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Char Dham Yatra: The Complete Guide to India's Most Holy Pilgrimage Journey

When you think about Uttarakhand, images of snow-capped mountains, clouds sweeping across valleys, sweeping meadows, pine woods, clear rivers and their confluences, and of course wandering ascetics come to mind. This state is a paradise for nature lovers and pilgrimages due to its geographical uniqueness and spiritual significance.

It is known as the Char Dham yatra to travel to the four sacred centres located in the Himalayas: Badrinath (the shrine of Lord Vishnu), Kedarnath (the shrine of Lord Shiva), Gangotri (the source of the Ganga River), and Yamunotri (the source of the Yamuna River). Indian and foreign tourists travel to this well-known circuit, which is accessible from May to November, to make pilgrimages and take in the magnificence of the Himalayas.

The Char Dham Yatra is one of the most revered pilgrimages in Hinduism and a great way to explore the beautiful Himalayan mountain range. It attracts thousands of pilgrims every year, but there are many questions that you may have regarding this yatra. So here we will try to answer some of the common questions that you may have regarding Char Dham Yatra and give you some tips on how you can plan your own trip.

Here is the perfect Char Dham Yatra itinerary for 10 days.

Day 1. Arrival | Haridwar to Barkot

Haridwar

·      Take a bus or taxi to Barkot from bus stand or available pickup point in Haridwar.

·      Fulfils check-in formalities after being transferred to the hotel.

·      Explore the tiny pilgrim village of Barkot.

·      To have dinner, go back to the hotel.

Day 2. Barkot - Janki Chatti - Yamunotri

Yamunotri

At a height of 3235 metres above sea level, Yamunotri is the first stop on the Char Dham Circuit and one of the Char Dhams. Between April and October, tens of thousands of people flock to the Yamunotri shrine dedicated to the goddess Yamuna. Pratap Shah, a Maharaja of Tehri Garhwal, built the Yamunotri temple. As the location of the Yamuna river's source, which is one of India's major rivers, the temple has special significance to Hindus.

Here's how the itinerary goes:

·      Have breakfast to start the day.

·      Drive to Yamunotri Dham, the birthplace of the Yamuna River, the second holiest river in India.

·      Reach Janki Chatti, the place from where the 7km trek starts for temple. You have the choice of a walk, pony, or palki.

·      Take a bath in Jamnabai Kund before starting the trek. It is said that the water It is thought that the water wash away all sins and protect from agonising death.

·      When you arrive at the temple, bow your heads to the mother Yamuna.

·      You can also visit the hot spring Surya Kund, which is close to the temple.

·      Trek back to Janki Chatti and drive to Barkot for the overnight stay.

Day 3. Barkot to Uttarkashi

Uttarkashi

Uttarkashi is situated at a height of 1352 m above sea level on the banks of the river Bhagirathi. Somya Kashi and Shivnagri are other names for Uttarkashi, which means "Kashi of the North" in literal terms. It is well-known for having an old Lord Shiva temple that attracts a large number of tourists every year. It is one of Northern India's oldest Shiva temples. High Himalayan peaks, lush meadows, and a number of hot springs surround it.

·      Take taxi or shared cab to Uttarkashi from Barkot.

·      Fulfils check-in formalities after being transferred to the hotel.

·      Visit Vishwanath temple.

·      After that visit Shakti Temple, it is well known for its large Trishul, which measures about 6 metres in height and 90 cm in circumstances. According to the epics, the goddess Durga threw this Shakti onto the demons.

·      To have dinner, go back to the hotel.

Day 4. Gangotri

A prominent pilgrimage site in India, Gangotri is located at an altitude of 3042 meters on the banks of Bhagirathi river. The Ganga, also known as Bhagirathi, rises from the Gangotri glacier. After the river crosses Devprayag and combines with the river Alaknanda, the name Ganga is given to it. The imposing presence of the nearby snow-covered mountains and the Ganges River's pristine, crystal-clear water flowing nearby add to the area's holiness. The local restaurants, or dhabas, serve vegan food, which is prevalent in the culture. Alcoholic beverages and non-vegetarian cuisine are strictly prohibited.

