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Tucked away in the lap of the majestic Himalayas – the pilgrimage to the holy sites of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath is called the Char Dham Yatra.
Make your pilgrimage to Adani One and get amazing deals on domestic flights, hotels, trains and buses. Travel from any part of India to the gateway of Char Dham Yatra – Haridwar and embark on a spiritual journey like never before, with Adani One. You can avail of offers of Char Dham Yatra 2024 on Adani One till November 2024. Book your trip now to the mystical journey of Char Dham Yatra.
About Char Dham Yatra
Ever wondered why Uttarakhand is called Dev Bhoomi or the land of the gods? With countless religious sites, the state of Uttarakhand is visited by pilgrims all year long. And every year, during the months of May to November the state welcomes millions of religious tourists from across the country for the sacred Char Dham Yatra. The holy pilgrimage of Char Dham Yatra refers to the tour of the four holy sites - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. ‘Char’ means four in Hindi and ‘Dham’ is referred to as the religious destination.
There are two components of Char Dham Yatra -Chota Char Dham Yatra and Bada Char Dham Yatra. Chota Char Dham Yatra comprises of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. On the other hand, Bada Char Dham Yatra comprises of Badrinath, Rameswaram, Puri, and Dwarka. These four dhams are located in four different directions of India – Like Badrinath is located in the North, there’s Puri in the East, South there’s Rameshwaram and Dwarka in the West.
Offers & Discounts
Char Dham Yatra Route
If you want to embark on the Char Dham Yatra, we suggest you start your journey from Haridwar. You can book your train tickets to reach Haridwar from almost every major city in India. Alternatively, you can book your flight to Dehradun and drive down to Haridwar, which is about 50 km away. Given the hilly terrain of the Himalayas, buses or private vehicles are ideal to start your Char Dham Yatra.
One must complete the Char Dham Yatra in a clockwise direction. So, if you plan to do Char Dham Yatra 2024, then you must visit Yamunotri first, and then head towards Gangotri. After visiting Gangotri, you must do the trek to Kedarnath followed by the last stop of Char Dham Yatra - Badrinath.
Significance of Char Dham Yatra
Char Dham Yatra holds utmost importance in the Hindu religion. It is believed that completing Char Dham Yatra is a way to attain ‘moksha’, i.e. freedom from the eternal cycle of life, death and rebirth. It is believed that Shri Adi Shankaracharya, the great Hindu philosopher from the 8th century, first coined the term ‘Char Dham’, which translates to the four abodes of God or Holy Destinations.
Hindu beliefs state that the Badrinath Dham is the place where Lord Vishnu meditated for thousands of years under a tree. To protect him from adverse weather conditions, Goddess Lakshmi turned herself into a berry tree to protect him. Given the Dham is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the place is shut off during the winter months due to heavy snowfall.
History of Char Dham Yatra
The origins of Char Dham Yatra are steeped in legend and Hindu tradition. Each of the four sacred sites – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, holds profound importance in Hindu mythology and culture. Yamunotri is the source of the river Yamuna and is associated with the goddess Yamuna. Gangotri, where the river Ganges originates, is believed to be the abode of the goddess Ganga. Considered one of the twelve jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, Kedarnath is steeped in the legend of Shiva granting salvation to Pandavas. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Badrinath is a revered site for meditation.
Char Dham Yatra by Helicopter
As the temples are situated at high altitudes and it takes long treks in hilly regions to reach the holy sites, the Char Dham Yatra can be difficult for senior citizens. Moreover, the unpredictable weather can increase the discomfort. To combat this, the Uttarakhand government has made it possible for the pilgrims to reach the temples via helicopters. Last year, the one-way fares from Phata were Rs 2750, and Shersi was Rs. Rs 2749 and Guptkashi were Rs 3870. The approximate time taken for the one-way journey is 10 minutes from Phata, 8 minutes from Shersi, and 15 minutes from Guptkashi.
Char Dham Yatra Registration
Char Dham Yatra registration can be done via easy and simple steps. Even though there is no fee for the registration of Char Dham Yatra, you must register with the concerned authorities. This is done to ensure proper safety, security & constant tracking of pilgrims.
