Are You Embarrassed By Your Char Dham Yatra Skills? Here's What To Do

Given the stunning beauty, the Himalayan charm, dense forests, large valleys and epic nature all around – Char Dham Yatra makes for the most majestic of journeys to partake in. One of the MUST DO things (apart from exploring the many lanes and paths of the city) includes the magic of the evening Aarti (worship with fire) wherein all lamps are lit and prayers are offered at the Har ki Pauri (Steps of God). From the towering mountains covered in snow, the plummeting streams and rivers, and lush green meadows and forests — and the arduous trek that gets you to it, serve to further cement the deep-rooted faith that this temple inspires!

Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand is collectively referred to as the Char Dham of India. The four Abodes in Himalayas includes four holy shrines of Hindus: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. All four of these temples are situated within the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. The prominence of the Charm Dham Yatra is immense amongst Hindus. Moreover, it is believed that every Hindu should do Char Dham Yatra at least once in their lifetime. One the most popular pilgrimage route, Char Dham Yatra is undertaken by quarter of a million of devotees each year paying homage. With the hope of eliminating all sins to attain salvation by the blessings of the Lord. In fact, devotees visit the shrines not only from India, but, also there is immense growing popularity among foreign tourists, visiting out of curiosity and wanting to learn more..

About India, its culture. Given the stunning beauty, the Himalayan charm, dense forests, large valleys and epic nature all around– Char Dham Yatra makes for the most majestic of journeys to partake in.Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath – the Char Dhams About Char Dham Yatra As a brief, Kedarnath is devoted to Lord Shiva while Badrinath is devoted to Lord Vishnu. Yamunotri and Gangotri are dedicated to Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna rivers respectively. Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand can be covered in one go, taking about 10-15 days (depending on your schedule). In fact, you may also get helicopter services to cover Char Dham in a matter of two days. History of Char Dham The Great Reformer and Philosopher, Adi Shankaracharya, gathered together these Holy Pilgrimage places into a spiritual circuit around the 8th century. Generation followed generations and hundreds of thousands of devotees have kept up the tradition of covering these pilgrimage spots every year. However, it should be noted that during Winter season all Char dham are closed for Six month due to Heavy snowfall all temples are inaccessible. The Gods and Goddesses are moved to their “Winter abodes” during this time. Opening and Closing Dates of the YatraUsually, the period for partaking in this Yatra is from April End – October End. However, each year the Uttarakhand Government announces the dates of the opening and closing of the circuit. In the winter times, the 4 shrines are moved to their winter sojourns.Namely, Ukhimath, Joshimath, Mukhba and Kharsali for the deities of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri respectively. The gates to all these winter Dhams remain open for devotees – thus, technically you may visit the shrines all year long (albeit not in the same locations) Badrinath closed for winters.

How to get there In order to embark upon the Char Dham Yatra, you’ll need to reach Haridwar. Here’s how. By Air Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun is the nearest airport. In fact, from here, you may even take up a Helicopter service to Kedarnath and Badrinath. These are available from Delhi, Dehradun, Phata, Augustmuni and Gauchar near Rudraprayag and Dehradun. By Train Rishikesh, Haridwar, Kotdwar and Dehradun are well connected to major cities of India by Railway Network. From here you can get bus or you can hire taxi as well towards your onwards journey. Gangotri and Yamunotri Closed for Winters 2011-12 Char Dham Yatra Route As per the Hindu Mythology, the auspicious and ever-so-important Yatra should be undertaken from west to east, in order to cover the holy places in a clockwise manner. Thus, it means that you should start off your pilgrimage from Yamunotri, then proceed to Gangotri, Kedarnath and finish your journey at Badrinath. About the Char Dham Yatra While the journey is a beautiful one,