·      After breakfast, go for Gangotri via Gangnani.

·      Take a holy bath in Gangnani's Garam Kund.

·      Continue your journey to Gangotri via the stunning Harshil valley, which is renowned for its unspoiled beauty and commanding views of the Deodar trees and mountains.

·      On arrival at Gangotri, take a holy dip in the sacred river Ganges and attend the Aarti at the temple.

·      Drive back to the hotel and enjoy dinner.

Day 5. Guptkashi

Get up early and after breakfast take a transport to Guptkashi. Located in the Rudraprayag region of Uttrakhand's Garhwal Himalayas at an elevation of 1,319 metres, Guptakashi is a sizable town. You will see terraced fields, meadows on the mountain tops, Garhwal Himalayan peaks, and other sights throughout the route. Visit the Guptkashi temple and complete your biometric registration and verification at the GMVN office before beginning your journey to Kedarnath the next day.

·      View the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers' confluence in Devprayag.

·      Take lunch at Srinagar which is the best place in the Garhwal region.

·      When you arrive in Guptkashi, get transferred to the hotel and eat dinner there.

Day 6. Kedarnath

Kedarnath is one of the Char Dham in Uttarakhand and the most sacred pilgrimages of Lord Shiva. One of Lord Shiva's twelve Jyotirlingas, Kedarnath is located at an elevation of 3586 metres, surrounded by spectacular Himalayan peaks and close to the head of the Mandakini River. The Shiva Temple, a well-known Hindu shrine and place of pilgrimage that draws visitors from all over the world, is the main attraction in this area. Kedarnath can be accessed by Helicopter foot, mule or palki. Helicopter is available from Agastyamuni or Phata.

·      After breakfast at your Guptkashi hotel, take a transfer to Gaurikund, where the trek to the temple will begin.

·      Gaurikund is a distinctive pool with warm water that is renowned for curing skin conditions. There, Lord Shiva confessed his love for Lord Gauri.

·      After breakfast at the hotel, begin the journey from Gauri Kund to the Kedarnath shrine. The distance is roughly 17 kilometres.

·      Include the Kedarnath temple's evening aarti.

·      Drive back to Uttarkashi and enjoy your dinner

Day 7. Pipalkoti

·      After having your breakfast, start your journey to Pipalkoti.

·      Get transferred to Pipalkoti and complete the check-in formalities.

·      Go for local sightseeing in Pipalkoti.

·      Return back to the hotel and enjoy your dinner

Day 8. Badrinath

The most significant of all the Char Dhams, Badrinath Dham is a magnificent sight. Every year, thousands of tourists flock to this revered Badrinath town to seek blessings and view the shrine of Shri Badrinathji temple. Only Badrinath is a shrine that is included in both Chota Char Dham and India Char Dham. From May to September, the temple's access route for pilgrims is open.

·      Visit Mana village first for local sightseeing before moving on to Badrinath Temple.

·      Explore the pilgrim town of Badrinath.

·      Include the Kedarnath temple's evening aarti.

·      Get transferred to the hotel and enjoy your dinner.

Day 9. Pipalkoti to Rishikesh

Sightseeing and activities at Rishikesh.

Along the confluence of the Ganga and Chandrabhaga Rivers, Rishikesh is situated in the Himalayan foothills. Rishikesh is renowned as the "Yoga Capital of the World" and for its adventurous activities, historic temples and popular cafes.

Day 10. Haridwar

Sightseeing at Haridwar

Haridwar is a historic holy city and the gateway to Char Dham. It is a popular travel destination because of its extensive mythical past, stunning temples, and the world-famous Kumbh Mela.

On the final day visit Haridwar's famous temples Mansa Mata, Chandi Mata mandirs and other places of worship. You may end your day with some delectable regional cuisine after taking in the famous Ganga aarti at Har ki Pauri in the evening.

Therefore, I am confident that this itinerary will be helpful to you if you're planning a char dham yatra for yourself or your parents any time soon. Everyone should make this journey at least once during their lifetime. The Char Dham Yatra will take your breath away with its amazement and beauty as you see the presence of God and the greater force in the middle of snow-capped mountains and intriguing tales circling around the existence of all the ancient temples.

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