‘Char Dham’ is one of the holiest pilgrimage destinations for the Hindus. Sinners head to Char dhams for sin ablution; pious Hindus head to Char Dhams to seek God and bask in the spirituality that pervades the very environment of the place; atheists head to the Char Dhams in their sheer desperation to discover what it is that pulls thousands to the place each day. If you have a mind to embark on a Chardham yatra, this travel guide below might help:
A holy pilgrimage tour conducted in the Uttarakhand area through the four major pilgrimage centers is called the Chota Char Dham Yatra. The greater Char Dham circuit includes pilgrimage centers such as Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri and Rameshwaram. This Yatra is of utmost importance to the Hindus and all Hindus are recommended to visit the Char Dhams at least once in your lives. Those who cannot manage the greater circuit have to suffice themselves by visiting the Chota Chardhams of Uttarakhand which is equally important.
This tour in fact is probably one of the best religious trips that Hindus can make as it gets them across several celebrated shrines of Badrinath, Yamunotri, Gangotri and Kedarnath.
Why is It Called Chota’ Chardham Yatra?
The term ‘Chota’ is added to the Yatra in order to differentiate it from the typical Char Dham Yatra that is spread across the length and breadth of the country.
How Does Your Char Dham Yatra Start?
Generally you start your yatra by visiting the Yamunotri shrine first, followed by Gangotri, then Kedarnath and finally Badrinath at the peak. Rishikesh or Haridwar is often the beginning point of Chardham yatra. You have to arrive to these places either by bus or train.
All About The Different Shrines & Relevant Travel Details:
Let us now have a look at the different pilgrimage centers separately:-
Kedarnath
In the Himalayas at Kedarnath by the region of Garhwal is located the Kedarnath Temple which is extremely pious and holy. This temple is a tribute to Lord Shiva. The purity of the Temple is increased due to the River Mandakini that flows besides it. Kedarnath is available from trekking for tourists only from the months of April to November. During the other times, the climatic conditions are too extreme for tourists not recommended at all as the roads become inaccessible too. From Gaurikund, travelers need to take a trek of about 14 km to reach this pious destination. Ponys and machans are also available for pilgrims.
[You may like to read about Kedarnath Sightseeing ]
Badrinath
Badrinath temple is another well known religious shrine in Uttarakhand. It is given an excellent view due to the river Alaknanda that flows besides it. This pious temple is a Vaishnava site and is a tribute to Lord Vishnu. It is a renowned site not only for the Chota Char Dham Yatra but also for the bigger Char Dham Yatra and 108 Divya Desams. The temple is opened annually between the months of April and November. Post-November, the weather conditions make the Badrinath temple inaccessible for pilgrims. There is a hot sulphur spring named the Tapt Khund which has huge medicinal values in it and is one of the main standout features of the Badrinath temple. All through the year, the spring maintains a temperature of 45 Degrees Celsius.
Gangotri
Gangotri Temple is another religious shrine that is situated in the district of Uttarkashi. It is known as the seat of Goddess Ganga. There is a mythological importance for this temple as the belief is that Goddess Ganga started flowing as a river from this point onwards to wash away the sins committed by the predecessors of King Bhagiratha. The temple is a massive 20 feet tall structure that has been constructed with white granite that is from the 18th century. The most recommended phases of visiting the temple in a year are during the May-June and September-October periods. The Gangotri temple is privileged to have the River Bhagirathi flowing beside it along with being the point of origin of River Ganga and the shrine is also a part of the Greater Himalayas.
Yamunotri
Yamunotri temple is located in the district of Uttarkashi and is located at the Garhwal Himalayas. This temple has been constructed as a tribute to Goddess Yamuna and the deity here has been constructed using black marble. At least a day’s travel is needed to reach the Yamunotri temple from the different towns of Uttarakhand like Dehradun, Haridwar and Rishikesh. For reaching the main temple, pilgrims need to complete a trek of 13 km from Hanuman Chatti as well as 6 km from Janki Chatti. Another option that can be taken by pilgrims is the usage of palanquins or horses for this purpose. You can witness mind-blowing visuals here with the stunning waterfalls coupled with the scenic locales of the Himalayas giving you the ultimate experience. This temple can be visited by pilgrims from the months of May to November. Presence of two hot springs namely Surya Kund and Gauri Kund provide a great relief for the pilgrims who can also avail guest houses or ashrams located nearby for food and accommodation. Bookings for the same can be done in advance to prevent uncomfortable situations.
Overall, the Chota Char Dham Yatra is a must-visit experience for Hindus as well as other tourists who are seeking a religiously blissful experience.
Char Dham Yatra Blog 