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.

The Chardham Yatra typically starts from the town of Rishikesh or Haridwar, both of which are situated in the state of Uttarakhand, India.

Rishikesh is located about 220 kilometers from the town of Yamunotri, the first shrine in the Chardham circuit. From Rishikesh, one can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Yamunotri. Alternatively, one can also take a helicopter ride from Rishikesh to Kharsali, which is the nearest helipad to Yamunotri.

Haridwar is located about 250 kilometers from Gangotri, the second shrine in the circuit. From Haridwar, one can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Gangotri. Helicopter services are also available from Dehradun to Harsil, which is the nearest helipad to Gangotri.

Kedarnath, the third shrine in the circuit, is accessible by a trek of about 14 kilometers from the town of Gaurikund. Gaurikund is located about 212 kilometers from Gangotri and can be reached by hiring a taxi or taking a bus from Gangotri or Haridwar. Helicopter services are also available from Phata or Guptkashi to Kedarnath.

Finally, Badrinath, the last shrine in the circuit, can be reached by a road journey of about 298 kilometers from Kedarnath. Helicopter services are also available from Guptkashi to Badrinath.

It is important to plan the itinerary well in advance and make necessary arrangements for transportation and accommodation, especially during the peak season.

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.

As there is no road access, pilgrims have to undertake the challenge of trekking to reach this holy place of pilgrimage. The hike from Gaurikund to Kedarnath covers a distance of 14 kilometers.

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 nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, located approximately 238 kilometers away. From there, you can either travel by a bus or hire a car.

Road: The nearest point for hiking to Kedarnath is Gaurikund, which is well-connected by both intrastate and interstate buses.

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: As motor vehicles cannot reach Yamunotri Temple, Hanuman Chatti, which is located 14 kilometers away, serves as the starting point. For those who prefer different modes of transportation, horses and ponies are available.

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 May & close on October .

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.