Char Dhaam

 

CHAR DHAM

Uttarakhand, also known as Devbhoomi or the Land of Gods, is home to numerous temples and welcomes devotees all year round. Among the countless religious sites and circuits that devotees visit in Uttarakhand, one of the most prominent is the Char Dham Yatra. This Yatra or pilgrimage is a tour of four holy sites - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath – nestled high up in the Himalayas. In Hindi, 'char' means four and 'dham' refers to religious destinations.

The high-altitude shrines remain shut for around six months every year, opening in summers (April or May) and closing with the onset of winter (October or November). It is believed that one should complete the Char Dham Yatra in a clockwise direction. Hence, the pilgrimage starts from Yamunotri, proceeds towards Gangotri, onto Kedarnath, and finally ends at Badrinath. The journey can be completed by road or by air (helicopter services are available). Some devotees even do a Do Dham Yatra or a pilgrimage to two shrines - Kedarnath and Badrinath.

The Yamunotri temple, lodged in a narrow gorge close to the source of River Yamuna (the second-most sacred Indian river after River Ganga) in Uttarkashi district, is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. The district of Uttarkashi is also home to Gangotri dedicated to Goddess Ganga, the most sacred of all Indian rivers. Located in the Rudraprayag district lies Kedarnath, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Badrinath, home to the sacred Badrinarayan Temple, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The Char Dham Yatra is as 

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A complete guide to Uttarakhand'a Char Dham Yatra 

BY UDIT SAH 

Uttarakhand's Char Dham Yatra holds a lot of religious significance for people belonging to the Hindu community. It is easily one of the most revered pilgrimage circuits of India; every year, routes to the four most sacred Hindu shrines in Uttarakhand (the Indian Himalayas) are opened at the same time for the pilgrims. These four Himalayan shrines are Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.

This year, the Char Dham Yatra has started with a boom and people are already making plans and registering themselves for the same.

On that note, here’s a complete guide to Char Dham Yatra for those interested in the pilgrimage.

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Understanding the importance of Char Dham Yatra

Also known as the Chota Char Dham Yatra, this pilgrimage circuit has a lot of religious significance in Hindu religion as it is believed that every Hindu must go on this pilgrimage once in their lifetime. People believe that Char Dham Yatra washes away sins and opens the gate of heaven.

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The four shrines

Haridwar is the beginning point of Char Dham Yatra. First stop on this pilgrimage is Yamunotri, second is Gangotri, followed by Kedarnath, and the pilgrimage ends at Badrinath. Also remember, following the sequence is believed to be quite important in the Char Dham Yatra.

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About Yamunotri Dham

People start with Yamunotri, which is set as the source of the Yamuna River and according to mythology, Yamuna is the sister of Yamraj. On the occasion of Bhai Dooj, he had promised his sister that whoever takes a dip in the river will not be taken to Yamlok and attain salvation. Therefore, Goddess Yamuna is prayed to here.

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About Gangotri Dham

Set at an elevation of 3200 m above sea level, the Gangotri Dham is second in the Yatra. The temple is situated at Gomukh, which is the source of the holy River Ganga. It is believed that taking a dip in the holy water of the Ganges washes away all the sins. Legend has it that King Bhagirath meditated here for a long time, after which Ganga appeared in the region. The temple features the stone on which he is believed to have meditated.

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About Kedarnath Dham

Kedarnath Temple is quite famous and one of the most significant shrines in the country. It is also one of the 12 jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva in India. Kedarnath, Kalpeshwar, Tungnath, Madmaheshwar and Rudranath temples together form the Panch Kedar pilgrimage of India.

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About Badrinath Dham

Last in the yatra comes the Badrinath Temple and also the most important of all four shrines. Set on the banks of Alakananda river, the temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Also, it is believed that Adi Shankaracharya attained salvation at the same place.

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Timing is important

Before embarking on the religious journey, do check preferable times to visit the shrines. The Char Dham Yatra mostly commences in April or May and ends in October or November, every year. Yatra’s peak time is generally in May and June, but you can comfortably plan around September to avoid the crowd and have an easier trip. So, do plan accordingly.