Uttarakhand is also known as Dev Bhoomi (Lands of God), and it is the land of pilgrimages, sacred temples, and places that attract millions of pilgrims and spiritual seekers to get moksha. The Chardham is located in the Gharwal Himalayas, which are considered the most religious places in India: Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri.
India is the only nation where spirituality resides deeply in everyone through the way of religion, meditation, or short spiritual visits. According to Hindu mythology, Moksha is the ultimate destination of life, and it is believed that Chardham Yatra is the key to finding Moksha or the ultimate surrender to the cycle of incarnation. The first destination of Char Dham is Yamunotri, followed by Gangotri, Kedarnath, and reach Badrinath.
This is a complete guide to Chardham Yatra 2024; know about the significance, History, Places to Visit, Registration, and Routes. Take a short trip to Yamunotri, a holy dip into the pious River Ganga at Gangotri, and Wear the colour of supreme spirituality in Chardham Yatra.
Significance of Chardham Yatra
Chardham Yatra is a must-visit spiritual tour to achieve Moksha (Salvation). Every year, with complete devotion, around 2 Lac tourists visit these four holy adobes. In one of the Hindu scriptures, philosopher Shri Adi Shankaracharya fabricates the term ‘Char Dham’. The term means the four adobes of God or Spiritual Destinations. This Yatra comprises two Hindu sectarian traditions- Kedarnath & Badrinath and two Shakti (goddess) Sites- Yamunotri & Gangotri. These four shrines house huge arms of the Himalayas and are generally covered by a blanket of snow and a piercing atmosphere.
History of Chardham Yatra
Each destination of the Chardham Yatra has its own legendary history. But each adobe camouflages some mysticism that has entitled them to form a holy circuit of Chardham. Till the 1950s, travelling the four pilgrimages of Uttarakhand meant embarking on foot through the hilly terrain. Wanderers like Sadhu or solitary Ascetics and those who have an inclination towards spirituality or who could afford to travel visit Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand, and since that time, these four adobes have become the most important Hindu Pilgrimages in India. These four Shines are mainly – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The exact year or when & how these four adobes got linked and formed a circuit together is still not known.
Before 1962, during the Indo-China War, there were no known roads connecting these holy places, but with time, a massive effort was put into building a better means of connectivity to and infrastructure near the border areas. Now, with refreshing vibes and well-built terrain, roads could take one to the nearest points of the sacred adobes. Since then, people have initiated a tour to Char Dham or Chota Char Dham, which marked an important holy pilgrimage circuit of India.
Chardham Yatra by Helicopter
- 5 Nights / 6 Days
Do Dham Yatra by Helicopter
- Same Day
- 5 Nights / 6 Days
Chardham Yatra by Road
- 9 Nights / 10 Days
Places to Visit in Chardham Yatra 2024
Access to the holy sights is either from Rishikesh, Dehradun or Haridwar. According to the tradition, these holy pilgrimages are to be visited in the following order:
Yamunotri Dham
Located in Uttarkashi district in Uttrakhand, Yamunotri Dham is the main source of the Yamuna River. The best way to visit Yamunotri is to take helicopter services that operate in Dehradun from Sahastradhara Road. By flying high, you can experience the purity of nature and feel the vibes of holy places without struggling to reach the spots. This way, your holy Yatra will continue to the following Dham- Gangotri Dham.
Popular Tourist Sightseeing Places
- Yamunotri(with the facility of palki and pony)
- Kharsali
- Ancient Shani Temple
Gangotri Dham
Located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, Gangotri Dham is the main source of the most pious Ganga River, and River Bhagirathi is the original source of River Ganga. An excursion to the Gangotri temple is among the most enchanting, charismatic, and amazing experiences. Hear the most captivating sound of the gushing River Ganga, visit the temple, offer prayers to the Goddess Ganga, dip yourself in the pure hue of spirituality, and enjoy the scenic background.
The best way to reach Gangotri Dham is to take a route via Haridwar, Dehradun, or Rishikesh by riding on the best-suited mode of travel – Road, Train, or Helicopter and visit the most sacred sight of Goddess Ganga.
