Uttarakhand is an abode to many gods, with temples across Uttarakhand. Chardham yatra in Uttarakhand is the most popular Hindu pilgrimage site in India, and it welcomes lakhs of devotees throughout the year. So the 4 Dhams- Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri, are in the Garhwal region. Moreover, these four ancient holy sites are a source of 4 sacred rivers, Mandakini, Alaknanda, Ganga, and the Yamuna.
People believe that who visits the sacred sites of Chardham yatra to attain salvation. The Chardham is a clockwise orientation beginning from Yamunotri, forward Gangotri, then Kedarnath, and completes at Badrinath. As they are at high altitudes, the Chardham shrines remain closed for six months a year. The shrines open in summer near may and closes in October or November.
Kedarnath
Between the cosmic snow-capped mountain of the scenic Garhwal region in Uttarakhand stands the holiest pilgrimage in North India, Kedarnath, and one of the dhams in Chardham yatra in Uttarakhand. Known for the ancient Lord Shiva temple, The Kedarnath Yatra offers its unruffled beauty with its alpine forests, snow-covered mountains, and vibrant hue of rhododendrons.
Lakhs of tourists visit the Kedarnath pilgrim, the part of Chardham Yatra Uttarakhand tourism to seek the blessing and cherish the untouched scenic beauty of the sacred city located at 11,775 ft above sea level. Further, the holiness, devotion and adventure it offers make Kedarnath unique and nonpareil.
So this idyllic tourist spot has an ancient history associated with Pandavas. Because they were guilty of slaughtering their blood, the Pandavas sought the blessings of Lord Shiva following the Kurukshetra battle. To evade the Pandavas at Kedarnath, Lord Shiva acquired the appearance of a bull to conceal himself. Lord, seeing their approach, resolved to become invisible by burrowing underground. Furthermore, Bhima, one of the Pandavas, realized and made great efforts to stop him. Lord descended into the ground, leaving the hump on the surface, now known as the Kedarnath temple.
Kedarnath is much more than just a holy site in the Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand. Its idyllic backdrop of the Garhwal Himalayas region and yet-to-exploit scenes bestowed with magnificent panoramic views of nature offers the viewers an irresistible feeling.
Further, Kedarnath Temple, Chorabari Tal, Gauri Kund, Chopta, and Vasuki Tal are a few tourist places near Kedarnath on your Chardham in Uttarakhand that one must not miss during your visit there.
Badrinath
The town of Badrinath is located along the river Alaknanda in the Chamoli district at an elevation of 10,170 feet above sea level. Badrinath is an abode of Lord Vishnu and is amongst the holiest of sacred shrines in Chardham Yatra and ChotaChardham yatra in Uttarakhand.
So the town is between Nar and Narayan peaks, and Adi Shankaracharya first founded the Badrinath temple. Additionally, there are many legendary tales associated with Badrinath Dham.
One story says that when Lord Vishnu came here to meditate, he was unaware of the weather conditions. To protect him from the sun, his wife, Goddess Laxmi formed a Badri tree. Seeing her devotion, he was pleased and named the spot after Badrikashram. Another legend states that when Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati meditated in Badrinath, Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a kid to disrupt them by crying out loud. When Goddess Parvati confronted him about this behavior, Lord Vishnu said he wanted to meditate here. Learning about Vishnu’s disguise, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati left the place to go to Kedarnath. Additionally, there are many other legendary tales related to Badrinath.
Badrinath is more than a pilgrim site; tourists worldwide come here to witness the most stunning and adventurous places in Uttarakhand. Apart from Badrinath Temple, there are many tourist spots in Badrinath like Neelkanth Peak, Tapt Kund, Brahma Kamal, Nanda Devi National Park, and Vasudhara Falls.
Gangotri
Gangotri is a small town nestled in the Garhwal mountain peaks and glaciers of Uttarakhand and is amongst the Chardham in Uttarakhand. It is one of the highest pilgrim sites in India. The town is famous for the Gangotri temple, dedicated to Goddess Ganga. Apart from it, the Gangotri is prominent for its scenic beauty.
So according to legends, Goddess Ganga changed herself in the river to cleanse the sins of humans, but the Earth couldn’t withstand her descent upon it. Lord Shiva gathered her into his locks and released the river Ganga from his locks. Hence, the river originated from the Gangotri glacier and is known as Bhagirathi.
Yamunotri
The Yamunotri town is along the River Yamuna, the second most sacred river after River Ganga. It is located at an elevation of 3239 meters above sea level and near the Indo-China border. The Yamunotri is the first site in Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand.
The famous Yamunotri temple was first constructed by Naresh Sudarshan Shah, king of Tehri, in 1839, and Maharani Guleria of Jaipur later rebuilt it in the 19th century. Furthermore, the temple is not accessible by motor vehicle and has a trek of 6 kilometers starting at Janki Chatti.
So this is all about Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.
How To Reach Chardham?
So you can start Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand via road or opt for helicopter services from Dehradun. So following that, one can easily take public transport to reach their preferred destination and continue the trek.
- By Bus- One can take a bus from Haridwar, Dehradun, Rishikesh, or any major city of Uttarakhand. There are state buses, Volvo, and private taxis available.
- By Air- The nearest airport is in Dehradun, Jolly Grant Airport. One can have a flight to Dehradun from across India and choose to go further via road to Yamunotri.
- By Rail- Haridwar, and Dehradun have the nearest railway station to Chardham. If you wish to travel by rail, catch a train to either city and take a cab or bus to Yamunotri to begin your Chardham yatra in Uttarakhand.
Final Say
The Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand is challenging for any human, mentally and physically, so rest is essential throughout it. Additionally, the adverse weather condition and environment may alter the route of the Chardham yatra, so be prepared for it. If you’re planning to trek, then pack light.
