About Uttarakhand Chota Char Dham Yatra:

Referred to as the Land of Gods or Devbhoomi, Uttarakhand is the homeland of many temples and is open to worshippers throughout the year. The Char Dham Yatra is one of the most well-known religious pilgrimages in Uttarakhand, among the innumerable other locations and circuits that pilgrims visit. 

'Char' in Hindi means four, while 'dham' signifies holy places. The Char Dham Yatra is a religious pilgrimage circuit covering the sacred homes of four Hindu gods, namely Yamunotri, home of goddess Yamuna; Gangotri, home of goddess Ganga; Kedarnath, home of Lord Shiva; and Badrinath, home of Lord Vishnu, which are tucked away high in the Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand. The Ganga and Yamuna rivers, which are considered sacred in India, originate at the Gangotri and Yamunotri Dhams, respectively. The Kedarnath Dham is a part of the Panch Kedar and the highest of the 12 Jyotrilingas of Shiva. The Badrinath Dham is also a part of the Bada Char Dham Yatra and the Panch Badri.

The Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra is a journey for the exaltation of the inner self and the purification of the soul. The Char Dham Yatra circuit is presumed to be completed in a clockwise sequence. Thus, it begins at Yamunotri, continues to Gangotri and Kedarnath, and terminates at Badrinath. Due to time restrictions, some devotees in today's hectic world even go on the Do Dham Yatra, which is a pilgrimage to two out of the four dhams, namely: Kedarnath and Badrinath, or Yamunotri and Gangotri.

Chota Chardham Yatra Season:

The Char Dham Yatra is difficult yet divine and soul-satisfying. These high-altitude shrines close for almost half of the year and can be visited only from May to October. They open on Akshaya Tritiya (April or May) in the summer and close two days after Diwali, on the day of Bhai Dooj (October or November), marking the beginning of winter. The Chardham trip is comfortable and enjoyable because of the good weather throughout these months. The journey to Char Dham can be completed by road or by air through a helicopter.

Char Dham Yatra Dates 2024

Opening Date for Chardham Yatra in 2024: 10 May 2024 (Akshaya Tritiya)

Closing Date for Chardham Yatra in 2024: 03 November 2024 (Bhai Dooj)

Opening Date for Chardham Yatra in 2025:Wed, 30 Apr, 2025 (Akshaya Tritiya)

Closing Date for Chardham Yatra in 2025:Thu, 23 Oct, 2025 (Bhai Dooj)

How do I go on Uttarakhand Chardham Yatra by Road?

It takes nearly 10 to 12 days to complete the Char Dham Yatra by road. Haridwar, Delhi, Rishikesh, and Dehradun are the starting points of the Char Dham Yatra via road. The nearest railway station to these sacred locations is located in Haridwar. Extensive road and rail networks link Haridwar to Delhi and other major cities. There are both public and private buses that are easily available to go to Char Dham. Additionally, Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun offer taxi services.

Trip To Temples offers Char Dham Yatra by road tour packages ex Haridwar (9 nights and 10 days) and ex Delhi (11 nights and 12 days). We also offer different by-road tour packages for the Do Dham Yatra, only the Kedarnath Yatra, and the Kedarnath with Tungnath Yatra. 

How do I go on Chota Chardham Yatra by Helicopter?

The Char Dham Yatra by Helicopter can be completed in about 4 to 5 days. The Jolly Grant International Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to the sacred Char Dham. Helicopter service to Char Dham starts from Sahastradhara Helipad in Dehradun. The Kharsali helipad is the nearest helipad to Yamunotri Dham, from where it is a trek of about 6 km to reach the Yamunotri Temple. The Harsil Helipad is the nearest helipad to Gangotri Temple, located at a drive of 25 km from the temple. Sersi, Phata,and Guptkashi are the nearest helipads from which one can get shuttle service to Kedarnath Dham. The helipad in Badrinath Dham is located in close proximity, about 1 km from the Badrinath temple.

Trip To Temples offers helicopter tour packages for both Char Dham and Do Dham. The Char Dham Yatra by Helicopter can be done in 4 nights and 5 days, with one night stay at each of the dhams and one one-night complimentary stay at Dehradun on arrival. The Do Dham Yatra by helicopter (Kedar-Badri) can be done in 2 nights and 3 days with a night stay at each of the dhams and one night complimentary stay at Dehradun on arrival, as well as in a short 1 day without any stay options.

Yamunotri Dham Uttarakhand

The Yamunotri Dham is the commencing point of the Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra. Yamunotri Tirtha is the place of origin of the river Yamuna, India's second-holiest river. As per the mythological references, Yamuna is the daughter of the sun god Surya. She is also known as Yami, the lady of life, because she is the sister of Yama, the god of death. She is adored as a representation of purity and is thought to cleanse bathers' souls. Yamuna is regarded as the manifestation of the Hindu goddess Radha. It is traditional for pilgrims to bathe in the natural hot springs around the temple before entering the shrine. The devotees cook rice and potatoes in these hot springs, which are served as prashad. 

The Yamunotri temple stands 3,293 metres (10,804 feet) above sea level on the northern side of Bandar Poonch Parvat in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. One needs to cover a distance of about 6 km by trek from Janki Chatti to reach the Yamunotri temple. Legend has it that the philosopher Asit Muni, who was well-known for his devotion to the deity, dwelt on the banks of the Yamuna at Yamunotri. The Hindu king Narendra Shah constructed the present temple in the 1800s. The winter seat of Yamunotri Dham is Kharsali village. 

Gangotri Dham Uttarakhand

The Gangotri Dham is the second shrine on the circuit of the Char Dham Yatra. The Gangotri temple lies in a picturesque setting of pine and deodar trees. Hindu mythology states that the Ganges (also known as Ganga), the most revered and sacred river in the world, fell from heaven to earth at Gangotri when Lord Shiva opened his locks to let the powerful river flow freely in answer to King Bhagiratha's petitions. The temple of Gangotri is located close to the "Bhagirath Shila," the sacred rock where King Bhagiratha offered prayers to Lord Shiva. The Ganga river's true source is 19 kilometres from Gangotri, at Gaumukh in the Gangotri glacier, which is only reachable by trek. The Ganga River has long been revered by humanity as a sacred source of purity, from the depths of mythology to the present. 

The Gangotri temple is situated in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand at an elevation of approximately 3,100 meters (10711 feet). The Greater Himalayan Range, deodar, and pines encircle the serene white temple. No trekking is involved, and one can go by vehicle up to the Gangotri Dham temple. The Mukhyamath temple in Mukhba village serves as the winter seat of Gangotri Dham. 

Kedarnath Temple Uttarakhand

Kedarnath Dham is one of the most revered Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. This area was formerly known as "Kedar Khand." According to tradition, the Pandavas from the epic Mahabharata felt awful for killing numerous individuals during the war and sought Lord Shiva's forgiveness in order to atone for their sins. The Lord continually evaded them and sought safety at Kedarnath as a bull. At Kedarnath, the Lord dove beneath the earth, leaving his hump visible. The remnants of Lord Shiva made their appearances in four other locations as his incarnations.  These are altogether revered as the Panch Kedar. The Pandavas constructed Kedarnath Mandir originally, but Adi Shankaracharya sanctified it in the eighth century AD. Following the 2013 floods in Kedarnath, the Kedarnath Temple complex underwent renovations, and additional amenities like a helipad, hiking trails, and guest cottages were constructed.

Situated approximately 11758 feet (3584 metres) above sea level, it is part of Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district. Amidst the snow-covered, towering mountains close to Chorabari Glacier, the Mandakini River flows in front of the Kedarnath shrine. The trekking distance from Gaurikund, the last motorable point, is approximately 18km. The winter seat of Kedarnath Dham is Ukhimath. 

Badrinath Mandir Uttarakhand

Badarinath is one of the holiest shrines for Vaishnavites, as it is among the 108 divya desams where Lord Vishnu took on human form. According to the scriptures, this holy territory of Lord Vishnu is also called Vishalpuri and Vishnudham.  The term "Badari," which refers to a particular kind of wild berry, is the source of the name of the Badarinath tirtha. The Vishnu Purana states that Lord Vishnu arrived at Badrinath in quest of solitude and tranquilly. His spouse, Goddess Laxmi, took on the appearance of a berry tree and protected him from the scorching sun while he sat in penance in these mountains. It is from this place that Lord Vishnu is also known by the name “Badari Vishal.” Not only does Lord Vishnu reside there, but a great number of pilgrims, saints, and sages also call Badrinath Dham their home, where they meditate to reach enlightenment.

Badrinath lies in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 3100 meters (10171 feet). It is located between the Nar and Narayan mountain peaks on the banks of the Alaknanda River. No trekking is involved in visiting the temple of Badrinath. Joshimath is the winter seat of Badrinath Dham