Char Dham Yatra means a pilgrimage to four sacred sites in India including Yamunotri Gangotri Kedarnath and Badrinath All of these pilgrimage sites are located in Uttarakhand and are considered highly significant in Hinduism These pilgrimage sites provide spiritual cleansing and liberation from the cycle of life and death Moksha nbsp Through Char Dham Yatra Tour Packages you can take blessings and spiritual peace by visiting these sites The Char Dham Tour Packages allows the people to explore these pilgrimage temples that are located in the Garhwal Himalayas Booking a ... Read More
The Char Dham Yatra is a seasonal pilgrimage and it only remains open for six months from April or May to October or November. During other months, this remains closed due to harsh weather conditions in the Himalayas during winters:
This is the most popular time for the Char Dham Yatra as the temples open after winter. During this season, the weather of this spot remains pleasant and the temperature ranges from 10°C to 25°C. This is the ideal time for tourists to enjoy trekking and explore the scenic views of the Himalayas.
This is the monsoon season and the crowd remains ok during this time. The weather becomes clear and cooler and the temperature ranges from 5°C to 20°C. Because of the smaller crowd, doing darshan and taking blessings from the idols becomes easier and it offers a peaceful spiritual exploration.
During this time the Char Dham temples remain closed due to heavy snowfall. The idols of Badrinath and Kedarnath are shifted to Nar Singh Temple (Joshimath) and Omkareshwar Temple (Ukhimath). The area remains closed for tourism because of heavy snowfall.
This pilgrimage yatra is held in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand and is accessible by road, rail, and air:
The nearest airport from where you can start the Char Dham Yatra is located in Dehradun. The Jolly Grant Airport is well-connected to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. You can even take a helicopter from Dehradun for Char Dham Yatra.
The nearest railway stations to these areas are Haridwar and Rishikesh. These stations are well connected to major cities of India and you can hire a taxi or a bus to reach your respective pilgrimage spots.
This Char Dham is well-connected by national highways to major cities like Delhi and Dehradun. You can find buses, private cabs, or taxis for your Yatra.
✍🏼 Note: Our Char Dham Tour Packages include visiting all the four temples of Char Dham Yatra including Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath, and Kedarnath.
The traditional Char Dham Yatra follows a clockwise direction, starting from Yamunotri and ending at Badrinath:
This pilgrimage site is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna and the attraction other than the temple is the hot springs at Janki Chatti. This temple is accessible after a 6 km trek from Janki Chatti. You can also take a holy dip in the famous Surya Kund here.
Check NowThis pilgrimage site is dedicated to Goddess Ganga and is also a source of the sacred Ganga River. Here, before visiting the temple, you can take a holy dip in the Bhagirathi River. The origin of the sacred Ganga river is Gaumukh Glacier where you can go after a small trek.
Check NowThis pilgrimage site is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located at an altitude of 3,583 meters near the Mandakini River. This is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and to reach this spot, you have to trek for 16km from Gaurikund. If you cannot trek then you can take the pony and palanquin services.
Check NowThis pilgrimage site is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located at an altitude of 3,133 meters in the Chamoli district. Here, you can take a dip in the Tapt Kund before going to the temple, and also you can visit attractions like Mana Village which is the last Indian village near the China border.
Check NowTake a holy dip in the rivers Yamuna and Ganga.
Visit Gaumukh Glacier which is the origin of the River Ganga.
Explore Mana Village which is the last Indian village near the China border.
Visit Bhairavnath Temple after taking blessings from Kedarnath.
Explore Vyas Gufa which is the cave where Maharishi Vyas composed the Mahabharata.
Enjoy scenic views of the snowy Himalayas during your journey.
Other than taking blessings from idols, you can purchase some nice religious and spiritual souvenirs from these pilgrimage spots. Some of the famous shopping areas are:
From this market, you can buy real rudraksha beads, idols, and Indian religious books.
This market is famous for selling woolen clothes, religious souvenirs, and prayer beads.
You can purchase some religious items and handmade crafts from this market.
This market is best for purchasing copper tri shuls, malas, and Shivalinga.
Since Char Dham is a religious site, only vegetarian food is served everywhere. Some must-try local dishes include:
These are spicy boiled potatoes that are cooked with mustard seeds and local spices and they taste delicious.
This is a black gram dish that is cooked in a spicy gravy. If you love spicy food then this is the must-try dish for you.
It’s a green leafy curry made from spinach and fenugreek and it is flavourful.
This is a sweet dish that is served wrapped in a Maalu leaf and one should definitely try it.
This is a flatbread that is made from finger millet flour and is mostly served with Indian vegetables like Aloo-Gobhi or Saag.
This is a popular sweet made from khoya and sugar balls, it’s a lot on the sweeter side and it can be found in other areas of Uttarakhand also.
Start your day at these sacred spots early morning so that you can visit the temple and take the morning Aarti.
Pack light woolen clothes as well as heavy jackets as the weather in these areas is unpredictable.
Wear comfortable shoes that are suitable for trekking in different areas.
Always carry a raincoat and umbrella, especially during the monsoon season.
Carry a first aid kit and essential medicines because you can get ill because of the changing weather.
Keep cash with yourself because ATMs are limited in remote areas and most people don’t take online payments.
The Char Dham Yatra usually starts in May and closes in November.
Yes, you have to make the registration with the Uttarakhand government.
The minimum time required to complete Char Dham Yatra is 7 to 10 days and proper planning is required for a nice tour.
When visiting the pilgrimage spots, modest clothing is required, and avoiding shorts and sleeveless clothes is recommended.
The traditional Char Dham Yatra follows a clockwise direction, starting from Yamunotri and ending at Badrinath:
Other than taking blessings from idols, you can purchase some nice religious and spiritual souvenirs from these pilgrimage spots. Some of the famous shopping areas are:
Since Char Dham is a religious site, only vegetarian food is served everywhere. Some must-try local dishes include:
The Char Dham Yatra is a seasonal pilgrimage and it only remains open for six months from April or May to October or November. During other months, this remains closed due to harsh weather conditions in the Himalayas during winters:
This pilgrimage yatra is held in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand and is accessible by road, rail, and air: