Because of its large number of holy places, India is a perfect area to travel on spiritual vacations to achieve tranquility and peace of mind. The “Chota Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand” is one of the most revered pilgrimages in the world, especially among Hindus, who believe that those who complete it once in their lifetime are freed from the cycle of life and death and find salvation. Every year, several pilgrims and tourists from India and other countries visit Uttarakhand in search of the spiritual bliss that Chota Char Dham yatra offers.
You have different transportation options to explore the holy state of Uttarakhand. You can complete your Char Dham yatra by air, by private helicopter services, by road, or by rail. Go for the option which suits best for you. The Char Dham yatra begins in Haridwar (the holy city). It is said that dipping in the river Ganga purifies them and washes away all their sins Haridwar receives a large number of tourists from around the globe to accomplish this. The Char Dham Yatra is the ideal way to explore the holy state of Uttarakhand.
The Char Dhams are the main tourist attraction, but there are many sites to cover during the Yatra.
Below is the List of Places to Visit in Your Chard Dham Yatra:
One of the main starting points for the Chardham Yatra is Haridwar. The river Ganges flows through the area around Haridwar, making it a significant holy site. The prime pilgrimage site in Haridwar is the Harki Pauri ghat. Hindu mythology claims that King Bhagirath offered Lord Shiva a sacrifice at Har ki Pauri in Haridwar to free his forefathers’ souls from a cycle of rebirth. This ghat hosts the Ganga Aarti, a highly revered ceremony offered to the Ganges in the evening.
- Haridwar
Vaishno Devi Temple, Anandamayi Ashram, Chandi Devi Temple, Mansa Devi Temple, Saptarshi Ghat, and other popular attractions in Haridwar are also must-sees.
- Rishikesh
Starting your journey from Rishikesh is another option. Rishikesh is the center of yoga and spirituality and a tourist attraction because of its beautiful nature. The top destination to cover in Rishikesh is Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, devoted to Lord Shiva. According to puranic legends, Lord Shiva ingested the poison shown from Samudra Manthan here. Trimbakeshwar Temple is a 13-story structure with a shrine to Lord Shiva in a different shape on each floor. Maha Aarti, performed at the Triveni Ghat at dusk, is its main draw. The aarti and incense scent infuses the atmosphere with mysticism and spirituality.
- Barkot
A significant stopover on the “Char Dham Yatra” is the small hill town of Barkot, which is on the way to Yamunotri. Barkot is famous for its high-altitude climate, rugged routes, and mountain valley. Before leaving Barkot on your journey, visit Kempty Falls. If you were traveling to Barkot, you would want to travel through Dehradun and Mussoorie.
Top places to visit in this area include Lachchiwala, Sahastradhara, and Robber’s Cave. In addition, Dehradun and Mussoorie are well-known summer vacation destinations with stunning natural scenery and outdoor pursuits.
- Yamunotri Dham
Yamunotri, the first shrine of Char Dham Yatra , is the sacred residence of the goddess Yamuna. River Yamuna begins its journey here. One of the top destinations near Yamunotri is Hanuman Chatti. Dodi Tal, Darwa Top, and the Hanuman Temple are all well-known in this area. Some pilgrims begin their journey at Hanuman Chatti. Once you reach Janki Chatti, which is reachable by any road conveyance, the six-hour climb to the temple begins.
In addition to Divya Shila and other locations, you will stop at numerous kunds (natural hot springs) along the way. Nearer to Janki Chatti is Shani Dev Temple, a well-known shrine along this route. Pay a visit to the village of Kharsali as well, as the primary deity of the Yamunotri temple will be housed here for the length of the winter.
The Yamunotri Dham and the Yamuna River are Yamunotri’s primary destinations. Both pilgrims and temple visitors bathe ceremonially in the river.
- Uttarkashi
Located on the banks of the river Bhagirathi is this historic holy city. In Uttarkashi, there are many beautiful temples and ashrams. When traveling to Gangotri, pilgrims frequently spend a day in Uttarkashi praying for divine favor. The temple is located at a height of 1158m.