I want to highlight the importance of each of the shrines.Yamunotri Dham The original source of Yamuna River, Yamunotri is surrounded by stunning high forested peaks and a large valley. Yamuna is known to be the second largest and one of the holiest river in India after Ganga. As per the Hindu mythology, it is believed that Yamuna is the daughter of Surya (God of Son) & the sister of Yama (God of Death).It is believed that you will be washed of your sins when you visit Yamunotri. Given the tough journey, faith, and transcendent significance of the river motivates the pilgrims to their destination. Distinctive features of Yamunotri include hot springs where raw rice is cooked and turned into prasad. Also, there many holy shrines, ashrams and temples in and around the Dham.Yamunotri is located at an altitude of 3293 mts, in the Garhwal region and situated about 40 km away from Barkot in Uttarkashi. While the actual source of Yamuna lies in the Yamunotri Glacier, at an elevation of 6,387 mts near Bandarpunch Peaks. Other places of interest nearby include Surya Kund, Divya Shila, Janki Chatti, Hanuman Chatti, Saptarishi Kund Lake etc. History and Importance of Yamunotri The temple at Yamunotri is dedicated to goddess Yamuna. It should be noted that the main Deity of the temple is made up of Black marble. Built by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur in the 19th century, the current temple was created after the previous one was destroyed by climate activity.The Yamunotri Shrine was originally constructed by Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal on left seashore of Yamuna River. Gangotri Dham Unarguably the most important river for Hindus, Ganga is the most sacred river in the world.

Gangotri is one of the origin sources of Ganga (Ganges). It should be noted here that the foremost source of the river is “Gaumukh” – a glacier located 19 km from the Gangotri temple. Gangotri is located on the banks of Bhagirathi river at an altitude of 3100 mts. Gangotri is the starting point of Ganga. It should be noted that the river Bhagirathi attains the name Ganga from Devprayag. This is where Bhagirathi meets with Alaknanda to form Ganga. Gangotri Temple Inside The temple opens on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya (usually in the month of May) and closes down on Yama Dwitiya or Bhai Duj (usually falling in October/ November).Ganga water is the purest form of blessing and is used in Poojas (prayers) or offering in temples. In fact, pilgrims carry the auspicious water from here as a way to carry Prasad and blessings for future prayers. Gangotri is the home place of many varieties of flora and fauna. There are several temples in Gangotri where visitors can learn the history behind the creation of Ganga River. History and Importance of Gangotri Temple As per Hindu Mythology, Ganga was born as a result of prize given Shivji to king Bhagirath for his penance. However, owing to her superiority as well as the fact that Earth would be overwhelmed if Ganga came down in full force, Shivji caught her in his locks. There is a sacred stone near the Gangotri temple that denotes the place where Ganga first came down to earth in the river form. This is why Ganga is also called by the name of Bhagirathi (i.e. the daughter of Bhagirath).The Gangotri temple in its present form was constructed by Gorkha Commander Amar Singh Thapa in the 18th Century. It is believed that at the time of construction of the current temple, the Gaumukh glacier was present here – however it has receded to its current location due to global warming and climate change. Kedarnath DhamOne of the most sacred pilgrimages in India, Kedarnath temple is located on the bank of Mandakini river at an altitude of 3584 mts.

