Where is Chardham?
Char Dham refers to the four sacred pilgrimage centres of the Hindus.
Nestled wonderfully in the lofty peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas in the state
of Uttaranchal are the four sacred places of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath
and Badrinath. Each of the four Dhams is endowed with phenomenal scenic
beauty and numerous ancient temples.
How will you gain access?
The closest airport is at Jolly Grant, Dehradun, which is around 249 km
from Rishikesh. All the four pilgrimage sites are well connected by road to
Rishikesh, Kotdwar, Dehradun and Haridwar.
What beckons devotees?
» Yamunotri
The shrine of Yamunotri, located at an elevation of 3,235 m, is dedicated
to Goddess Yamuna. Legend goes that Maharani Gularia of Jaipur erected the
temple of Yamunotri during the last decade of the 19th century. However the
temple suffered severe damages in 1923. It was rebuilt. And it was destroyed
once again in the year 1982. Moving 7 km away from Yamunotri, one arrives at
the famous Hot Water Pond. Here Prasad (A preparation of rice and potatoes)
is prepared for the deity. It is prepared by dipping rice and water into the
hot water, tied in cloth-bags.
» Gangotri
The holy shrine of Gangotri is perched at a height of 3,200 m. Legend has
it that Goddess Ganga took the form of a holy river to free King Sagar's
sons of their sins. And here Goddess Ganga is worshipped as a deity. Amar
Singh Thapa, a Gorkha General, who built the temple for the first time.
Later on the Maharaja of Jaipur got it rebuilt. Several thousands of
devotees visit the shrine every year. There are also located numerous
Ashrams on the other side of river Bhagirathi.
Other places of religious attractions are Gaumukh Glaciers (18 km from
Gangotri), Bhairavnath Temple, Nandanvan (6 km) and Kedartal (18 km).
» Kedarnath
The Kedarnath Shrine is located at a height of 3,581 m, with a wonderful
backdrop of the Kedarnath Range. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord
Shiva. The name Kedar is derived from Lord Shiva, the Protector and the
Destroyer. Apart from Kedarnath, there are four other places where Lord
Shiva is worshipped in his various manifestations. These four shrines along
with Kedarnath are termed as Panch Kedar.
» Badrinath
Situated at an altitude of 3,133 m, the holy shrine of Badrinath lies in
the lap of Narayan Parvat. It is considered to be one of the most sacred
Hindu shrine in India. Legend has it that Adi Guru Shankaracharya built four
pilgrimage centres in four corners of the country to enliven the vibrant
past of the Hindu religion.
The places of worship include Sri Badrinathji Temple, Neelkanth, Tapt Kund,
Brahma Kapil, Sheshnetra and Charanpaduka.
What is the best time?
May to October is the best time to visit the Char Dhams.
