“Spirituality begins with bliss and this journey is part of that bliss”.
Friends, for the last several days, I had the mind that something should be written, just could not understand what to write and on which subject one day suddenly thought why not write my first blog on Chardham Yatra.
Friends, I will first tell you about myself and then proceed. My name is Arvind Kumar Sharma and I am a travel expert and I am also run one of my travel company named “Hind Darshan Travel” which is based in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Chardham Yatra i.e. Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath Yatra. All these pilgrimage sites are located in the state of Uttarakhand of India and also known as Chhota Chardham, there is a Dham in every direction of India like Badrinath in the north, Rameswaram in the south, Puri in the east, and Dwarka in the west. Chardham Yatra is of special importance in Hinduism. Seeing it, one attains salvation.
In 1950 it was very difficult to travel to Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand, because at that time travelers used to complete the journey on foot. But after 1962, large efforts were made by the Government of India to build better connectivity and infrastructure in these areas. This encouraged other people to visit the Chardham Circuit in the Himalayas. I will share with you some important things related to Chardham Yatra here, so that if you want to go on this journey, then you can benefit from the information given here.
History of Chardham in brief
Yamunotri Dham: Yamunotri is situated on the west side of Garhwal Himalayas and it is the first step of Chardham Yatra, it is situated at an altitude of 3165 meters, this Dham is dedicated to Yamuna Devi. Yamunotri is the origin of the river Yamuna, the second holiest river of India. According to Hindu belief, to bathing in the Yamuna, all sins can be cleaned and it helps to avoid an inordinate and painful death. The temple of Yamunotri was built in 1839 by King Naresh Sudarshan Shah of Tehri.
Gangotri Dham: A pilgrimage site situated in the lap of the Himalayas holds great significance for the devotees, it is said that this is the place where the mother Ganga has graced the earth. This Dham is located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. It was initially built by Amar Singh Thapa, a general.
Kedarnath Dham: Located on the highest peak of the Himalayas, Shri Kedarnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in the country. This Dham is in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. It is believed that the temple of Kedarnath was originally built by the Pandavas and later in the 8th century A.D. Adi Shankaracharya rebuilt the temple.
Badrinath Dham: Considered to be one of the holiest places in Hinduism, Adi Shankara is said to have found the idol of Lord Badri in the Alaknanda River, from which he established the early Badrinath temple by placing it in a cave nearby and later in the 16th century a temple was built by a Garhwal king, this temple has been rebuilt many times. It is said about Badrinath that Lord Shiva lives here earlier, but later Lord Vishnu asked for this place from Lord Shiva. Badrinath Dham is situated between two mountains.
When does the journey begin and how long does it take The Chardham Yatra is not operational at all times, the yatra is halted for 6 months in the winter and it starts every year in April/May (Akshaya Tritiya) and stops around Diwali. This year (2021) Chardham Yatra will starts from 14 May 2021.
How to Start Chardham Yatra You can go to Chardham Yatra alone or in a group. In my opinion, it will be better to travel in groups of 6 to 8 people. It will reduce the cost of travel per person. Traveling in a group is more enjoyable and safe. To avoid frustration and confusion you can take Chardham Yatra Package from a good travel company. Hind Darshan travel also offers great Chardham Yatra packages which come within your budget.
Where to start Chardham Yatra
You can start Chardham Yatra from Haridwar and Dehradun.
How to Reach Haridwar or Dehradun:
By Air: you can book a flight to Dehradun Airport (Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun). There is good flight connectivity from this airport to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, and Kochi.
Rail Route: You can book a train ticket to Haridwar Junction Railway Station. It well-connected and, frequent train services to all major cities of India.
Road: Haridwar is well connected by roads to all major cities and towns, so people as per their choice and comfort can take the bus to reach Haridwar ISBT smoothly.
Some important suggestions
- Avoid traveling during the monsoon season (July – August) as heavy rains increase the chances of landslides.
- Keep warm and woolen clothes with you during the journey as the weather in this region is always cold.
- Always carry your original identity card and carry a first aid kit with you.
- Driving after sunset is not allowed in the mountain of Uttarakhand, so avoid driving after sunset.
- Avoid the use of polybags on the hill.
- Keep chocolates, dry fruits, and glucose with you on the go. If you feel tired, you can use them for instant energy.
- Always travel in a group for safety and more fun.
- Helicopter service is available in Kedarnath. You can use the helicopter service if you want.
Hind Darshan Travels provides Chardham Yatra from Haridwar, Delhi, and Gorakhpur. We also provide helicopter service from Dehradun and this journey can be completed in just 5 days. You can contact Hind Darshan Travels to get more information about Chardham Yatra or to book Chardham Package.