Historically, this region was known as “Kedar Khand”. Kedarnath temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shivji in India. Flanked by breathtaking snow-capped peaks, Kedarnath is the most remote locations on the Char Dham Yatra. The town itself is stunningly beautiful and the scenic beauty tends to attract a lot of pilgrims, with huge crowds flocking the region in the summer months of May and June. Also, the Kedarnath trek is quite famous amongst the trekker tribe. It should be mentioned here that the 2013 floods did huge damage to the region. In fact, the fact that the temple is still standing has been the source of massive reverence. Prior to the 2013 floods, Gaurikund was the last destination on Kedarnath route, but with the floods in 2013, a new trekking route is under process.This route will be approximately 21 kms of trekking, which will either start from Sonprayag or Sitapur. As of now, helicopter is the best way to reach Kedarnath temple.Char Dham Yatra Currently, only accommodation near the dham are campsites due to the excessive damage from the floods.In terms of thingy to do nearby, you may visit Chorabari tal (Gandhi Sarovar), Vasukital, Gaurikund, Trijuginarayan, Ukhimath, Panch Kedar, Madmaheshwar, Tungnath, Chopta, DeoriaTal and Rudranath etc.History and Importance of Kedarnath TempleDedicated to incarnations of Shivji, Kedarnath is named after King Kedar, a ruler from Satya Yuga. This is the place where Shivji is said to have absolved the Pandavas from killing their own cousins Kauravas in the Mahabharata.In fact, there is an interesting story behind the town and its temple. According to the Puranas, the Pandava brothers did a major penance in Kedarnath to please Shivji.Earlier the temple was built by Pandavas and Present temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya. Just Behind the temple you will see samadhi of Adi Shankaracharya.Badrinath DhamBadrinath is an important holy shrine for Vaishnavites and is one of the 108 divya desams incarnation of Vishnuji. Also, Badrinath the town is part of Panch Badri temples which include Yog Dhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Adi Badri and Vriddha Badri, along with Badrinath temple.And, Badrinath is situated at an altitude of about 3415 mts in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand. Located in Silent valley of Garhwal, Badrinath lies on the shores of Alaknanda river. The town is known for its stunning beauty, pleasant weather, thick forest cover as well as the beautiful views of snow clad mountains along the holy river flowing through the surrounding green valley.Badrinath is the home to many celebrations including Kedar-Badri Utsav, Janam-ashtami, Mata Mruti Ka Mela. Nearby places that should be visited include Panch Prayag temple, Badhri Naryanan Temple, Vasudhara Falls, Hot Geyser (tapt kunds or hot water springs), Bheem Pul, Mana Village etc.BadrinathHistory & Importance of Badrinath TempleThe original Badrinath temple was built Adi Shankaracharya, who initially discovered the Badrinarayan idol in the Alakananda River. It was he who moved the shrine into the hot water springs of Tapt Kund. Due to natural time taking course, there was a need for a new temple to be built.The Present temple was built by King of Garhwal in 16th century. The stunning ornament stones, traditional carving, pillar designs will take your breath away at the first look! In terms of the architecture, the appearance is similar to the Buddhist Vihara temple.In the Satya yuga, Shivji meditated here for thousands of years while Goddess Lakshmi provided shadow over her husband in the form of a Badri tree. So, this is how the place for its name for Badrinath!In fact, the entire valley surrounding Kedar-Badri was said to be the home of Shivji. This is the reason Badrinath becomes a main-stay around Mahashivratri when the festival is celebrated with full pomp-and-circumstance. Itinerary for the Char Dham Yatra.

Char Dham Yatra Travel Tips Remember to check the exact opening and closing dates of the Yatra.Given that this Yatra holds immense importance for over a billion Hindus in the world – it is advisable that you remember to be kind along the way. For example, remember to cover your heads, remove shoes before entering any holy place. Ensure you’re not littering anywhere on this trip. The hills and secluded locations need to be kept in their pristine conditions to ensure the bio-diversity of the region. Carry heavy woolen clothes to protect from cold weather during the month of October-November and carry moderate woolen during Summer Season. Remember to dress in layers as the weather can change at the drop of a hat in the hills. Do carry creams, moisturizers, sunscreen creams. Pack a medical kit with painkillers, antibiotics, cough lozenges, Antiseptic cream, Iodine, tube-squeeze cream and medicines for cold and fever along with your routine medicines. Remember to pack snacks. Do not take pictures if cameras are not allowed in any particular area. Do not play with the sentiments of any particular religion. At least a month before the Yatra, it is advisable to start preparatory exercisesCarry extra batteries and films for your camera, as electricity is not regular in such remote places. Do not travel in the rainy season as there are a lot of landslides during that time. Book hotel rooms in advance if you are travelling close to the temple opening dates, there is a heavy rush of pilgrims. Alcohol or non-vegetarian food is not permitted during Char Dham Yatra Tour. Snow near Gangotri Temple Conclusion The Char Dham Yatra is one of the most significant journeys in the life of a Hindu. Situated in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, you can cover the entire Yatra in a matter of 10-15 days. I hope you have attained a lot of information about how to cover the journey. I will be writing more about each of the Dhams in the coming posts. Do let me know in case there are certain things you’d like me to cover and elaborate in detail.