Chardham Yatra Packages

About Chota Chardham

Char Dham is a holy pilgrimage that takes place in the Garhwal hill of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand every year for a duration of 6 months. The spiritual journey takes the pilgrims to the 4 holy temples of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.

Kedarnath is home to Lord Shiva, Badrinath to Lord Vishnu, Gangotri to goddess Ganga and Yamunotri to goddess Yamuna. According to traditions, going to the Char Dhams will make sure that the devotee achieves Moksha or complete liberation from the karmic cycle of birth and rebirth after their passing.

The journey is extremely scenic but also very challenging for many but once the pilgrimage is completed, every bit of it feels worth it.

Best Time to Visit Char Dham

The Char Dham Yatra starts off during the summer months and goes on till the beginning of winter. These include the months of April / May to October / November which means it goes on from the pleasant months to the cold winter days.

Although the pilgrimage remains open for 6 months, it is important for you to know the right time tovisit in order to enjoy a hassle-free journey mainly because the mountains are a challenging territory with unpredictable weather conditions.

The best time to visit is the months of May to June and from the end of September to November or the time till it closes. Carrying warm clothes is recommended no matter which time of the year you decide to go.

Head on to our official website Atlas Travel and checks out our collection of Char Dham Yatra Packages and Uttarakhand Tour Packages around this time.

How to Reach Char Dham from Delhi

Primarily there are 3 ways of reaching the Char Dham temples of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Here are the 3 modes of transportation that will seamlessly get you to Char Dham.

By Road: If you are living in Delhi, have a private car and are confident about driving on the hills, then getting to Char Dham temples via a car trip will be the best option for you. There are also private and state-run buses connecting Delhi to Uttarakhand.

National Highway 34 connects Delhi to Rishikesh, Haridwar while NH 7 connects Delhi to Dehradun via Badrinath. For Kedarnath and Yamunotri, buses are available up to the last motorable road which is Gaurikund and Janki Chatti respectively.

By Train: Uttarakhand and Delhi are very well connected. The closest railhead for Badrinath is Ramnagar or Kotdwar which is 146 kms away. For Gangotri, the most viable route is to first reach Dehradun from Delhi by train. Some important junctions en route are Haridwar, Dehradun, Rishikesh, Pauri, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, Kotdwar and Kathgodam.

On reaching the train station you have the option of choosing a private cab, shared cab or a bus service to reach the temples.

By Helicopter: All helicopter journey trips to the Char Dham Yatra starts from the Sahastradhara Helipad in Dehradun, From Delhi, you can either take a bus, train, or a cab for Dehradun. Atlas travel offers Char Dham Packages by Helicopter from Delhi to make the whole experience a lot easier for you.

Opening and Closing Dates of Char Dham

The holy shrines of Char Dham open every year during the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya and close on either the day of Diwali or on Bhai Dooj. The date of opening is decided by the priests after referring to the Hindu calendar and announced on the holy day of Basant Panchami.

Badrinath Opening and Closing Dates - Badrinath opened up on 27th April 2023 and the closing date is tentatively on 9th November 2023.

Kedarnath Opening and Closing Dates - Kedarnath opened on 25th April 2023 and will close the doors on the holy eve of Bhai Dooj or 10 days after Diwali on 6th November 2023.

Gangotri Opening and Closing Dates - The opening date for the abode of goddess Ganga was 22nd April 2023 and the closing date will be on 4th November 2023, on the holy day of Diwali.

Yamunotri Opening and Closing Date - Yamunotri opened its doors on 22nd April 2023 and the doors will close off on 6th November 2023 on Bhai Dooj.

Places to Visit in Char Dham

The Char Dham Yatra is all about feeling closer to god. The journey will take you through the holy hills, holy rivers and important sites of worship. Here are some place to visit in Char Dham:

Rishikesh - Rishikesh is a holy town that is located on the exact spot where the Ganga River rushing down from the mountains hits the plains. This holy town is dotted with several temples, lined with numerous Ghats and is the centre stage for the international yoga festival.

Haridwar - This holy twin town which is located just 20 minutes away from Rishikesh, is also famous for its spirituality. Located very close to Delhi, experiencing the iconic Har Ki Pauri Aarti. Haridwar and Rishikesh are termed as the ‘Gateway to the Char Dham’.

Panch Prayag - Panch Prayag or the five Prayags represent the 5 convergence points of holy rivers. These 5 Prayags are Vishnuprayag, Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag and Devprayag. During Char Dham Yatra the pilgrims are taken across these 5 confluence points which is a deeply spiritual experience.

Badrinath - Home of Badri Vishal, where Lord Vishnu is worshipped as the king of Badri Kshetra, Badrinath Dham is located right next to Alaknanda River. Set against the backdrop of the Twin Mountains of Nar and Narayan, it is a place shrouded in mystery and legends related to Lord Shiva and Vishnu.

Kedarnath - Located against the Kedar Mountain ranges and by the holy river of Mandakini, Kedarnath is the place of Shiva worship. It is one of the most challenging terrains and takes a lot of time and effort to reach.

Gangotri - Gangotri Dham is dedicated to the goddess Ganga and the white temple of Gangotri marks the legendary starting point of the Bhagirathi River. The temple is fairly easy to reach and is known for its beautiful scenic surroundings.

Yamunotri - The ancient temple of Yamunotri is the home of goddess Yamuna and marks the starting point of the Yamuna River. The temple is reachable after covering an 8 km hike from the last Motorable road of Janki Chatti.

What to Eat in Char Dham

Char Dham temples are all located on the Garhwal Himalayas. Pilgrims should not expect high standards of food availability in such remote regions and difficult terrain. People normally eat locally made food which is highly nutritious and very delicious.

Kafuli - Kafuli is a form of spinach curry that can be called a local dal as well. It is a much-loved food item, especially during the peak winter months.

Chainsoo - Chainsoo is the Pahadi version of your regular dal that you prepare at home. This dish is made using a variety of different pulses which are spiced up with different spices and tastes best with rice or roti.

Phaanu - Phaanu is the ultimate soul-warming Pahadi food. It is also prepared with a variety of pulses and then finally garnished with coriander to add an extra kick of flavor.