Dham should I visit first? The Chardham Yatra follows an order for a reason, and each of these four sites has particular importance.

• Let’s start with the Yamunotri Dham, located near the River Yamuna’s source. Given that Yamuna is Yamraj’s sister in Hindu mythology, he had promised her on Bhai Dooj that everyone who bathes in the river will not be transported to Yamlok and will thereby find redemption. The pilgrimage to this temple, which houses Goddess Yamuna, is the furthest to the west in Uttarakhand’s Garhwal area. 




• Gomukh, which is thought to be the River Ganga’s source, is where the Gangotri Dham is situated. Considering the River Ganga to be the wellspring of holiness and cleanliness, pilgrims take a plunge to wash away their sins and accept righteousness.




• In addition to being one of the most significant shrines of the Chardham Yatra, the Kedarnath Dham is also regarded as one of Lord Shiva’s twelve jyotirlingas, which gives it such great significance among pilgrims. 




• The Chardham Yatra’s last stop, Badrinath Dham, is regarded as the holiest of the four shrines in this circuit of pilgrimage.

The parikrama (rotation) that Hindus perform is always done in a clockwise orientation, going from left to right. So, Yamunotri is the first place visited, followed by Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. We go to Badrinath at the end because that is where one achieves Moksha.

Only six months out of the year are the sacred Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand open up to the public. The temples are open each year between April and November. Akha Teej, also known as Akshaya Tritiya, is an auspicious day that determines the opening dates. In contrast, the Vijay Dashami, Bhai Dooj, and Diwali celebrations impact the closure dates. The Hindu calendar, Panchang, is considered for determining the dates. The Kedar-Badri Mandir Samiti and the committee for the Char Dham temple often announce the dates.

Yamunotri Temple Hours of Operation

Goddess Yamuna is honored in the Yamunotri Dham. When the temple gates open for Yatris on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya, it is when Yamunotri Temple officially opens (pilgrims). The auspicious festival of Bhai Dooj and Yamunotri Dham’s closure date are linked.

Dates of Gangotri Temple’s Opening and Closing

Another Dham devoted to Goddess Ganga is the Gangotri Temple. On the blessed festival of Akshay Tritiya, the temple welcomes visitors.

Opening & Closing Times for the Kedarnath Temple

Many thousands of followers travel to Kedarnath Temple, one of Lord Shiva’s most famous temples, to ask for his blessings. Get Kedarnath Yatra tickets for Indian Holiday if you also wish to participate.

Opening & Closing Times for the Badrinath Temple

Badrinath Temple, a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is a more revered Dham in Uttarakhand. Basant Panchmi and Dussehra Eve (Vijaya Dashami), respectively, determine the opening and closing dates for the Badrinath Temple. Due to the significant snowfall, the temple is only accessible for six months of the year.

To reach the four holy places, travelers must first travel to Haridwar, which serves as the Chardham Yatra’s starting point. They begin their pilgrimage in Yamunotri, continue to the well-known Gangotri, then to Kedarnath Dham, and end at Badrinath Dham.

The best and shortest way to finish the Char Dham Yatra is by traveling by flight and then hiking. Starting your religious tripin the holy city of Haridwar is the ideal option. The yatra, which might last six days, can also be started at Dehradun. Another option is to begin the yatra in Delhi. However, there are a few advantages to

starting a yatra

that you may take advantage of from Delhi, including:

• At your convenience, you can take a train, an aircraft, or a road trip.
• There are several firms and travel brokers available who provide different package deals.
• There are tour guides available as well.
• You can use the budget you have available to arrange your trip.

Starting the journey in your home city is another option. You only need to contact the closest travel agency to discuss finances and amenities. Thus, the decision to

start the Chardham yatra

rests with you. Before your trip, double-check that you have your travel tickets and your medical records. Determine where to begin the adventure based on your options and budget.

With the versatile

Chardham Yatra

package, it is feasible to complete the Char Dham yatra in 6 days and get blessings at all four holy locations.

Day 1:

Getting to Dehradun Arriving in Dehradun marks thebeginning of your Char Dham Yatra

. In addition to relaxing in your hotel, you may explore the resort’s neighborhood. Dehradun hotel stays for the night.

Day 2

: Dehradun, Kharsali, Yamunotri, and Kharsali.In the morning, finish the check-out procedures, then head to Sahastradhara Helipad to board the helicopter to Kharsali. Embark on your Yamunotri excursion. Request the blessings of Goddess Yamuna upon arriving at the Yamunotri Temple.

Day 3:

Gangotri – Kharsali – Harsil To get on the helicopter, proceed to the helicopter base in Kharsali. Afterward, depart towards Gangotri Dham. Return to Harsil after receiving Darshan at the Gangotri Temple.

Day 4:

Sersi, Kedarnath Dham, Harsil, and Sersi Obtain a helicopter ride to Sersi by arriving at the Harsil helipad. The helipad in Sersi is where you should go if you want to take a helicopter to Kedarnath Temple. Consult Lord Shiva at the Kedarnath Temple for his blessings. Sersi hotel overnight stay.

Day 5

: Sersi to Badrinath To go to Badrinath, take the airplane. Take a look-see at the Badrinath Temple. The hotel in Badrinath is where you’ll spend the night.

Day 6:

the end of the Chardham Yatra In the morning, go to the helipad to catch the airplane. The Sahastradhara helipad is where you will arrive. You can then head to the train or airport to continue your travel.

