Overview
Char Dham Yatra is a Hindu pilgrimage comprising a group of four temple sites in the Indian Himalayas. The four temples are:
- Yamunotri Temple: Located in the western region of the Garhwal Himalayas, this temple is dedicated to the goddess Yamuna. It is situated at an altitude of 3,293 meters above sea level and is the source of the Yamuna River.
- Gangotri Temple: Located in the western region of the Garhwal Himalayas, this temple is dedicated to the goddess Ganga. It is situated at an altitude of 3,048 meters above sea level and is the source of the Ganges River.
- Kedarnath Temple: Located in the northern region of the Garhwal Himalayas, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is situated at an altitude of 3,581 meters above sea level and is one of the 12 jyotirlingas, or sacred shrines of Lord Shiva.
- Badrinath Temple: Located in the northern region of the Garhwal Himalayas, this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is situated at an altitude of 3,133 meters above sea level and is one of the 108 Divya Desams, or sacred shrines of Lord Vishnu.
The Char Dham Yatra typically takes place between the months of May and October, when the weather is pleasant and the roads are open. Pilgrims visit the four temple sites in a specific order, starting with Yamunotri and ending with Badrinath. The yatra can be completed in about 10-12 days, depending on the mode of transportation and the char dham yatra package you have selected with number of stops made along the way.
