Chardham Yatra,is an important Hindu pilgrimage circuit in the Indian Himalayas. Located in the Garhwal region of the state of Uttarakhand , the circuit consists of four sites—Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.
Gangotri- Yamnotri- Badrinath - Kedarnath
Gangotri
Located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, Gangotri is the origin of the holy Hindu river Ganges.
The pilgrimage to Gangotri is a part of the Char Dham Yatra and is considered one of the most sacred pilgrimage tours in India
One reason why you must visit the beautiful town is because of its temple,Gangotri, which is the highest and the most renowned temple of mata Ganga.
It is the highest and the most important temple of River Ganga. The river is called Bhagirathi at the source and acquires the name Ganga from Devprayag onwards where it meets the Alaknanda.
According to Hindu mythology, Gangotri is the place where river Ganga descended from heaven when lord Shiva released the mighty river from his luscious locks. Gangotri is the home of many ashrams, shirnes and temples. The city is also the starting point for some treks route like Tapovan, Bhojwasa, Gaumukh, Gangotri Glacier, Gangotri National Park, Shivling Peak, etc. Some of the tourist attractions in and around the place are Dodi Tal, Kerdartal, Bhagirathi Shila, Pandava Gufa, Bhairon Ghati, etc.
Yamnotri
Located at an impressive altitude of 3293 meters from the sea level, Yamunotri lies next to the Indo Chinese border. It is famously known to be the origin of the much revered Yamuna river. The river Yamuna rises from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas. It flows parallel to the Ganga and as a right bank tributary, meets the Ganga at Allahabad. The Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi rise in the Nepal Himalaya.
This sacred home of sage Asti is surrounded by undulating peaks, Himalayan glaciers and thermal springs. Hindu mythologies hail Yamuna as the sister of Yama- the God of Death, and it is believed that a bath in Yamuna can make death painless. It appeals to all sorts of tourist from the pilgrims, to the ones in search of a romantic destination as well as adventure enthusiasts who are sure to find abundance of thrill and excitement in its grand and awe inspiring sceneries, given the location. Yamnotri and Gangotri can also be covered in Do Dham Yatra
Kedarnath
One of the revered char dham pilgrimage sites, Kedarnath is named after the famous and most powerful Hindu God, lord Shiva. Kedar meaning powerful is another name of Lord Shiva the protector and the destroyer. Kedarnath is in the most dramatic location of the char dham temples, located at the base of 6970m peaks and 22km from the nearest road. The puja offered inside, especially around the stone 'hump', is fervent and can be quite intense. The site is so auspicious that pilgrims used to throw themselves from one of the cliffs behind the temple in the hope of instantly attaining moksha (liberation from samsara).
The Kedarnath Temple is believed to have been built by the Pandavas and is almost 1000 years old. In the 8th century AD, it was refurbished by Adiguru Shankaracharya. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the idol is in the form of a pyramidal lingam. It is one of the 12 jyotirlingas in the country and is revered highly. The statue of Nandi, the divine bull of Shiva, stands at the entrance of the temple. During the winters, the statue is carried to Ukhimath, and is reinstated in Kedarnath in the month of May. The breathtaking view of the Kedardome peak behind the temple is a major attraction.
Badrinath
Badrinath of Chamoli district is named after its famous Vishnu temple Badrinarayan temple. It is considered as an extremely holy city by the Hindus, who make sure to visit the four dhams at least once in their lifetime. This acclaimed abode of Lord Vishnu is one of North India's "Four Holy Temple Cities" or dhams along with Puri, Rameswaram and Dwaraka. Badrinath is also known as Tapobhumi (land of meditation and penance) and Bhubaikunth (heaven on earth). It is situated at an altitude of 3133 meters above sea level.
This Dham was established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 9th century. The deity of Badrinath temple is Lord Vishnu. The temple is situated on the right bank of the holy Alaknanda River.
Do Dham Yatra Badrinath Kedarnath gives you the feeling of spiritual awakening.
A place, which holds so many myths and legends, Badrinath acquires predominance in the travel itinerary of a pilgrim. The popular belief is that Badarinath was the domain of Lord Shiva, and Lord Vishnu managed to unseat Shiva from here to Kedarnath. Another belief is that when Ganga made her descend to earth she split up in to twelve streams and one among the channels, Alakananda felt on Kedarnath which gives Badrinath it’s majestic look.
It is not just recreational activities, shrines and pilgrimage that Badrinath offers. It proffers the awesome beauty of the snow clad mountain peaks and the surging landscapes of the Garhwal region.
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