On this tour, there are a lot of religious sites where you will need help to drive past the permitted point. To complete the remaining distance from there, you must walk. Therefore being physically fit for the Chardham tour is very required. Otherwise, you risk developing health issues. Before going on this voyage, work on your physical fitness by doing daily jogging, warm-up exercises, meditation to improve your mental health, etc. Drink lots of water before your hike and bring several packets of ORS, which carefully maintain your body’s water level to prevent dehydration from occurring from ascending routes.

Every pilgrim who is older than 50 years old must get a medical examination and, upon request, provide the authorities with their medical certificate. Each pilgrim should also use a biometric registration system to track how many people visit the Dham sites. With the need to cope with high altitude sickness, vertigo, high blood pressure issues, etc., medical certifications guarantee that you are prepared to travel. The authorities will only need you to give them a medical or fitness certificate if you choose to go on a helicopter tour to Char Dham. You must undergo a biometric registration to comply with tight government regulations. 

Therefore, before starting on the Chardham yatra, you need to build your stamina. Bring fruits with you on your yatra to maintain your physical stamina. Exercise lowers your risk of getting sick, and you may build up your physical stamina at home with a routine. Your body stays in shape via walking, which helps build leg strength. You can begin 30 minutes of brisk walking and jogging a month before your Char Dham yatra.

April through the first half of June are the best months to visit Char Dham. This season spans the early and middle summers when the weather in Char Dham is suitable for travel. It is advised to avoid visiting Char Dham from June to September since the terrain is dangerous and prone to landslides.

Winter

Typically, winters extend from November through March. The Darshan is halted due to the shallow temperatures and heavy snowfall. Following the Hindu holiday of Akshaya Tritiya, the Char Dham sanctuaries are immediately opened in the spring. Extremely unpredictable and ever-changing is the Himalayan climate. It is appropriate to wisely research the best spell to cast to make the challenging journey to Char Dham. Visitors who want a safer journey might instead hire a helicopter service.

Summer

After a rigorous winter, summer in the foothills is beautiful, with the gorges in bloom and a wide variety of vegetation. Kedarnath and Badrinath temple visits are ideal during this time of year. Since Gangotri and Yamunotri are higher up, summer starts at the end of April. Even in the summer, it makes sense to be well dressed because temperatures decrease after nightfall. The average temperature ranges from 20 to 35 °C.

Monsoon

Rainfall begins in Char Dham towards the end of June and lasts through September. Landslides and floods are frequent after heavy rains because of overflowing rivers. Travel is thus not advised during these months. It is better to go again from mid-September to mid-November. After an excessively wet season and just before the harsh winter descends, the valleys are rich with vegetation. The average temperature ranges from 10 to 20 °C.

Due to the lack of road access, pilgrims must overcome the ostrongstacle of trekking to reach this pilgrimage. From Gaurikund, it is a 14-kilometer hike.

Train: The closest train station, Rishikesh, is 216 kilometers away from Kedarnath. You may take a taxi or a castrong from the train station to Gaurikund.

Air: The closest airport, Jolly Grant Airport, is 238 kilometers away. You can get to your location strongy strongus or a castrong.

Road: The closest hiking distance from Kedarnath is Gaurikund, which is serviced strongy intrastate and interstate stronguses.

Air: Yamunotri is around 6 kilometers from Kharsali, where you may catch an exceptional helicopter service that departs from Dehradun.

Rail: The closest train stations are Rishikesh, around 200 kilometers away, and Dehradun, 172 kilometers away. 

Road: strongecause Yamunotri Temple cannot stronge reached strongy motor vehicles, Hanuman Chatti, 14 kilometers away, serves as the starting point. There are horses, palanquins, and ponies for those who prefer a different transportation mode.

Air: Special helicopter flights are available from Dehradun to Harsil; however, because Harsil is 25 kilometers away from Gangotri, you would need to go there by road.

Rail: At a distance of 114 kilometers, Dehradun is the closest railway station. You may also travel to Rishikesh or Haridwar, which have decent train connections, as an alternative.

Road: Buses run to Gangotri from Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, and other Uttarakhand towns. There are no buses on the 25-kilometer road between Kedarnath and Gangotri. The most excellent option here is a taxi.

Air: If you’d rather avoid driving, you can use the Chardham helicopter service, which also offers trips to Badrinath.

Rail: The closest train stations to Badrinath are Kotdwar (146 km) and Ramnagar (154 km). You may go to Badrinath from Haridwar or Rishikesh, which has superior train connections, for greater ease and connectivity.

Road: From Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun, and other significant cities in Uttarakhand, Badrinath is easily accessible by road. There are direct bus connections from Gaurikund to Badrinath if you travel there after seeing Kedarnath.

Char Dham yatra opens on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya of Chaitya month and remains open until Bhai Dooj. The complete yatra will take you 11 to 12 days. If time permits, there are a lot of other diversions such as Gaumukh, Tapovan, Along valley, Bhauravnath Temple, Vasuki Tal, Chopta, Auli, and Hemkund Sahib.

However, May and June is the best time to plan for Char Dham Yatra as it becomes comfortable due to pleasant climatic conditions. Chardham Yatra will start on April & close on October (tentative).

No Age Limit.

The starting point of Chardham Yatra is Haridwar, from where pilgrims begin their journey to the four holy shrines. First, they visit Yamunotri, then to the famous Gangotri, followed by the Kedarnath Dham, and finally fishing the pilgrimage at the Badrinath Dham.

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.