Char Dham Holy Tour, also known as Char Dham Yatra is a religious tour of four holy sites Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath stationed at the Himalayas of Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand is also renowned as the Land of Gods (Devbhoomi).
Furthermore, It is believed that the Char Dham Holy tour enlightens and helps in the attainment of salvation (Moksha). Also, the Char Dham Holy Tour is to be done in a clockwise direction, otherwise, your tour would be regarded as impure.
On this holy tour, you will the presence of heavenly power assisting you throughout the way, also, the pristine scenery of this tour is unignorable. Judging from the view of Char Dham Holy Tour it would seem like Gods would live there.
Char Dham Holy tour stretches to about 10 days. We embark on this holy expedition starting with a scenic drive from Haridwar to Barkot enjoying the captivating view of greenery landscapes.
Thereafter, after a short hike and another 2-hour long drive we reach our first destination spot, Yamuntori. In case you are not physically fit to hike up to Yamuntori, you can ponies, horses, or palanquins to aid you in reaching Yamuntori.
Furthermore, Yamuntori is a holy temple dedicated to the goddess Yamuna. Yamuna is the second-most sacred river after the Ganges. After taking a dip in Yamuna cleansing all of our sins, we trek back to Barkot to reach our second holy stop, Gangotri.
In order to reach Gangotri we travel from Barkot to Uttarkashi and Uttarkashi to Gangotri. Gangotri is a holy temple dedicated to the goddess Ganga. Here in Gangotri temple, there exists a divine river, the Ganges originated from the Gangotri glacier.
Moreover, we also take dip in the Ganges River to purify our soul. Afterward, we retrace our way back to Uttarkashi proceeding on our way to Kedarnath. Thenceforth, we travel from Uttarkashi to Kedar Phata and then from Kedar Phata to Kedarnath Temple.
Kedarnath Temple, a sacred temple of lord Shiva/Mahadev. However, it would require about 6-7 hours of harsh trek to reach Kedarnath Temple, so be well prepared for it. Also, the immaculate view from Kedarnath Temple is equally rewarding.
Hereafter, we commence our journey to our last destination, Badrinath. To reach Badrinath we take a blissful drive from Kedarnath to Sonprayag, Sonprayag to Joshimath via Pipalkoti, and finally Joshimath to Badrinath.
Badrinath is a sacred temple dedicated to lord Vishnu, a devotee of Lord Hanuman. Badrinath is nestled on the banks of the Alaknanda River. The untampered region of Badrinath displays unreal imagery of beautiful mountain peaks.
Badrinath will be our last destination spot. Thenceforth, we will be traveling to Haridwar. This would be the end of our beautiful Char Dham Holy Tour.
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Bus, Flight
Itinerary
On the first day of this holy tour, you’ll arrive at Haridwar, India. A sacred city along the Ganges. A large number of pilgrims are present here every time of the year to visit the temple and take a dive in the Ganga River, which is believed to clean you of all sins.
Moreover, you can enjoy the captivating breathtaking Ganga Aarti performance at Har Ki Pauri Ghat in the evening.
After a hefty breakfast at Haridwar, you will take a bus or a private vehicle arranged by your agent to Barkot. The ride will take around 7-8 hours and you’ll travel a distance of 220 km.
Enjoying the lush hill views and small settlements along the way, and stopping by for meals, you arrive at Barkot. Barkot is a picturesque hill station, with panoramic views of the snow-capped mountains of Bandar Peak.
Today marks a significant day, as you travel to Yamunotri, one of the major sites of the Char Dham Tour. You set off by taking a 2-hour long bus/private vehicle ride to Jankichatti.
After reaching Jankichatti, you will start hiking towards Yamunotri Temple. There’s also an option to rent ponies, horses, or palanquins to help you get to the temple. Yamunotri is a temple dedicated to Yamuna, one of the sacred rivers after the Ganges.
After you reach the temple, take a holy dip in the River Yamuna, which is said to protect one from untimely death. You can then pray at the Yamunotri Temple. After that, you will retrace your steps back to Janki Chatti and then Barkot.
oday after breakfast, you will head toward Uttarkashi. Stopping on the way for meals along the way, enjoying the views, and passing settlements, you will eventually reach Uttarkashi after about 3 hours.
Uttarkashi is a beautiful town with picturesque views of mountains, hills, and dense forests on every side. During your time there, you can also visit an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva there.
Today you will be heading toward the second destination of the Char Dham Tour, the Gangotri Temple. After breakfast, you’ll take a 5-hour scenic drive from Uttarkashi, witnessing beautiful views of apple gardens, and the Ganga river flowing beside you.
At Gangotri, you should dip in the sacred Ganges River and visit the temple, experiencing a divine moment. The temple is one of the highest pilgrimages in India at 3,415m in height. The place not only is holy and sacred, but also offers breathtaking views of Garhwal Himalaya, glaciers, and dense forests.
After that, you’ll make your way back to Uttarkashi.
The drive today will be longer than the ones before. As you set off from Uttarkashi on your bus or private vehicle, you will see mesmerizing views of green hills, lush forests, and soaring grand rivers flowing along the way.
After around 7 hours on the road, you’ll ultimately get to Kedar Phata, where you’ll stay the night. Make sure to get plenty of rest and prepare yourself for the important hike tomorrow.
Today after breakfast, you will embark on your long trek from Kedar Phata/Sonprayag to the revered Kedarnath Temple. The 6-7 hours trek presents you with breathtaking views of the Himalayas fueling your motivation along the way.
The hike can be tough, so make sure to take breaks and soak in the stunning scenery around you.
Upon reaching Kedarnath, you can visit the Kedarnath Temple and pray to Lord Shiva, and experience other devotees’s prayers and beliefs. Also, the temple has a serene setting making the journey very fruitful.
Moreover, in the evening, you’ll immerse yourself in watching the enchanting Kedarnath Aarti.
Joshimath via Pipalkoti
Today, you’ll travel from Kedarnath to Joshimath passing through Sonprayag and Pipalkoti’s town. Along the way, you will see the refreshing scenery of lush hills and mountains in the distance. Once you arrive in Joshimath, you’re free to rest at your hotel or explore the town’s attractions.
Finally, on day 9, we’ll get to the fourth and last part of our Tour, Badrinath. Located on the banks of the Alaknanda River, this is a sacred town nestled between Nar and Narayana mountain ranges.
Reaching Bardrinath Temple unveils majestic views of peaks and settlements beneath us. After a visit to the Badrinath temple, you can also explore other attractions of this town. Then, you’ll start heading back to Joshimath.
With the completion of the Char Dham holy tour, you will get back to Haridwar today via a 7-hour long drive. Your holy Hindu pilgrimage comes to an end today, as you make your way back with memories and other worldly-spiritual experiences you’ve had on the journey.
