All You Need to Know About the Char Dham Yatra 2023

 

India is a land of pilgrimages. The devotion showcased by devotees in visiting these sacred spots shows how famous these destinations are, especially for devotees in India and tourists from around the globe. The Chardham Yatra, in the holy land of Uttarakhand, is one such pilgrimage. This Yatra, or pilgrimage, is ranked highly according to Hindu religious beliefs and is a must for devotees and people seeking spirituality.  

The Chardham yatra has two components, the Chota Chardham and the Bada Chardham. The Chota Chardham constitutes four holy spots- Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. These four sites, found on the peaks of the beautiful Himalayan ranges, are frequently visited between April and November, owing to extreme weather conditions at the hilltop during the rest of the months. This pilgrimage is highly popular in North India.

The Bada Chardham, on the other hand, consists of Dhamas of ultimate importance:

Badrinath, Rameswaram, Puri, and Dwarka. These four pillars of the Bada Chardham are located in one direction each: Badrinath in the North, Puri in the East, Rameshwaram in the South, and Dwarka in the West. It is usually a 12-15 days (about 2 weeks) journey that ideally starts from Badrinath.

One can take the Chardham Yatra package by MakeMyTrip.

 

Chota Chardham

This yatra is known to be the most auspicious yatra according to Hindu mythology. Ideally, it is said to be a good omen if the yatra is taken from the West to East direction, with the order as Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and then finally Badrinath. However, one can start from any of the holy spots, given the connectivity with major cities for all these four spots. Delhi serves as the nearest city, with all means of transport available, be it bus, taxi, or flight. The Chardham tour package offered by MakeMyTrip can make for a memorable journey on this pilgrimage. 

 

Yamunotri Dham

1. Amongst the beautiful landscapes of the Himalayas lies the abode of goddess Yamuna, the Yamunotri range, at a stunning height of 3293 meters. 
2. Being the starting point of the Chardham tour, the Yamunotri Dham attracts a lot of tourists, ranging between hundreds to thousands every year.
3. Apart from the Goddess Yamuna temple, the holy thermal springs at Janki Chatti serve as a major attraction. A dip in the holy Yamuna River is also considered highly auspicious. 
4. Some other nearby attractions are Surya Kund, Kharsali, Saptarishi Kund Lake, and Divya Shila.
5. The Yamunotri Dham opens on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya and closes on the Yama Tritiya.

 

Gangotri Dham

1. A small town centered around the Gangotri temple, the Gangotri Dham is yet another holy pilgrimage located on the banks of River Bhagirathi. 
2. According to mythological influence, this place is the origin of the river Ganga, which is considered one of the most sacred and pious rivers. The water of the river is said to be holy and is often used for Puja rituals. 
3. The city is well connected to cities like Rishikesh, Dehradun, and Uttarkashi.
4. The Gangotri temple opens on the holy day of Akshaya Tritiya and closes in mid-October. This also marks the closure of the Dham.

 

Kedarnath Dham

1. Kedarnath Dham is considered the ultimate pilgrimage for the worshippers of Lord Shiva. 
2. Amid the snow-clad peaks of the Himalayas and surrounded by the dense forests lies the Kedarnath temple, at a height of 3584 meters. Known to be the abode of Lord Shiva, this temple is located on the banks of the Mandakini River.
3. Nearby attractions from the Kedarnath Dham are Chorabari Tal, Gaurikund, and the Bhairav temple.
4. Apart from this, one can indulge in adventure activities such as trekking, camping, and rock climbing with snow-clad mountains in the background.
5. This Dham usually opens towards the end of April

 

Badrinath Dham

1. The last on the list of the holy Chardham is the picturesque town of Badrinath.
2. Considered an eminent abode of Lord Vishnu, the Badrinath Dham is located at a height of 3133 meters, in the Chamoli district.
3. Apart from the beautiful Badrinath temple, the Tapt Kund, Brahma Kapal, the Neelkanth Peak, and Mata Murti Mandir serve as major attractions.
4. It generally opens during April, with the closing dates around the Vijayadashami.

 

Bada Chardham Yatra

The Bada Chardham or the complete Chardham yatra is a pilgrimage that covers all four directions of India. The Chota Chardham is considered a part of this tour that has its four pillars in the form of the Badrinath Dham in Uttarakhand, Puri Dham in Odisha, Rameshawaram Dham in Tamil Nadu, and the Dwarkadeesh Dham in Gujarat. One often starts the tour from the North direction. The Chardham yatra tour package can be considered for this pilgrimage

 

Badrinath

1. A sacred town dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and basking in the shadow of the Nilakantha peak, Badrinath’s beauty amazes its devotees with the snow-clad mountains, holy rivers, and the beautiful Badrinath temple, located at a height of 10,279 ft.
2. It is a source of the Alaknanda River, and the picturesque landscape helps it attract millions of tourists.

 

Puri

1. It is one of the most popular and holy cities in the eastern region. It is widely known as the land of Lord Jagannath, a version of Lord Krishna.
2. It is a prominent pilgrimage spot, with goddesses like Lakshmi, Durga, Sati, Parvati, and Shakti.
3. The rath yatra, a chariot festival with a procession from the famed Jagannath Temple to Shri Gundicha Temple, is a holy festival attended by many devotees.
4. Apart from the temple, Puri is a popular tourist spot, with attractions like Puri Beach, which acts as a good picnic spot. 
5. One can also marvel at other temples in Odisha while enjoying the local delicacies and architecture.
6. The pleasant climate in the months leading from October to February is usually preferred by the pilgrims.

 

Rameshwaram

1. Located at the bottom of South India, Rameshwaram is the abode of Lord Shiva. It is the only Dham where Lord Shiva resides.
2. This Dham is right at the end of the Indian subcontinent towards Sri Lanka and has a mythological significance with Lord Rama.
3. Popularly known as the Varanasi of the South, it is of great importance for Vaishnavites and Shaivites.
4. While the Rameshwaram temple is the center of attraction, other temples related to Lord Hanuman are also famous.
5. The architectural brilliance of the temples in this town is widely appreciated.
6. The Dham is usually done in the period between October to April, because of the pleasant climate in the city.

 

Dwarka

1. Known as the city of Lord Krishna, the Dwarkadheesh temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, who is known as the king of Dwarka.
2. It is visited in large numbers during the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami
3. Along with a holy visit to the Dwarka temple, the yatra offers some interesting attractions, in the form of beaches, sacred lakes, colourful markets, and the cultural heritage of Gujarat.
4. Winter season is usually considered the peak season for the pilgrimage, with pleasant weather throughout the months, from October to March.