Since the main deity of Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Temple was transferred to Uttarkashi’s Vishwanath Temple when Aurangzeb attacked the Kashi temple, the town’s name contains the word “Kashi.”.
You can also cover the sites like Bhairav Temple, Shakti Devi Shrine, and others. On the way to Gangotri Dham, you will pass by other places like Bhairon Ghati, Mukhbha village, Dharali, Harsil, and Gangnani, in addition to Uttarkashi.
- Gangotri Dham
Gangotri, the holy home of the River Goddess Ganga, the most sacred river for Hindus, is the second “Dham” of the “Char Dham Yatra.”. The “Gaumukh Glacier,” which is 18 km away, is where the river begins its flow ahead of the town of Gangotri. Until it merges with the River Alaknanda at Devprayag, this river is known as the Bhagirathi. After that, she is called the river Ganga. Gaumukh Glacier is the center of attraction for trekkers. Hindu mythology holds that River Ganga descended to earth to atone for the sins of King Bhagirath’s ancestors.
Additionally, in this region, there is a submerged Shivling, which is said to represent the site where Lord Shiva held the Ganges in his locks to restrict its flow.
- Guptkashi
The attractive town of Guptkashi is nestled between the Chaukhamba peaks of the Garhwal Himalayan range and the river Mandakini. The site of Lord Shiva’s marriage proposal to Goddess Parvati is said to be Guptkashi. The second reason behind Guptkashi is the Pandavas of Mahabharat. The Pandava brothers begged Lord Shiva’s blessings and forgiveness in order to atone for the wartime crimes they had committed.
But Lord Shiva kept eluding them. In mythology, Lord Shiva transformed into a bull and ran while parts of his body were dispersed along the way.
Moreover, you can visit Manikarnika Kund, Ardhnarishwar temple, and the famous Tehri Dam.
- Sonprayag
It is a beautiful location to explore Triyugi Village, Triyuginarayan Temple, and the riverbank where River Mandakini meets River Basuki. According to Hindu methodologies, Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati in Triyuginarayan Temple.
- Gaurikund
This location is 15 kilometers away. The start of the roughly 20-kilometer trek is located before Guptkashi, which is required to reach Kedarnath. The two main attractions in this area are the Parvati Devi temple and Gauri Kund (water springs). You will visit Kedarnath Temple, a well-known Jyotirlinga temple, and the third stop on the Chardham yatra at the end of the trail.
- Kedarnath
The third Char Dham is Kedarnath. One of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva is believed to reside there; it is the main shrine of Kedarnath. Millions of pilgrims come to the temple from all over the world, and also regarded as one of the “Panch Kedars.”. All devotees are filled with divinity and spirituality after visiting the Kedarnath Temple, perched on the mouth of the river Mandakini and surrounded by breathtaking views of the Kedar and Swargarohini peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas.
- Rudraprayag
Rudraprayag can be found on the route from Kedarnath to Gaurikund. The rivers Alaknanda and Mandakini converge here. It’s a lovely sight to see the rivers coming together.
In addition to this, the area contains glaciers, lakes, and temples.
- Chopta
Adventure sports like rappelling, mountain climbing, camping, and others are popular at this hill destination. Other attractions include Gopinath Temple, Tungnath Temple, and Chandrashila Peak, in addition to adventure activities.
- Badrinath
There are numerous attractions along the way to Badrinath, including Vishnuprayag, Pandukeshwar, Hanuman Chatti, and others. Badrinath is the last stop on the circuit. The two main draws in this area are Tapt Kund and the Badrinath temple.
You can also go to Charan Paduka, Brahmakapal, Sheshnetra, and Naradkund in addition to these.
There are numerous routes and traditional ways to complete the Char Dham Yatra. The Char Dham journey is arduous but ultimately rewarding, a way to experience a fantasy. You must be aware of every aspect of the journey and make advance plans for your stops if you want the yatra to go smoothly. We believe we have carefully gathered the necessary trip information.