four temples that comprise Char Dham are Yamunotri Dham, Gangotri Dham, Badrinath Dham and Kedarnath Dham.

Yamunotri Dham, named once the god Yamuna, is the first Dham en route to the yatra. A bath in the holy waters of the Yamuna river is said to cleanse one of all sins and protect from untimely death. Gangotri Dham, the second temple that falls on the Chota Char Dham circuit, is the birthplace of the holy river Ganga. Kedarnath, known as the land of Lord Shiva, has the highest located jyotirlinga. Settled on the banks of the Mandakini river, the view of this temple against its snowy background is resplendent. Badrinath, named after Lord Badri(Vishnu), is found on the banks of the Alaknanda River. Conjointly a part of the bigger Char Dham circuit, it stands superbly on Garhwal Hill, rearing its golden head and fluttering its red flags with Godly presence.

So, where and how do you start on your Char Dham Yatra?

Char Dham yatra opens on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya of Chaitya month and remains open till Bhai Dooj. The complete yatra will take you 11 to 12 days. . If time permits, there are a lot of other diversions such as Gaumukh, Tapovan, Along the valley, Bhairavnath Temple, Vasuki Tal, Chopta, Auli, and Hemkund Sahib. You can choose to begin your yatra from Delhi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, or Dehradun, according to your convenience. Delhi, being the capital, is connected to all major cities. it's additionally simply a 4-hour train ride away from Haridwar.

Char Dham yatra begins with a visit to Yamunotri Dham after a 36 km drive from Barkot, followed by a 7 km trek. Barkot also connects to Uttarkashi which is just about 100 km from the Gangotri Dham. Kedarnath can be driven from Rudraprayag, which is about 180 km from Uttarkashi, followed by a 21 km trek up the mountain. Rudraprayag is also just 160 km away from Badrinath Dham, and that is the final Dham in your yatra.

So, how do you best prepare for your Char Dham Yatra?

There is no fixed age limit for Char Dham yatris but due to the strenuous demands, the preferred age bracket is between 7 and 65 years. You will, however, require a medical certificate to validate your health condition. All Char Dham Camps are equipped with first aid boxes & oxygen cylinders, but carrying your first-aid kit for the road is a good idea. Char Dham yatra consists of two treks - a 6 km one-way trek from Jankichatti to Yamunotri, and a 21 km one-way trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath, so comfortable shoes with a good grip are a must! Ponies, Pithus, and Palkis are available for those not willing to or unable to trek.
The weather at Char Dham is most pleasant from April to June. Winters are cold but have a zero percent chance of rain and consequent landslides. The air gets thin and cold, and so, warm jackets, sweaters, gloves, and woolen socks are highly recommended. If you are traveling in the rainy season, carry a raincoat as well.

Routes for Choti Char Dham Yatra

Haridwar-Yamunotri-Gangotri-Kedarnath-Badrinath-Rishikesh

Route 1: Main Highway [ 1,359 Km ]

1. Haridwar to Yamunotri Dham:
   • Haridwar-Rishikesh- New Tehri-Dharasu Band-Barkot-Janki Chatti: 292 Km
   • Janki Chatti-Yamunotri Dham: 7 Km Trek [Walk, Horse Riding, Doli Ride, etc]
2. Yamunotri to Gangotri Dham:
   • Yamunotri-Barkot-Dharasu-Uttarkashi-Gangotri Dham (Indo-China Conflicted border): 224 Km
3. Gangotri to Kedarnath Dham:
   • Gangotri-Uttarkashi-Srinagar-Rudraprayag-Guptkashi-Sonprayag: 347 Km
   • Sonprayag-Gaurikund-Kedarnath Dham: 19 Km Trek [Walk, Helicopter, Horse Ride, Doli Ride, etc]
4. Kedarnath to Badrinath Dham:
   • Kedarnath (Sonprayag)-Agustmuni-Rudraprayag-Karnprayag-Joshimath-Badrinath: 226 Km
5. Badrinath Dham to Rishikesh
   • Badrinath-Joshimath-Karnprayag-Rudraprayag-Srinagar-Devprayag-Rishikesh: 295 Km

Route 2: Shortest Highway [ 1,270 Km ]

Haridwar-Yamunotri-Gangotri-Kedarnath-Badrinath-Rishikesh

1. Haridwar to Yamunotri Dham:
   • Haridwar-Dehradun-Mussoorie-Barkot-Janki Chatti: 225 Km
   • Janki Chatti-Yamunotri Dham: 7 Km Trek [Walk, Horse Riding, Doli Ride, etc]
2. Yamunotri to Gangotri Dham:
   • Yamunotri-Barkot-Dharasu-Uttarkashi-Gangotri Dham (Indo-China Conflicted border): 224 Km
3. Gangotri to Kedarnath Dham:
   • Gangotri-Uttarkashi-Ghansali-Agastmuni-Guptkashi-Sonprayag: 316 Km
   • Sonprayag-Gaurikund-Kedarnath Dham: 19 Km Trek [Walk, Helicopter, Horse Ride, Doli Ride, etc]
4. Kedarnath to Badrinath Dham:
   • Kedarnath (Sonprayag)-Guptkashi-Gopeshwar-Joshimath-Badrinath: 211 Km
5. Badrinath Dham to Rishikesh
   • Badrinath-Joshimath-Karnprayag-Rudraprayag-Srinagar-Devprayag-Rishikesh: 295 Km