Do make sure to keep your valid ID proof during your Char Dham Yatra. There are three modes of registration for the pilgrimage:
- Through web portal.
- Through the ‘Tourist Care Uttarakhand’ smartphone application (Android/iOS)
- Through WhatsApp. Send ‘YATRA’ to start a conversation about the registration on Mobile Number: +91 8394833833.
Char Dham Yatra 2024 Dates
Char Dham Yatra is largely dependent on the opening and closing dates of the temples. Usually, the pilgrimage season starts in April or May and is open till November. Below you can find the opening and closing dates for the Char Dham Yatra 2024. You will note that the Char Dham Yatra closing date is November 12, 2024, which can be changed depending on multiple factors like – weather conditions, the number of pilgrims visiting etc.
| Location | Opening Date | Closing Date |
|---|---|---|
| Gangotri Temple | May 10, 2024 | November 12, 2024 (tentative) |
| Yamunotri Temple | May 10, 2024 | November 12, 2024 (tentative) |
| Kedarnath Temple | May 12, 2024 | November 14, 2024 (tentative) |
| Badrinath Temple | May 12, 2024 | November 21, 2024 (tentative) |
Places to stay during Char Dham Yatra
Ways to reach Gangotri
- By Air: The nearest airport to Gangotri is in Dehradun, which is around 250 kilometres away. You can hire a taxi from the airport or take a bus to reach Gangotri via Uttarkashi.
- By Train: Rishikesh Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Gangotri. This is also around 250 kilometres away from Gangotri. You can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Gangotri via Uttarkashi.
- By Road: Thanks to a robust infrastructure, Gangotri is one of the well-connected holy sites to be connected by road from major cities like Dehradun, Rishikesh, and Haridwar. You can drive or take a bus from these cities to reach Gangotri via Uttarkashi.
Ways to reach Yamunotri
- By Air: You can reach Yamunotri by flying down to the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. You will be around 210 kilometres away from Yamunotri. So, you cover the remaining distance, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Hanuman Chatti, the base point for the trek to Yamunotri.
- By Train: If you are travelling via the Indian Railways, please note that the closest railway station to Yamunotri is the Rishikesh Railway Station, which is about 200 kilometres from Hanuman Chatti. You can either hire a taxi or take a bus from Rishikesh to reach Hanuman Chatti.
- By Road: Yamunotri is well connected to popular cities like Dehradun, Rishikesh, and Haridwar.
Ways to reach Kedarnath
- By Air: Just like the other Dhams of the Char Dham Yatra, the nearest airport to Kedarnath is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. We suggest you hire a taxi or take a bus to Sonprayag from Dehradun. Sonprayag is the base camp for the Kedarnath Trek.
- By Train: To reach Kedarnath via the Indian Railways, you need to reach Rishikesh Railway Station, which is the nearest railway station to Kedarnath. From Rishikesh, you can continue your journey by road to Sonprayag via Guptkashi.
- By Road: Kedarnath is a popular spot for trekking enthusiasts. People from major cities like Delhi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun among others travel to Sonprayag by road. The trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath is considered moderately challenging. The 16 kilometres trek can be completed on foot in 10-12 hours.
Ways to reach Badrinath
- By Air: To reach Badrinath by air, you need to arrive at the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun which is approximately 317 kilometres away. You can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Badrinath via Rishikesh, Joshimath, and Chamoli.
- By Train: The nearest railway station to Badrinath is the Rishikesh Railway Station, about 294 kilometres away. From Rishikesh, you can continue your journey by road to Badrinath via Joshimath and Chamoli.
- By Road: Badrinath is well-connected by road to the major cities of Uttarakhand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. There is some level of trekking involved during Char Dham Yatra even though some of the temples are on the motorable road.
- Yamunotri: A 6-kilometre basic trek is required to reach Yamunotri temple. You can do the same in 4-5 hours.
- Gangotri: You can reach the Gangotri temple via bus or private vehicle as the temple is accessible via motorable road.
- Kedarnath: This is the longest trek in the entire Char Dham Yatra. The Kedarnath Trek is around 16 kilometres long and will take about 10-12 hours to complete.
- Badrinath: The temple at Badrinath can be accessed by road. A very minimal trek is involved from the parking area to the temple.