Char Dham Yatra and Hemkund Sahib, Uttarakhand Tourism

Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu

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Chardham Yatra is a sacred pilgrimage for Hindus in India, also known as Chota Char Dham Yatra. It includes visiting four holy sites in the Garhwal Himalayas – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Chhota Char Dham Yatra begins on Akshaya Tritiya and ends on Bhai Dooj, two days after Diwali.

The ideal time to undertake the Chardham Yatra is during the summer months. For this reason, most tourists come here from April to June. Monsoon time is not good for travel. Then September to November is the favorable time, after that the high-altitude temples remain closed during winter due to heavy snowfall.

The journey takes 12 days but can be completed in as little as 5 days. This involves tracking at altitude. Registration for the trip is mandatory and physical fitness is important. Although the Chardham Yatra is challenging, it provides an enjoyable experience of faith, culture, and Himalayan beauty.

Table of Content

Yamunotri Temple
Gangotri Temple
Kedarnath Jyotirlinga
Badrinath Temple
Hemkund Sahib Trek
Chardham Yatra by Air Cost and Package
Helicopter for Kedarnath Dham
Tourist Care – Char Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand

Significance of Chardham Yatra in Hindu Religion

For Hindus it is a deeply spiritual journey, according to religious beliefs, it washes away sins and potentially leads to moksha (salvation). Each place (Dham) is dedicated to a revered deity, which is as follows –

Yamunotri Temple – Goddess Yamuna
Gangotri Temple – Goddess Ganga
Kedarnath Jyotirlinga – Lord Shiva
Badrinath Temple – Lord Vishnu

Yamunotri Temple

Yamunotri is one of the four pilgrimage sites in the Char Dham Yatra of the Himalayas. It is located in the Garhwal Himalayas at an altitude of 3,293 meters (10,804 ft). It is considered the source of the Yamuna River, the second most sacred river in Hinduism after the Ganges. The main attraction here is the Yamunotri Temple, which is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. This temple is relatively new, built in 1839 by Raja Sudarshan Shah of Tehri. The original temple was destroyed twice by natural disasters before being rebuilt at its present location. A black marble idol of Goddess Yamuna is present in the temple. Another interesting feature near the temple is the Janaki Chatti Thermal Springs, located about 7 kilometers away. Pilgrims often cook rice and potatoes using the hot water of these springs for offerings.

Gangotri Temple

Gangotri is a city and a Nagar panchayat (municipality) located in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand state, India. It is considered one of the most sacred places in Hinduism, being the source of the River Ganges, revered as the most holy river in India. Situated on the Greater Himalayan Range at an altitude of 3,100 meters (10,200 ft), Gangotri is a part of the Chhota Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, which includes Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. The city is centered around the Gangotri Temple, a small temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga. The temple is open for darshan (sacred darshan) for six months every year, usually from May to November, as the region receives heavy snowfall during winter.

According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Ganga descended from heaven when Lord Shiva freed this mighty river from her locks. The source of the Ganga River is the Bhagirathi River, which originates from the Gangotri Glacier, 19 kilometers away from Gangotri. The interesting feature here is Gaumukh, the origin of the Bhagirathi River and the source of the Ganga. It is accessible to physically healthy pilgrims. Here the river Ganga originates as a stream from the Gangotri Glacier. Its water is considered especially sacred. Pilgrims collect holy water from the Gaumukh, called Gaumukh Jal (जल, meaning “water”), and take it home as Prasad (a blessed offering).

Kedarnath Jyotirlinga

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kedarnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the most sacred Shiva temples in Hinduism. It is located at an altitude of 3,583 meters (11,755 ft) near the Mandakini River in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, India. Lord Shiva is worshiped here as Linga – a sacred symbol representing the formless Shiva. Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have built the present temple in the eighth century. According to legend, the Pandavas of the epic Mahabharata sought forgiveness from Lord Shiva here after the Kurukshetra war.

The Kedarnath temple is a beautiful example of ancient Indian architecture. The temple is built of large, gray stone slabs and has a conical roof. The temple’s inner sanctum houses the Jyotirlinga, a naturally formed rock that is worshiped in the form of Shiva. Due to extreme weather conditions, the Kedarnath temple is open to the general public only between April (Akshaya Tritiya) and November (Kartik Purnima, Sharad Purnima). During winter, the temple is closed and the vigraha (deity) is taken to Ukhimath to be worshiped for the next six months.

Badrinath Temple

Badrinath, also known as Badrinarayan Temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Maha Vishnu. It is situated in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand at an altitude of more than 3,100 meters. This temple holds significance for Vaishnavas as one of the revered 108 Divyadesham temples, where Vishnu is worshiped in the form of Badrinath. Another important idol located within the temple is that of ‘Badri Devi’, who is an incarnation of Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu. The temple complex consists of three structures: the Garbhagriha (sanctum), the Darshan Mandapam (worship hall), and the Sabha Mandapam (convention hall). Typically, the temple reopens for pilgrims between late April and early November.

Situated in the hills of Garhwal, on the banks of the Alaknanda River, the city lies between the Nar and Narayan mountain ranges and in the shadow of the Neelkanth peak. Other interesting places like Mana, Vyas Cave, Matamurti, Charan-Paduka, Bhimkund, and the mouth of Saraswati River are within 3 km of Badrinath temple. Joshimath is situated on the slopes above the confluence of the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers.

Hemkund Sahib Trek

Hemkund Sahib, also known as Gurdwara Sri Hemkund Sahib Ji, is an iconic Sikh pilgrimage site located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India. It is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in Sikhism, dedicated to the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. This has also been mentioned in Dasham-Granth. It is also recorded in the Holy Granth Sahib that Guru Gobind Singh meditated on the serene banks of Hemkund Lake in his previous birth.

Reaching Hemkund Sahib is an arduous journey in itself, especially during the monsoon season. To reach this temple, you will have to walk from Govindghat located on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway. The breathtaking beauty of the Himalayas around Hemkund Sahib offers an unforgettable experience to pilgrims and visitors. There are limited accommodation options available here, mostly in the form of gurudwaras and lodges.

Chardham Yatra by Air Cost and Package

Destinations Covered – Haridwar, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath
Budget – Approx 1.5 Lakh per person
Duration – 4 Nights + 5 Days
Distance – Around 550 KM from Delhi

Helicopter for Kedarnath Dham

Only the IRCTC Heli Yatra website (heliyatra.irctc.co.in) provides online helicopter ticket booking for Shri Kedarnath Dham & Shri Hemkund Sahib.

Important Message: Chardham and Shri Hemkund Sahib Yatra Registration is mandatory to book helicopter services.

Link for Heliservices to Kedarnath Dham – The Heliservices User Registration Link is not working.
Link for Helicopter Yatra to Shri Kedarnath Dham and Shri Hemkund Sahib – IRCTC Official Website Link

Destinations Covered: Shri Hemkund Sahib and Shri Kedarnath Dham

Shri Hemkund Sahib – Helicopter Ticket Bookings are now open for journey dates up to 10th October 2024.
Shri Kedarnath Dham – Helicopter Ticket Booking is now open for journey dates up to 31st October 2024.