How to Plan Chardham Tour
Meta description - The religious circuit covers Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. The itinerary starts from Haridwar and ends at Haridwar and Rishikesh. Plan har Dham Yatra with dates, best time, itinerary, important factors, accommodations and budget.
The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand is considered a religious circuit that covers four sacred shrines of God - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. The Char Dham yatra customarily commences from west to east, that is, it starts from Yamunotri and ends at Badrinath, with Gangotri and Badrinath covered in between. All four shrines are located amidst the snow-covered mountains and nature’s beauty is at its peak. It is considered that by visiting Char Dham temples one can attain moksha (salvation) and is quite significant among the Hindus. Each of the four temples is dedicated to Hindu Gods or Goddesses - Yamunotri and Gangotri shrines are built in reverence of River Goddess Yamuna and Ganga respectively. Kedarnath is the sacred shrine of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu is the presiding deity at Badrinath Dham. Several mythological stories are associated with the establishment of these four temples.
In order to set on the spiritual journey to Char Dham in Devbhoomi, thorough planning is necessary to cover the places.
1. Opening and closing dates of the pilgrimage
The doors of the Char Dham temple open on the day of Akshay Tritiya and close on the day of Bhai Dhuj, every year. If planning to embark on the Char Dham yatra, get sure of the dates of these two auspicious occasions. The tentative dates are declared on the websites to plan the journey beforehand.
2. Ascertain the best time to visit
The routes of Char Dham Yatra are open from April to November. Due to their location at an elevated height, the shrines and the route remain submerged under thick layers of snow. The best time to visit the Char Dham is April to June and the end of September to November. It is advisable to avoid the monsoon season for the pilgrimage, as there are high risks of floods and landslides.
3. Chalk out the itinerary
The yatra usually commences from Haridwar or Rishikesh. If planning the trip by air, the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun will be the starting point of the pilgrimage. Helicopter services are also available from Dehradun. The itinerary in short is as follows -
Haridwar → Barkot → Yamunotri → Barkot → Uttarkashi → Gangotri → Uttarkashi → Guptkashi → Sonprayag → Kedarnath → Guptkashi → Joshimath → Badrinath → Rudraprayag → Rishikesh.
Once done with the itinerary and the dates head toward the registration process for the yatra. Since 2014, the Indian Government has made it compulsory to register for the journey and it can be done both online and offline.
4. Factors to consider on Char Dham Yatra
There are several things to consider while planning for the Char Dham Yatra, such as what to pack, mental and physical preparation before the journey and the code of conduct to maintain during the pilgrimage.
It is advisable to get a health check-up done and a thumbs-up from the doctor before starting with the journey. Pack clothes according to the weather, but it is better to carry some woolen clothes even if the journey is during the summer months. Avoid consuming alcohol and non-vegetarian food during the pilgrimage, abide by the rules and regulations, and do not hurt anyone’s religious sentiments.
5. Search for the accommodation options
There’s nothing to worry about where to stay during Char Dham Yatra, as there are lodging options available in abundance, of all ranges, in the nearby areas of the sacred shrines.
En route to Yamunotri, pocket-friendly hotels are available at Janki Chatti, Hanuman Chatti, Barkot and Sayana Chatti.
On moving towards Gangotri, Uttarkashi, Harshil and Gaumukh has a number of accommodation facilities.
Lodging choices near Kedarnath are in plenty in Rudraprayag and Guptkashi along with Ukhimath, Phata, Sitapur, Chandrapur and Agastyamuni.
In Badrinath Joshimath and Govind Ghat are the perfect places to find a range of budget and luxury hotels.
6. Make an estimate of the expenditure
It takes 11-12 days to complete the Char Dham Yatra. Make a list of expenses for commuting, accommodation, food, and other necessities. If planning to opt for helicopter services, the budget line for the pilgrimage will also rise. Also, make a list of places to visit en route the Char Dham pilgrimage, so that the cost of visiting those tourist attractions will also be included.
