Chardham Yatra is the most popular spiritual yatra starting from April-May and continues

till Oct-Nov every year in Uttarakhand India. This is the best time to visit Char Dhams and

enjoy the scenic beauty of the environment and nature. It comprises of 4 destinations

namely Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.

According to Indian ancient stories, Himalaya is the place where Lord Shiva lives. The

religious feelings and faith of Indian people in a lord Shiva attracts them to visit on these

four religious places. The temples built on such locations are amazing and people having a

huge belief in worshiping on these temples. From different places people regularly visit the

temples of these four locations.

Hindu community people are reaching these places in the large amount as their faith is that

the sins will be washed away after visiting these religious places. These spots are beautiful

and fully covered with natural beauty. Because of such reason's people from different

origins are also reaching to this Char Dham of Indian religion.

The four holy places Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are full of beauty full

places and their surroundings with high hills of Himalaya attract the people very much.

These 4 places are having different values.

Badrinath This holy town nestles at a height of 3,133 metres, at the site where a forest

of Badri (berry) trees, known as the mythical Badrivan, once covered the area. Badrinath is

approximately 50 ft (15 m) tall with a small cupola on top, covered with a gold gilt roof.

Badrinath Ji Shrine at Night - Jai Badri Vishal

The facade is built of stone, with arched windows. A broad stairway leads up to a tall arched

gatewayis well-known as Lord Shiva temple. Badrinath temple is the key destination in

Badrinath town. Here, a black stone impression of Lord Badrinarayan is made in the

Alaknanda River. This river is also having the religious feelings in Hindu religion. The hot

springs at this is the best examples of nature.

Badrinath Ji Shrine - Jai Badri Vishal

The great Nilkantha peak (6,558 metres) towers over the temple set deep down in the

Alaknanda valley. The rulers of Garhwal built the present temple of Badrinarayan some two

hundred years ago.

The original Badrinath shrine, built by the 9th century saint Shankara, has been re-built

several times over due to damage from avalanches and snowfall.

Badrinath City

Badrinath is located 301 km north of Rishikesh and 48 km from Joshimath. From Gaurikund

(near Kedarnath) to Badrinath by road is233 km. Badrinath is generally a two-day-long

journey from either Kedarnath, the site that precedes it in the Char Dham circuit, or one of

the main disembarkation points on the plains. 24 kms from Badrinath is the famous site of

Govindghat, the confluence of the Alaknanda with the Lakshmanganga. This is also the

entry point for the mystical Valley of Flowers and the Sikh shrine of Hemkund Sahib. The

Vasuki Tal at a height of 4,135 metres is 8 kms from Badrinath.

Tapt Kund - Badrinath - Hot Sulphur Springs

The Tapt Kund, a group of hot sulphur springs just below the Badrinath Temple, are

considered to be medicinal; many pilgrims consider it a requirement to bathe in the springs

before visiting the temple. The springs have a year-round temperature of 55 C (131 F),

while outside temperature is typically below 17 C (63 F) all year round. The two water

ponds in the temple are called Narad Kund and Surya Kund.

The Badrinath temple opens only from May till October. It closes down for winter in

November, when the deity is carried to Pandukeshwar for worship.

Getting there and around - How To Reach Badrinath

By Air: the nearest airport to Badrinath is the Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun. It is

about 317 km from Badrinath.

By Rail: the nearest railway stations to Badrinath are at Rishikesh and Kotdwar, which are

at a distance of 297 km and 327 km respectively.

By Road: Baronet is very well connected with the important cities like Rishikesh, Haridwar,

Dehradun and the cities of Kumaon.

