To the pilgrims looking forward to going on a flawless spiritual journey from Haridwar to the Char Dham temples, this blog is going to provide a detailed guide. Char Dham Yatra, the sacred circuit of four highly sacred temples, is located at a high-altitude and uneven elevated portion of the Himalayan foothills. Due to being placed in a mountainous region, the climate at these revered shrines is cold throughout the year. Hence, devotees need to plan this yatra by keeping certain important things in mind. Therefore, we are sharing all of the significant parameters to consider while planning this religious tour.
Religious Significance
- Badrinath Dham: Badrinath Dham is linked with the Lord Vishnu, who is one of the trinity Gods in Hindus. It is said that once upon a time Lord Vishnu had come to this place to meditate in peace of the snow covered Himalayas.
- Kedarnath Dham: Kedarnath Dham is related with the great god Shiva. Mainly, the tale of Pandavas and Lord Shiva is the reason behind the foundation of this place.
- Gangotri Dham: Gangotri Dham is undoubtedly connected with the origin of the sacred river Ganga. The legends share, it is the place where Ganga Ji has shown her presence on earth.
- Yamunotri Dham: Yamunotri Dham is famous as the origin of the pious river Yamuna. According to the scriptures, Yamuna Ji is the adorable daughter of the great God Surya.
Transportation Options
To travel to each of Char Dham temples from Haridwar, there are multiple options including Helicopter Tour. Let us have a glance at that.
By Road
Rental cars and minibuses are the common vehicles, which run from Haridwar to basecamps of main temples at an affordable price. On the basis of your priority of vehicle type and group size, you can select the car out of several options like luxury car, simple car, etc.
By Helicopter
If you are willing to commence this sacred tour by air mode, then you can book the helicopter tour package. The tour operators offer the char dham yatra by Helicopter from the helipad of Dehradun, through which you can complete the journey in minimum time. Firstly, you have to reach Dehradun and then this aerial trip will kick off.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to travel to Char Dham from the holy town of Haridwar is in May-June and October-November. In these months, there are fewer chances of rainfall, and the temperature also remains bearable. Whereas, if you visit in July to September, then these are the peak months of monsoon in Uttarakhand, and so you might have to witness heavy rainfall. Hence in a nutshell, the summer and post-monsoon season are favourable to plan a yatra without the stress of weather challenges.
Route Map
- Haridwar to Barkot
- Barkot to Jankichatti
- Jankichatti to Yamunotri by trekking
- Yamunotri to Uttarkashi
- Uttarkashi to Gangotri
- Gangotri to Gaurikund
- Gaurikund to Kedarnath by trekking
- Kedarnath to Joshimath
- Joshimath to Badrinath
Accommodation Options
The Hindu pilgrims travelling to this holy pilgrimage often get worried about accommodation options. In addition, they find it complicated to plan what towns are perfect to take an overnight break during this journey to the Himalayas. So, here is concise information which will help you out in planning the stay.
Where to Stay Near Yamunotri
- When you proceed to Yamunotri from Haridwar, then the enroute town Barkot is the ideal place to take a pause for overnight.
Where to Stay Near Gangotri
- On the Yamunotri to Gangotri way, there is a beautiful hilly town named Uttarkashi, which is moderately developed and has several lodges offering peaceful stay for pilgrims.
Where to Stay Near Kedarnath
- When you move forward from Gangotri to reach Kedarnath, then Sonprayag and Guptkashi are the towns with ample options of accommodation.
Where to Stay Near Badrinath
- Joshimath is the en route town located approximately 42 km before the Badrinath Dham. Here you can take a safe break during your journey to Badrinath Dham.
What Should you Pack?
- Attires: Waterproof Jacket, Woolen Sweater, Shawl, Scarf, Cap, Boots, etc.
- Documents: ID card, Travel Pass, Ticket, Driving License if you want to drive in Uttarakhand, Medical Certificate to prove your fitness
- Toiletries: Soap, Handwash, Facewash, Sanitizer, Toothpaste, Toothbrush
- First Aid Pouch: Pain Killers, Band Aids, Warm Bag, Glucose, Electrolytes, Tablets for Motion Sickness and AMS
- Gadgets: Mobile Phone, Charger, Powerbank, Camera if you like photography.
How Difficult is the Char Dham Yatra
- The difficulty level of the Char Dham trip is moderately challenging.
- If we look at its roads, then they are generally curvy, and so sometimes it seems difficult.
- In Yamunotri and Kedarnath, there are trekking trails that pilgrims have to cover by hiking, so it appears tough for people with weak stamina.
- However, there are several alternatives to bypass the trek route, as you can choose a chopper ride.
- The cold climate of Garhwal region can also appear like a challenge. But if you pack woolen clothes and follow the measures to save yourself from cold, then it is easily manageable.
- Further it depends on the fitness level of your body. If you are physically active then the treks are easy for you. Otherwise you might feel exhausted while hiking.
Conclusion
To the pilgrims wishing to proceed on a religious tour to four highly spiritual places from Haridwar, this blog is a one-stop solution. Considering the challenges that tourists face on this Yatra, we have tried to provide a solution for everything, like accommodation, transportation, what to pack, the best time to visit, and so on. We hope that now you will feel knowledgeable enough to plan a stress-free, perfect spiritual tour. For any similar queries, you can reach out to us through the comment section or send us a direct message on our official WhatsApp page.
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