Char Dham Yatra 2019: Doors To Open On Following Dates

Uttrakhand: The popular Char Dham yatra of ‘Devbhoomi’ Uttrakhand, will commence soon in May. While Yamunotri and Gangotri shall open on May 7, Kedarnath and Badrinath will open on May 9 and May 6 respectively. The land of god will be flocked by devotees and followers from across the country to witness the grand celebration of the four lords.

These four pilgrim destination, placed gently in the laps of greater Himalaya, or Himadri, are important hubs of religious travel in North India. According to Hindu scriptures, the tour begins from the West and ends in the East. People start their ‘dhaam’ from Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and finish at Badrinath. It is believed a tour through these four pilgrimages washes away the sins of anyone visiting them with pure belief and devotion.

Here’s all you need to know about the four pilgrim destinations of Uttrakhand:

Yamunotri- Dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, daughter of Yama, this goes up to a high altitude to Rawai valley. Facing the majestic Bandarpunch peak, Yamunotri is a sight to behold when thousands of devotees chant together the hymns and names. People take a holy dip in Divya Shila, or the hot spring emerging out of a dark rock. Since Yamuna is Yama’s (God of death) daughter, it is believed, bathing in the river blesses a person with protection from untimely death. At 3235 meters in Uttarkahi district, the temple area is usually cold and the maximum temperature is 20 degrees during May-June.

Gangotri- As suggests the name, Gangotri is dedicated to goddess Ganga in Uttarkahi district at a height of about 3415 meters. The shrine here overlooks river Bhagirathi, originating from Gomukh. The name Bhagirathi comes from the mythological story wherein King Bhagirath paid penance and came down onto the Earth from heaven. The king meditated here to summon Ganga, who was fierce but mischievous. Lord Shiva took her within the knots of his ‘Jata’ or hair from which she drops down on the Earth. Interestingly, Ganges gets the name only after the confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda at Devprayag.

Kedarnath- A Lord Shiva temple, Kedarnath is a part of the ‘Panch Kedar’ and the northern-most Jyotirlinga in Rudraprayag district of Uttrakhand. It stands at the height of 3583 meters, close to the source of river Mandakini. It is believed, Adi Shankarcharya attained nirvana, or ‘samadhi’ close to Kedaranath. The Kedarnath peak peeps from behind the temple, presenting a mesmerizing view to the people.

Badrinath- Nestled beautifully amid Neelkanth peak and the Nar-Narayan mountain, Badrinath is a Vishnu temple. Situated on the banks of river Alaknanda, this temple is vibrant with colours all pouring in and the greater Himalayas offering a breathtaking view! It is believed that Lord Vishnu meditated here while goddess Laxmi, his consort, took the form of a berry (badri) tree to offer him shade.  It beautifies the Chamoli district at 3415 meters height and also houses a hot spring ‘Tapt Kund’ considered very sacred.

Interested in the holy ‘Char Dhaam’ yatra? Book with us for an enriching, immersive experience this pilgrim season!