Char Dham Yatra: Uttarakhand is called Devbhoomi or the land of temples. There are many such temples and spiritual places in the state, where tourists gather throughout the year. Among the religious places that tourists come to Uttarakhand to visit, Char Dham Yatra is the most important.
Four religious places are included in this yatra, these include Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. These pilgrimage places are situated in the lap of Himalayas. In this article we will share with you complete information about Char Dham Yatra. If you also want to do Char Dham Yatra, then this article is very useful for you.
These spiritual places located at high altitude places in Uttarakhand remain closed for 6 months in a year. After opening in summer, in April or May, their doors close in October or November at the onset of winter. It is believed that any devotee should undertake Char Dham Yatra in the right direction i.e. clockwise, hence, this Yatra formally starts from Yamunotri and then passes through Gangotri, Kedarnath and ends at Badrinath.
Is. Char Dham Yatra can also be done by road or air (helicopter service is available). However, some devotees visit only two Dhams, these two Dhams are Kedarnath and Badrinath. Yamunotri temple is situated near the origin of Yamuna river. Yamuna is the second most sacred river of India (after River Ganga). It is in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. Gangotri temple is also in Uttarkashi district. It is near the origin of river Ganga. Ganga is the most sacred river of India.
Kedarnath temple is situated in Rudraprayag district. this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Badrinath temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Traditionally, Haridwar is the place from where the Chardham Yatra formally begins. Haridwar is in the plain area and can be easily reached by train or bus. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant International Airport Dehradun. The road system has also become very excellent now, so devotees do not face any problem in reaching Haridwar. Haridwar is known for Ganga Aarti. Devotees continue their journey here by taking a bath in the Ganga at Har Ki Pauri.
Rules of Chardham Yatra
The government has set some rules for Chardham Yatra. If you are going for Char Dham Yatra, then you will have to first get yourself and your companions registered (Registration for Char Dham Yatra). For registration you can go to this link, https://registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in,
If you are a vehicle owner and are going to Char Dham in any kind of commercial or private vehicle, then you will have to apply for Green Card (Green Card for Char Dham Yatra). This link to apply for green card is, https://greencard.uk.gov.in,
No fees are charged in the tourist registration process. Uttarakhand Government website for complete Darshan information and rules, https://registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in/index.php
How to do Char Dham Yatra
Many tour operators provide services for. https://gmvnonline.com Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam also provides service for this. However, if you are going to Chardham yourself, then we are giving you information about this also.
It usually takes 10 days and 9 nights to visit Chardham. This Yatra starts from Haridwar and ends at Haridwar itself. This distance is approximately 1500 kilometers. The expenditure in this is approximately Rs 25,000 to 35,000 per person.
DAY 1: HARIDWAR – PHOOL CHATTI – BARKOT
The road to reach Phoolchatti via Barkot is full of greenery. Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam provides services for this. You can book the package by visiting the website. The distance from Haridwar to Phulchatti is 236 kilometers. The roads are good.
DAY 2: PHOOL CHATTI – YAMUNOTRI – PHOOL CHATTI
The journey on the second day involves an 8 kilometer drive and a 10 kilometer trek (up and down). The experience you get by bathing in the pond of YAMUNOTRI is remembered throughout your life. After puja and darshan, you can also have lunch here. After an hour, you can return back to Phulchatti. You reach Phoolchatti before evening.
DAY 3: PHOOLCHATTI – HARSIL
On this day you have to cover a journey of 200 kilometers. You can have breakfast in Barkot and by afternoon you reach Uttarkashi. After visiting Vishwanath temple here, you can move towards Uttarkashi. You reach Harsil by 5 pm. Stay night here.
DAY 4: HARSIL – GANGOTRI – UTTARKASHI
You have to leave for GANGOTRI at 6 in the morning. You reach Gangotri around 7:30 in the morning. After taking a holy dip in river Ganga, visit the temple. After this, you leave for Uttarkashi. You will reach here by 4:30 pm. Rest here for the night. The total distance from Harsil to here is 125 kilometers.
DAY 5: UTTARKASHI – GUPTKASHI, VIA CHAMBA/NEW TEHRI
On the fifth day you have to cover a distance of 275 kilometers. You leave Uttarkashi at 6 in the morning. Have breakfast at Chinyalisaur. You will reach Chamba/NewTehri a little before noon. You can explore New Tehri. Visit Tehri Dam. After this, leave from Tehari. Have lunch in Srinagar and reach Guptkashi before evening. Stay here for the night.
DAY 6: GUPTKASHI – KEDARNATH, VIA GAURIKUND (TREKKING)
On this day you complete a journey of 35 kilometers by road and will trek approximately 17 kilometers trek. You can also book a helicopter service to avoid the 17 kilometer trek. For heliservice booking you can click on this link
You leave at 6 o’clock. By doing this you reach Gaurikund at 9 in the morning. Before Gaurikund is Sonprayag. Vehicles are allowed only up to Sonprayag. You can also rent doli or horses here. If you decide to overcome this trek on foot, you will have to start the trek at 10 am so that you can reach Kedarnath temple by 5 am. You watch the evening aarti here, have darshan and also rest here at night.
DAY 7: KEDARNATH – GAURIKUND/RAMPUR (DESCENDING TREK) – TILWARA
Leave the hotel early in the morning, so that you can get good time to visit Kedarnath Temple and roam around. You can see the statue of Shankaracharya at Kedarnath temple, see Bhimshila and if you wish, you can also go on the trek to Vasuki Tal.
After breakfast and lunch, head back to Gaurikund. You can also rent a cart or horse here. If you decide to do a trek, that will also be fine. It takes less time to come back down to Gaurikund. If you are late, then rest here at Gaurikund but if you reach early, you can leave for Tilwara. The distance to Tilwara is 60 kilometers. Rest here for the night.
DAY 8: TILWARA – JOSHIMATH – BADRINATH
Joshimath is 170 kilometers away from Tilwara. You can reach here around 12 o’clock. Eat something in Gauchar and stay for some time in Joshimath. Here you can also visit Narasimha Temple. After lunch, proceed from Joshimath towards Badrinath Dham. You reach Badrinath at 4:30 pm. Enjoy the evening aarti at Badrinath temple, rest here for the night.
DAY 9: BADRINATH – JOSHIMATH – KALESHWAR
Reach Badrinath temple early in the morning. After worship and darshan, take bath in the holy pond. You can also visit Mana, the last village of India. This village is located 20 kilometers before the international border of the country. You can also explore the Swargarohini route, but come fully prepared. Children and elderly people cannot go there. There are some special rules for that also.
You leave back for Joshimath. After some rest and food here, you move ahead. If you want, you can also visit Auli, that too by cable car. This will be an amazing trip. After this, after covering a distance of 114 kilometers you reach Kaleshwar.
DAY 10: KALESHWAR – KAUDIYALA – RISHIKESH
On the last day of the Yatra you cover a distance of 200 kilometers. Leave from Kaleshwar at 7 in the morning. You will reach Kaudiyala at 1 pm. Have lunch here. After an hour of rest, you can continue the journey. You reach Rishikesh before evening. Witness the Ganga Aarti (Ceremony) at Triveni Ghat or Parmarth Niketan. Overnight at Rishikesh.
