Chota Char Dham Yatra

Legend

Originally, Char Dham referred to a pilgrimage route comprising of four prominent temples at the four corners of the country. The creation of the first Char Dham is credited to the great Hindu philosopher Adi Sankara. The most important among these shrines is the Badrinath Dham, where according to the mythology, Adi Shankaracharya acquired moksha from the cycle of rebirth. In the earlier days, because of the hilly terrain, arduous climb and unpredictable weather, the Chota Char Dham was only done by the wandering hermits. It was not part of any religious traditions.  In the 1960's as the roads and infrastructure to the temples improved, the main shrines of Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri got merged with the trek to Badrinath forming the famed Chota Char Dham circuit.

Deity - Temples

Deity:-

Goddess Yamuna
Goddess Ganga
Lord Shiva
Lord Vishnu

Temples Covered:-

Yamunotri Temple
Gangotri Temple
Kedarnath Temple
Badrinath Temple

Area Covered

The main temples covered are Yamunotri temple, Gangotri temple, Kedarnath temple and Badrinath temple. Apart from these the package tours also covers the major pilgrim sites of Haridwar, Rishikesh, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi etc.

Auspicious Days

Chota Char Dham yatra usually opens on the day of Akshaya Tritiya or Akha Teej in April-May, which is considered one of the holiest days in the Hindu calendar. The Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri shrines close around Diwali while the Badrinath shrine closes on Vijayadashami (October-November)

Chota Char Dham trip usually takes about 10-12 days. However, of late two to three day trips are provided by helicopter services.

Yatra Preparations

The most important preparation is to carry out an in-depth research to decide on the suitable pilgrim package as there are multitude of tour operators in the area. A compulsory medical check up is needed before the Chota Char Dham. Also all pilgrims must complete biometric registration(available online). Chota Char Dham yatra is very strenuous, hence it is advisable to do preparatory exercises and fitness regimes at least 3 months prior to the trip.

The accessibility to good quality pooja articles in today's adulterated world as well as availability of all the items required is a major concern for many devotees. Please check out our P-STORE page for various high quality Pooja Samagri for your Pilgrimage or mail us :- [email protected] or call us directly on Mobile :- +919619899406.

The weather can be very unpredictable in the higher altitudes of the Himalayan region which directly affects the road condition. The monsoons may cause landslides and road blockage. The summer days are pleasant around 15 degree Celsius but the nights can get chilly with temperatures in single digit. Sub zero temperatures can be expected during the months of Sept-Oct with occurrences of snow fall.

Must Haves

The terrain is harsh and the journey tough. Make sure you have all the needed medications for the entire stretch of the Chota Char Dham. Dehydration salt packets, light snacks, sunscreen, first aid kit, general medications like antibiotics, antiseptic creams etc should be carried in the daypack. Woollens should be taken as the temperature drops in the evenings. Heavy winter wear will be required during the latter part of the season. Comfortable shoes, torchlights, raincoat are essentials. A BSNL connection would help in connectivity in these areas. Pilgrims should carry valid identification cards.

Journey is challenging, demanding high levels of physical and mental stamina. It is prudent that those with high blood pressure, cardiac diseases, asthma etc avoid the Chota Char Dham.

Motorable roads are usable to Badrinath and Gangothri. Kedarnath and Yamunotri can be accessed by treks or ponies. Of late helicopter services are also available.

During the months of May and September, which are the peak seasons, the place can get quite cramped. There is an average of 3 lakh visitors during a pilgrimage season.

Chota Char Dham yatra usually opens on the day of Akshaya Tritiya or Akha Teej in April-May, which is considered one of the holiest days in the Hindu calendar. The Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri shrines close around Diwali while the Badrinath shrine closes on Vijayadashami (October-November)