CHAR DHAM

Uttarakhand, also known as Devbhoomi or the Land of Gods, is home to numerous temples and welcomes devotees throughout the year. Among the countless religious sites and circuits visited by devotees in Uttarakhand, one of the most prominent is the Char Dham Yatra. This yatra or pilgrimage is a visit to the four holy sites - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath - nestled high up in the Himalayas. In Hindi, 'char' means four and 'dham' means religious place.

These high-altitude temples remain closed for about six months every year, opening in summer (April or May) and closing with the onset of winter (October or November). The pilgrimage begins from Yamunotri, moves on to Gangotri, Kedarnath and finally ends in Badrinath. The journey can be completed by road or by air (helicopter services are available). Some devotees also undertake the Do Dham Yatra or pilgrimage to two temples - Kedarnath and Badrinath.

Located in a narrow valley near the source of the Yamuna River (the second holiest Indian river after the Ganges River) in Uttarkashi district is the Yamunotri Temple dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. Uttarkashi district also has Gangotri which is dedicated to Goddess Ganga, the holiest of all Indian rivers. Rudraprayag district houses Kedarnath dedicated to Lord Shiva. Badrinath is home to the sacred Badrinarayan Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The Char Dham Yatra is as divine as it is difficult, but soul-satisfying!

Yamunotri

Yamunotri is a part of Char Dham (along with Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath), The four most revered Hindu pilgrimage sites in the Himalayas. This small hill village, centrally located with the Yamunotri temple, attracts thousands of devotees every year and is the starting point of the Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage (May to October), which starts from Yamunotri and goes to Gangotri and finally to Kedarnath and Badrinath. Situated in a narrow valley close to the source of the Yamuna, the Yamunotri temple is dedicated to Yamuna, the second holiest river after the Ganges. A dip in the Yamuna river is said to save a person from untimely death. Devotees either walk or ride a palanquin or pony to reach the temple from Janki Chatti (about 3,233 m above sea level), which is a steep climb of about 3 km that takes about 3 hours..

Kapat is open now for darshan.

Best Time To Visit: April to June and September to November

Gangotri

One of the char dhams (the most sacred pilgrimage circuits in northern India with four holy destinations), Gangotri, in Uttarkashi, is a small town with the temple of Goddess Ganga at its heart. A 12-hour drive from Rishikesh, Gangotri is nestled among lofty Garhwal Himalayan peaks, glaciers and dense forests, and is one of highest pilgrimages in India (approx 3,415 m). Other than its divine atmosphere, Gangotri offers stunning vistas all around. According to Hindu legends, the most sacred of all rivers, Ganges (or Ganga), descended from heaven to earth at Gangotri, when Lord Shiva released the mighty river from his locks. The actual origin of the river is at Gaumukh in the Gangotri glacier, 19 km away from Gangotri and is accessible by trekking. After it originates from Gaumukh, the river is known as Bhagirathi and it acquires the name 'Ganga' after the river Alaknanda merges into it near the town of Devaprayag. Kapat is open now for darshan.

When to visit
Gangotri becomes a bustling hub of devotees during the Char Dham Yatra season (May to October).

Badrinath

The Badrinath Temple also known as the Badrinarayan Temple, located in Uttarakhand's Badrinath town, is one of the Char Dhams (four important pilgrimages) in the state. There are four pilgrim-destinations namely Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, collectively known as Char Dham. These pilgrimage centres draw large number of pilgrims each year, thus becoming the most important hubs of religious travel in the whole of Northern India.

Badrinath is located at an elevation of around 3,100 m. Located in the Garhwal Himalayas, on the banks of the Alaknanda river, this sacred town lies between Nar and Narayana mountain ranges. The temple is believed to have been established by sage Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. With Lord Vishnu as its presiding deity, the temple remains open for six months in a year. In winter it becomes inaccessible due to heavy snowfall.

Kapat is open now for darshan.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The ideal time to visit Badrinath Temple is from May to October. The temple is closed from October/ November, and is reopened around April.

Kedarnath

One of the most revered temple sites in India, Kedarnath is nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas. Built around the revered Kedarnath temple, the town is located at an altitude of 3,580 metres, near the Chorabari glacier, which is the source of the Mandakini river. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the ancient temple has exquisite architecture and is made of very large but uniformly sized grey stone slabs. Lord Shiva is worshipped in his "Sadashiva" form in a conical rock structure inside the temple. The Kedarnath temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is a part of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in India. Behind the Kedarnath temple, are the Kedarnath peak, Kedar Gumbad and other Himalayan peaks.

The historical name of this region is "Kedar Khand" and legend says that the Pandavas of Mahabharata felt guilty of killing so many people after defeating the Kauravas and sought blessings from Lord Shiva for salvation. The Lord repeatedly escaped from them and took refuge in Kedarnath in the form of a bull. The Lord dived into the ground leaving his hump on the surface at Kedarnath. The remaining parts of Lord Shiva appeared at four other places and are worshipped as his incarnations. The arms of the Lord appeared at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the stomach at Madmaheshwar and his hair at Kalpeshwar..

Kapat is open 02-05-2025 for darshan.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

From May to October is the best time to visit Kedarnath. During winter months, the town remains closed due to heavy snowfall.

Sonprayag

The enchantingly beautiful settlement of Sonprayag is located about 20 km away on the way to Kedarnath. Situated at the confluence of two holy rivers, Basuki and Mandakini, Sonprayag offers spectacular views of snow-capped mountains and the lush green Sonprayag valley..

Chopta

Popularly referred to as the ‘mini Switzerland’ of Uttarakhand, Chopta (at an approximate altitude of 2,608 m) is a slice of paradise tucked away in the Garhwal Himalayas. Surrounded by bugyals or velvety meadows and pristine snow-capped peaks, Chopta is an all-year holiday destination: pleasant in summer, rain-fresh in monsoon and a snow-clad fairyland in winter. Chopta is at the epicentre of the Panch Kedar – the five most sacred Shiva temples in the state. On its left are located Kedarnath and Madmaheshwar shrines and on the right, Rudranath and Kalpeshwar, and just above it, the Tungnath temple. Chopta is a birding paradise and you can see over 240 species of birds here, including native and migratory species like Himalayan monal, Himalayan swiftlet, Himalayan griffon, scarlet finch, hill partridge, and so on. Nearby places like Dugalbitta, Mandal village, Makkumath and the Tungnath trek route are the best sites for watching our feathered friends. Chopta has been declared as an important bird-watching site by national and international conservation and biodiversity organisations.

When to visit

Chopta is ideal for vacations all over the year but November to May are the best months to visit.

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