The Char Dham Yatra is one of the holiest pilgrimages in India, covering four sacred sites in Uttarakhand—Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Every year, lakhs of devotees undertake this journey to seek blessings and spiritual peace. If you're planning to visit, this guide will help you with all the essential details.

What is Char Dham Yatra?

Char Dham Yatra refers to the four important Hindu shrines in Uttarakhand. It is believed that visiting these temples washes away sins and helps attain Moksha (liberation). The journey follows darshan at these temples:

Yamunotri Dham: - The Temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna Ji near the bank of Yamuna River. It is the 1st Dham of the four shrines, that is visited first on the Char Dham Yatra. Yamunotri Temple can be reached by trekking of 5-6 Kms from Jankichatti, till where you can reach via cab. The route is good and about 8 feet wide, so many pilgrims can trek together. For senior citizens and children's, there are pony, palki and doli available, so they can travel without trek difficulty.

Gangotri Dham: - The temple is dedicated to Goddess Ganga Ji and also known the place is known for origin of Ganga River. Gangotri Dham is located in Uttarkashi district, can be reached by roads transportation. The modern temple of Gangotri Dham built by Amar Singh Thapa in 19th Century. The trek to Gaumukh also starts from here which is about 18 Kms from here.

Kedarnath Dham: - Kedarnath Dham is one of the twelve jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and one of the most sacred places in Hinduism. Every year Lakh of pilgrims reach here to prayer and Darshan at Kedarnath Temple. It is accessible by 20 Kms trekking route from Gaurikund. The temple is very ancient and found by Adi Guru Shankaracharya during 8th Century.

Badrinath Dham: - Badrinath Dham is dedicated lord Badri Vishal or Lord Vishnu Ji (Narayana). It is also one of the Char Dham's of India (other are Jagannath Puri, Rameshwar, Dwarika Dham). Located in the Chamoli Garhwal district in the Uttarakhand. Here you can reached by road transportation and the temple is situated at the bank of Alaknanda River.

Best Time to Visit Char Dham

The Char Dham temples open in summer (April-May) and close in winter (October-November) due to heavy snowfall. The best time to visit is May to June and September to October when the weather is pleasant. During Monsoon in July- August Month, it's heavy rainfall here and due to landslide in some region, it becomes not suitable for travel. May and June when summer is on top, you can visit but it's also very rush time because everyone wanted to visit during summer. Sept is good but can be rainy sometime, but October month is perfect for Char Dham Yatra.

How to Reach Char Dham?

Char Dham Yatra can be reached by different modes of transportation. But Trains and Flights are not available in the Dham places, so road transportation is best option, but other premium option is by Helicopter by it can be pricey and issue of availability sometime. Let's find out how to reach Char Dham Yatra.

By Air: - The Nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun, which is about 250+ Kms from all the Dhams, but the airport is connected with many cities, so one can easily reach here by all over India and then choose cab option.

By Train: - The nearest Railway Station is Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun, from here you can take taxi, bus to visit Char Dham temples. There are many daily trains available from different big cities of India to reach Haridwar or Rishikesh.

By Road: - The best option is by road to visit Char Dham Yatra, every place is well connected with road transportation and many buses, taxi and private cab options are available from Haridwar. You can book a taxi to Char Dham Yatra from us.

By Helicopter: - You can also visit the Char Dham temples by Helicopter. The service is available from Dehradun to Dehradun for 4 Nights and 5 Days with minimum price of 220000/- per person. You can send us query regarding booking of a helicopter for Char Dham Yatra.

Route Map for Char Dham Yatra

The Char Dham journey starts from Haridwar or Rishikesh, where first you can dip into the holy Ganga River and then start your journey towards Yamunotri Dham.

You can follow this route for Char Dham: -

  • Yamunotri Dham: - Haridwar - Mussoorie - Barkot -  Jankichatti - Yamunotri Dham
  • Gangotri Dham: - Barkot - Uttarkashi - Netala - Gangnani - Gangotri Dham
  • Kedarnath Dham: - Uttarkashi - Chamiyala - Tehri - Tilwara - Guptkashi - Sonprayag - Gaurikund - Kedarnath Dham
  • Badrinath Dham: -  Guptkashi - Rudraprayag - Karanprayag -  Pipalkoti - Joshimath - Badrinath Dham
  • Back to Haridwar or Rishikesh via same route from Rudraprayag - Srinagar - Devprayag - Rishikesh - Haridwar

Accommodation & Food

There are many dharamshalas, hotels, and government guesthouses (GMVN) available along the route. It is advisable to book in advance during peak season because it can be very rush during peak season in May June month. Simple vegetarian food is available at local eateries and temples. If you want us to book your trip or accommodation in Char Dham places, then you can send us query and get the best of accommodations.

Things to Carry

  • Warm clothes (even in summer, temperatures drop at night)

  • Comfortable trekking shoes for Trek to Yamunotri and Kedarnath Dham

  • First-aid kit & personal medicines, also available with Your cab.

  • Raincoat & umbrella

  • Torch, power bank, and extra batteries

  • Valid ID proof like Aadhar Card

    Important Travel Tips

    • Start early to avoid crowding at temples.

    • Book helicopter services in advance if you have elderly members traveling.

    • Carry cash as ATMs may not be available in remote areas.

    • Respect local customs and maintain cleanliness.

    • Follow COVID-19 guidelines (if applicable) and carry masks & sanitizers.

      Conclusion

      The Char Dham Yatra is a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual journey that brings peace and divine blessings. With proper planning, you can complete this pilgrimage smoothly and make unforgettable memories. So, pack your bags and get ready for this sacred adventure!

      For more travel tips and updates, stay tuned to our blog!