Char Dham Yatra is a religious odyssey that encompasses four major Hindu pilgrim destinations in Uttarakhand- Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. The foundation stone of these four pilgrimage sites was laid by Adi Sankracharya in the 8th century. Each pilgrimage destination that fall in the circuit of this sacred tour has various myths and legends associated with it. Every year around 3 lakh pilgrims undertake this trip from May till October in search of salvation. Hindu devotees have a firm belief on the theory that Char Dham Yatra can wash away sins of the lifetime.
Pilgrims who undertake this long and taxing journey have an unshakable trust on the presence of divinity on earth and come with a strong determination of paying reverence in the feet of almighty. As you pick up Char Dham Yatra 2012 tour package, you will come across following destinations:
1.Gangotri
A part of the Char Dham Yatra, Gangotri is a small town on the banks of river Bhagirathi and is situated at an elevation of 3,100 meters in the Greater Himalayas. The pilgrim is dedicated to the river goddess Ganga which flows here in the name of Bhagirathi. The evening aarti performed at Gangotri temple is the most appealing sight of this place. The temple was constructed by General Amar Singh Thapa in the 18th century.
2.Yamunotri
Situated at an elevation of 3,293 meters in the Garhwal Himalayas, Yamunotri is the seat of river Goddess Yamuna and is nestled atop a flank of Bandar Poonch Parvat. Champasar glacier, situated on the Kalind Mountain at an elevation of 4, 421 meters, is the real source of river Yamuna. The major attractions of this pilgrim site are Yamunotri temple and the thermal springs at Janaki Chatti. Yamuna has been accorded with the status of a divine mother owing to its nurturing nature. Surya Kund is the most famous hot thermal spring wherein devotees cook rice and take it back as Prasad.
3.Kedarnath
Situated nearby Rudraprayag district in Uttarakhand, Kedarnath is the dwelling of trinity God Shiva. The place is also famous as the Samadhi of Adi Sankracharya. The shrine is counted among the twelve jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva and is encompassed by snow-capped mountain peaks including Mount Kailash. The pilgrim is home to several kunds aka pools such as Gauri kund, Udhak kund, Hans kund and Rudhir kund among others. The temple opens on Akshay tritya (May) and closes on Bhaiya Duj (October end).
4.Badrinath
The final destination of Char Dham Yatra is Badrinath and is considered as the abode of Lord Vishnu. Badrinath is a strategically situated in the Garhwal hills at an elevation of 3,415 meters above sea level. The town is a two day long journey from Kedarnath and tourists can also visit Hemkund Sahib, an important Sikh pilgrim that fall on the way to Badrinath.
With the introduction of helicopter service during Char Dham Yatra, this religious odyssey has become a lot more convenient for the time bound travelers. If you undertake Char Dham Yatra by Helicopter service, you can complete the pilgrim circuit within the span of 3 days.
