The Char Dham Yatra is one of the significant Hindu pilgrimages. It is a widespread belief that by undertaking this journey, one can cleanse themselves of all their sins and attain salvation. The Chardham Yatra places include four godly spots – Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. Each of these sites is in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand and is exceptionally sacred.
Badrinath is the site of the temple of Lord Vishnu, while Kedarnath is the site of the temple of Lord Shiva.
Gangotri is the source of the River Ganga.
At the same time, Yamunotri is the origin of the River Yamuna.
Usually, people undertake the Char Dham Yatra between April and October when favorable conditions exist.
However, the journey can be pretty challenging, as it involves a lot of trekking at high altitudes. Despite the difficulties, undertaking the Char Dham Yatra is an essential religious duty for Hindus.
Moreover, it is a prevalent view that one can wash away all their wrongdoings and achieve salvation by this yatra.
If you plan to visit the temples in Chardham Yatra, then LIH Travels offers you Chardham Yatra by helicopter to have a safe and comfortable visit of the Chardham Yatra places. The helicopter tour will be the best option for elderly ones who can’t climb through the high-altitudes yet want to experience spirituality.
Kedarnath
One of the most sacred and revered Hindu pilgrimage sites in India and the Chardham yatra places, Kedarnath is located in the state of Uttarakhand in the Himalayan mountains.
Moreover, the site is home to the Kedarnath Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples dedicated to the deity Shiva.
Some say that the Pandavas, the main characters in Mahabharata, constructed the Kedarnath temple during their exile.
The temple is the site of Shiva’s samadhi or final resting place. Kedarnath is also the site of the great battle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
The Kedarnath Temple, one of the holy Chardham Yatra places, is a pilgrimage site for Hindus, and thousands of pilgrims visit every year.
However, the temple is open for six months of the year, from April to November. The region experiences heavy snowfall. Moreover, Kedarnath is also home to several other temples and shrines, making it a sacred and holy site.
Badrinath
Badrinath is a town in Uttarakhand and is one of the Chardham yatra places.
Amongst the Chardham yatra places, Badrinath at 3,133 meters (10,279 feet) is located in the Garhwal Himalayas. The town sits within the Nar and Narayana mountain ranges.
The place is home to the Badrinath Temple, one of the 108 Divya Desams, the holiest of Hindu temples dedicated to Vishnu. It revived as a place of pilgrimage through Adi Shankara in the ninth century. It was a popular pilgrimage site for Hindus living in the Himalayan region in the medieval period.
Badrinath is one of the temples in Chardham Yatra dedicated to the God Vishnu and is one of the Panch Badri.
The temple features the Dravidian style of architecture and is one of the tallest temples in India, measuring 66.44 meters (218.1 ft) from the ground to the top of the dome. It has three main entrances, the main entrance being the eastern gate.
The temple is in a natural cave, enlarged and embellished by the Gurjara-Pratihara kings of Kashmir in the 8th-9th centuries. The temple’s main shrine is in the form of a Garbhagriha, or sanctum sanctorum, which houses the image of Badri-Vishal, a black stone statue of Vishnu in the form of Badrinath.
The figure is 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) high and sits in a meditative posture on a five-headed snake called Shesha. Moreover, the statue is adorned with a gold crown and a gold garland. Several other shrines and temples within the complex are dedicated to various deities such as Lakshmi, Ganesh, and Shiva.
The temple complex also has several other buildings, including a kitchen, a dining hall, and a guest house. Further, various hot springs surrounding the temple possess curative properties.
Gangotri
The next Chardham yatra places include Gangotri.
Gangotri is a small town in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and is the gateway to the Char Dham pilgrimage. It is situated at an elevation of 3,100 meters (10,200 ft) in the Garhwal Himalayas and is about 300 kilometres (190 mi) from the state capital of Dehradun.
The town’s name is after the sacred river Ganges which originates from the Gangotri Glacier and is one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites.
The glacier is approximately 30 km (19 miles) in length and 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) wide, and it is the largest of the Himalayas. The glacier is located there from here that the river Ganges runs down into the plains of India.
Apart from Chardham yatra places, Gangotri is a popular tourist destination. Moreover, it is also the base camp for trekkers who wish to trek to the source of the River Ganges.
So, the ideal time to travel to Gangotri is between May and October, during the months when temperatures are pleasant, and the snow is melting.
Yamunotri
Yamunotri, a sacred Hindu pilgrimage, includes visits to four holy sites in the Indian Himalayas. The temple of Yamunotri is about goddess Yamuna and is at 3,293 m (10,804 feet) within the Garhwal Himalayas.
There are many fascinating locations to explore around this Chardham yatra place. Wondering for what to see in Chardham yatra? Here are a few. Surya Kund is a beautiful hot spring with maximum temperatures of 88 degrees. At Surya Kund hot spring, devotees boil rice and potatoes as a gift to the sacred Goddess.
Further, the Saptarishi Kund, Yamuna’s birthplace, is famous for its exquisite Brahma Lotuses, which blossom yearly. Yamunotri is the starting point for some spectacular treks, such as the Dodital and Yamunotri treks.
The temple at Yamunotri is only accessible by foot, and the trip can be pretty challenging. However, the stunning scenery and the feeling of being in such a holy place make it all worth it.
Conclusion
So, these are the Chardham yatra places you will visit during the Dham. Book a package with LIH Travels to get the best of the Chardham Yatra.
