Overview
Char dham in Uttarakhand, also referred to as Devbhoomi or the Land of Gods, is home to numerous temples and is a popular tourist destination all year long. The Char Dham Yatra is among the most popular of the numerous religious sites and circuits that pilgrims visit while passing through Uttarakhand. Yatra, or pilgrimage, is an excursion to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, four sacred sites tucked away in the Himalayas.
Each year the high-altitude shrines are closed for six months. From the spring (April or May) to the end of the fall season. Clockwise rotation is the recommended method for completing the Char Dham Yatra.
The Specifics
Due to this, the pilgrimage starts in Yamunotri and ends in Badrinath after passing through Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Kedarnath. There are two methods of transportation: air and road. Some devotees even make the two-temple pilgrimage known as the Do Dham Yatra, which includes Kedarnath and Badrinath.
The Yamunotri temple, dedicated to the goddess Yamuna, is situated close to the source of the River Yamuna, the second-most sacred river in India after the River Ganga. It is found in the Uttarkashi district. Gangotri, a temple honoring the Ganga, the most revered of all Indian rivers, is located in the Uttarkashi district. Within the Rudraprayag district is Kedarnath, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Location of the revered Badrinarayan Temple in
The Beliefs
A sacred tour of Char Dham will appeal to any Hindu devotee seeking a closer spiritual bond. Through the Char Dham Yatra, you gain fresh life experiences. The four primary Char Dham Yatra destinations are believed to be Kedarnath, Yamunotri, Badrinath, and Gangotri. However, Hindus revere the Himalayan region as a sacred site and make the holy pilgrimage known as Chota Char Dham to these shrines. The four cities that make up the Bada Char Dham are Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, and Rameshwaram, and they are all situated in the country’s four cardinal directions.
Visit the Char Dham Yatra
While the Chota Char Dham is also referred to as the Char Dham of Uttarakhand, the Bada Char Dham is a tour or visit to the four shrines in each of the nation’s four directions. If you want to learn more about the Char Dham Yatra, keep reading. Learn more about the Char Dham Yatra’s name, locations, significance, history, and opening and closing hours here.
BADRINATH
One of the holiest towns in Hinduism, it is devoted to Lord Vishnu and is situated in the Chamoli district. The Badrinath Temple is 10,279 feet above sea level. The temple is the only one of the four Char Dhams to be hidden away in the Himalayas and surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
Badrinath is sandwiched between the Nar and Narayan mountain ranges, beneath the Nilkantha peak. Badrinath’s turquoise lakes, sacred ponds, and other water features will never cease to amaze you.
The Beliefs
Hindu mythology holds that Lord Vishnu’s avatar Nar-Narayan performed Tapasya there, which is when Badrinath first appeared. Back then, the region was covered in berry trees; berries are known as Badri in Sanskrit. This area was given the name Badrika-Van due to the numerous berry trees that were present. In a particular place near the Badrinath Temple, under the shelter of a large berry tree, Nar-Narayan performed Tapasya.
To save Lord Narayan, locals believe Mata Lakshmi changed into a tree. Following the completion of the Tapasya, Narayana declared that people would always use her name before his. Lakshmi-Narayan consequently comes up frequently. These events all occurred during the Satya Yuga, which is why it is regarded as the first Dham. Both Chota Char Dham and it are where it is offered.
Dham Kenarth
Kedarnath, which is tucked away among magnificent mountain peaks and covered in snowstorms, is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in Northern India. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kedarnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. Gauri Kund is the location of the base camps for treks to the holy shrine.
A Palki or pony can be rented, or you can choose to walk the entire trek to the end. In the winter, the statue is moved to Ukhimath’s Omkareshwar Temple, where devotees can go to ask for Lord Shiva’s blessings. There’s no doubt that Kedarnath will inspire intriguing and seductive feelings.
NAM GANGOTRI
With tranquility, breathtaking natural beauty, and exciting activity all around, this holy shrine is a magnificent city. On the Bhagirathi River’s bank, in the state of Uttarakhand, is the holy city of Gangotri, which draws its water from the Ganga. Because the winters are so chilly and harsh, the temple is closed.
The idol is moved to the Ukhimath Temple in Mukba during the winter, which serves as Goddess Ganga’s winter home. The emerald beauty, serene aura, and unadulterated ambiance will steal your heart. Thanks to its snow-capped mountains and the holy water of the Ganges River, this place is stunning and appealing to all kinds of tourists.
The Yamunotri Dham
It is one of the Yamuna-centric Chota Char Dhams of Uttarakhand and is named after the second-most sacred river in India, Yamunotri, where it originates. At 3293 meters above sea level, this holy site is visited by pilgrims who come to pray and seek blessings. It was constructed by Jaipur’s Maharani Guleria and rebuilt by Tehri Garhwal’s Maharana Pratap Shah.