Popular Tourist Sightseeing Places
- Bhagirath Shila
- Gangotri Temple
Kedarnath Dham
The third destination of the Chardham Yatra is Kedarnath Dham, dedicated to Lord Shiva. This ultimate Dham is situated in the Rudraprayag district in Uttarakhand. Due to climate and weather constraints, the Yatra of Kedarnath needs to be started in the early morning. Prefer taking Do Dham Yatra by Helicopter services from Dehradun and begin your holy journey. Recite the pious name of Lord Shiva with complete faith and full of energy, and surrender yourself to the beauty of the Indian Himalayas. The place is so vibrant that it is venerated as one of the twelve Jyotirlinga. The best time to visit Kedarnath is in the summer months of May to June and September to October (the beginning of winter). The pleasant summer Kedarnath Dham weather is calm and smooth with moderate cold. The weather is perfect to pay a visit to the Holy Shrine of Lord Shiva.
Popular Tourist Sightseeing Places
- Kedarnath Temple
- Amalgam Mountain
- Amalgam Mountain
Badrinath Dham
Get on the last Dham of the four adobes of Uttrakhand that is, Badrinath Dham. The place is known as a holy Dham of Lord Vishnu with the divine blessings of Lord Shiva. Located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Badrinath Dham is a more developed Dham among the other three. The temple provides easy accessibility by the roads. A visit to the enchanting Dham will make you feel the innate vibes and purity of the air after witnessing the beautiful gold-plated Badrinath Temple that looks regal and magical. After exploring all four shrines, you will feel rejuvenated and pure with the hope to visit again. The best time to visit Badrinath Dham is between May and June and September and October.
Popular Tourist Sightseeing Places
- Badrinath Temple
- Vishnu Sahasranamam Path
- Mana Village
Chardham Yatra is so fascinating that it offers various popular sights along with the most famous Four Adobes in Uttarakhand. By visiting these Chardham Yatra Places, witness the beauty & purity of nature and remove all your sins by offering virtuous prayers.
Chardham Yatra Registration
Plan your next holidays to Chardham Yatra and register yourself for the most virtuous journey in India. Chardham Yatra Registration is a must for all travellers; after registration, you’ll be provided with a Biometric Registration Card (Yatra Pass/Permits) that is essential to carry while visiting the Dhams. This card is to help the government trace the flow of tourists through a GPS Monitoring System.
Both options are available for Chardham Yatra Registration – Online/ Offline. It is advisable to check some basic information regarding Char Dham Yatra, such as Opening and closing times, the best time to visit Chardham Yatra, places to visit Chardham Yatra and other essential details.
Chardham Yatra Routes
According to the Hindu belief, Char Dham Yatra should be explored in a clockwise direction from West to East. The journey will start from Yamunotri, which resides in the west of Uttarakhand, followed by Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath Dham.
The most known routes to Chardham are by road, train, or helicopter.
Chardham Yatra by Road 2024
Chardham Yatra can be visited by Road. Start your Journey from Delhi NCR,
| Chardham Yatra Road Route | Distance(in Km) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi – Haridwar | 210 km | 6 hrs |
| Haridwar – Barkot | 220 km | 7 hrs |
| Barkot – Yamunotri | 36 km + 7 Km (trek) | – |
| Barkot – Uttarkashi | 100 km | 4 hrs |
| Uttarkashi – Gangotri | 100 km | 4 hrs |
| Uttarkashi – Rudraprayag | 180 km | 6-7 hrs |
| Rudraprayag – Kedarnath | 74 km + 20 km (trek) | – |
| Rudraprayag – Badrinath | 160 km | 5-6 hrs |
| Badrinath – Rishikesh | 297 km | 10-11 hrs |
| Rishikesh – Delhi | 230 km | 6 hrs |
Why did you choose the Chardham Yatra by road? Because of the comfort of car transfers from one destination to another and visiting all the holy temples of Uttarkashi and Guptakashi while travelling and visiting many more regions. LIH.travel offers you the best Chardham Yatra package from Haridwar for your perfect tour.
Chardham Yatra by Train 2024
Char Dham Yatra by Train often witnesses a number of memories and is mostly preferred by the elderly. Though the journey may take time to reach the holy destinations, it can be travelled with ease with your family. Indian Railways are divided into certain zones, and devotees from various zones can easily catch a train to Delhi to initiate a sacred journey to Chardham Yatra. The details of different zones of Indian Railways are mentioned below:
- Northern Railway Zone: Delhi, Chandigarh, Haridwar
- Eastern Railway Zone: Kolkata
- Central Railway Zone: Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune
- Western Railway Zone: Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat
- Southern Railway Zone: Chennai, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram
- Southern Western Railway Zone: Bangalore, Mysore
- South Central Railway Zone: Hyderabad, Secunderabad
The Route of Chardham Yatra by train starts from the Capital Delhi Railway Station:
| Chardham Yatra Train Routes | Distance | Time | Conveyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi to Dehradun | 256 km | 5 to 6 hrs | by train |
| Dehradun to Barkot | 125 km | 4 to 5 hrs | by bus/taxi |
| Barkot to Yamunotri | 36 km + 7 km trek | – | by bus/taxi |
| Barkot – Uttarkashi | 100 km | 4 hrs | by bus/taxi |
| Uttarkashi – Gangotri | 100 km | 4 hrs | by bus/taxi |
| Uttarkashi- Rudraprayag | 180 km | 6-7 hrs | by bus/taxi |
| Rudraprayag – Kedarnath | 74 km + 20 km (trek) | – | by bus/taxi |
| Rudraprayag – Badrinath | 160 km | 5-6 hrs | by bus/taxi |
| Rudraprayag – Dehradun | 180 km | 6-7 hrs | by bus/taxi |
| Dehradun – Delhi | 256 km | 5 to 6 hrs | by train |
Chardham Yatra by Helicopter 2024
Chardham Yatra by Helicopter is the most comfortable and convenient way to explore the four shrines of Uttarakhand. It is the fastest and easiest mode of travel to Chardham Yatra.
Routes of all four pilgrimages aren’t easy as only Badrinath is easily accessible by road. LIH.travel offers an easy and time-saving journey by providing Helicopter services operated from Sahastradhara Road in Dehradun.
Route of Chardham Yatra By Helicopter
Dehradun -> Yamunotri -> Gangotri -> Kedarnath -> Badrinath -> Dehradun
Get on to the most fascinating city and Capital of Uttarakhand, Dehradun. Reach the Sahastradhara Road in Dehradun and catch an awe-inspiring Helicopter Ride to Yamunotri, followed by Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Check out the Chardham Yatra by helicopter booking price of LIH Travels, and confirm your seat now. Book Chardham Yatra for VIP Travellers to enjoy all of the luxurious facilities and comfy accommodations with VIP Darshan. You can also book the Chardham Yatra Package from Mumbai and take a direct flight from Dehradun after completing your yatra by helicopter or bus and taxi services.
Chota Chardham Yatra 2024
Char Dham Yatra means a holy visit to the most known pilgrimage sights in Uttarakhand, also known as Chota Chardham Yatra. The fantastic journey provides the best awe-inspiring religious sights – Yamunotri Dham, Gangotri Dham, Kedarnath Dham, and Badrinath Dham. According to Hindu belief, people should visit Chota Char Dham once in a lifetime to attain salvation. Plan your following holidays with your family to create refreshing moments and make your spiritual trip memorable for a lifetime by booking the Chardham Yatra by helicopter with LIH Travel, the best travel agent for the Chardham Yatra.
FAQs:
Q: What are the 4 Dham Yatra in India?
A: Rameshwaram, Jagannath-Puri, Badrinath-Kedarnath and Dwarka.
Q: Is Kedarnath safe to visit?
A: Yes, Kedarnath is completely safe to visit. However, we suggest you avoid visiting during the winter season. Spiritual as well as adventure-laced, you can never go wrong if you take a Kedarnath trip.
Q: When does it Snow in Kedarnath?
A: It usually snows in Kedarnath between the months of November and April. This season is not a good time to go to this place as roads to Kedarnath get blocked due to heavy snowfall.
Q: How many days are Sufficient for Char Dham Yatra?
A: The complete yatra will take you 11 to 12 days.
Q: Which Dham is difficult?
A: Yamunotri is the first of the four dhams and definitely the toughest.
Q: Which is higher, Kedarnath or Badrinath?
A: Kedarnath (11,755 ft.) is higher than Badrinath (10,800 ft.).
Q: Can I visit the Chardham temples in any order?
A: While some pilgrims follow a specific order (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath), there is no strict rule. However, it’s a common practice for the Chardham Yatra to follow this sequence.
Q: Is it necessary to Register for Chardham Yatra?
A: While registration is not mandatory, it is recommended to register for the Yatra at designated centers. This helps authorities keep track of pilgrims for safety and emergency purposes.
Q: Are there Medical Facilities available along the Route?
A: Yes, there are medical facilities and health centers at key points along the Chardham Yatra route. However, it’s advisable to carry a basic medical kit and any prescribed medications.
Q: What is the best time to undertake the Chardham Yatra?
A: The best time is during the months of May to June and September to October when the weather is relatively stable.