Kedarnath Dham latest photo in October 2014

Kedarnath is also a Hindu holy place situated in Uttarakhand, India. It is revered as one

of the 12 Jyotirlingams. It is situated in the Himalayas - the Rudra Himalaya range. The

Rudra Himalaya range is also known as the Pancha Parvata; its five peaks are Rudra

Himalaya, Vishnupuri, Bhramapuri, Udgari-Kanth and Swargarohini. Kedarnath is 3584

meters above the sea level. The river Mandakini is present here, which also have the

region's values. The breathtaking snow-capped peaks are wonderful to watch from this

town. Visiting the Kedarnath Temple is also a different experience of life. It is the popular

destination for Hindu pilgrims. Kedarnath is named in honor of King Kedar who ruled in the

Satya Yuga.

According to legends, the Pandavas came to Kedarnath to pray Lord Shiva after great battle

of Kurukshetra to atone for killing their own near and dear ones in the war. It is said that

Lord Shiva kept eluding the Pandavas and sought refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull.

On being pursued, he plunged into the ground, with his hump exposed on the earth.

Legends has it that his arms surfaced at Tungnath, his face at Rudranath, belly at

Madmaheshwar, his locks and head at Kalpeshwar. These spots where he reappeared form

the Panch Kedar. It is believed that four of the Pandavas died on the last of these peaks.

Kedarnath Temple timing

Kedarnath Temple is open for devotees from 6 am to 2 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm. Shingar

Darshan is from 5 pm onwards and Aarti is performed at 6:45 pm. Sharavani Annakoot Mela

is celebrated on the day before Raksha Bandhan during August. Special Samadhi puja is

help on the closing day of Kedarnath.

Festivals Badri Kedar Festival - Held in the month of June, nothing could be a perfect

manifestation of Hindu religion and culture. The Badri Kedar festival is held in the sacred

shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath in the month of June. The festivities go on for a stretch

of eight days. The festival makes an attempt to bring under one platform, the greatest

artists of the country.

How to Reach Kedarnath

There are 2 ways to reach Kedarnath: 1) By foot for a steep 14 km trek through a paved

path (horses or palanquins are available for rent) from Gaurikund, which is connected by

road from Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun and other known hill stations of Garhwal and

Kumaon regions in Uttarakhand 2) Through helicopter service.

Getting there and Around By Road :

Kedarnath is connected by road with Badrinath (242 KM), Dehradun (268 KM), Delhi (450

KM), Haridwar (250 KM), Kotdwar (256 KM), and Rishikesh (226 KM).

Route : Rishikesh to Kedarnath vai Rudraprayag :- Rishikesh -> Rudraprayaga ->

Agastamuni -> Kund -> Gupta kashi -> Phata -> Soneprayag -> Gauri Kund.

Gauri Kund to Kedarnath is 14 KM. This distance has to be covered by foot, ponies, palkies.

By Rail : The nearest convenient railway station are Dehradun and Haridwar. These are well

connected with Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and rest of India through Rail network.

By Air : The nearest convenient Air port is Jolly grant at Dehradun (121 Kms).

Gangotri is another town situated in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand state, India. This

Hindu pilgrim place is located on the banks of the canal Bhagirathi. The height of this town

is more than 3,100 meters from the sea level. Gangotri glacier is the source destination of

River Ganga, and it is the one of the four valuable sites of Char Dham. The well-known river

Bhagirathi is the source which acquired the name Ganga from Devprayag. Then it meets the

Alaknanda River. The starting point of this holy river is at Gaumukh, which is set in Gangotri

Glacier. This one spot of char dham is easily reachable from Rishikesh as it will take just

one-day journey.

There is a temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga and the sacred stone where King Bhagirath

is believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva. There is a natural Shivlinga submerged in the

river (It is believed that Lord Shiva received the Ganges here).

Yamunotri is the center from where the river Yamuna starts. It is also a valuable place

among four char dham spots. Yamunotri is also known as the seat of the Goddess Yamuna.

This place is situated at a good height of 3,293 meters from the sea level. The major place

to visit at Yamunotri is the temple dutiful to the Goddess Yamuna. The thermal springs at

Janki Chatti are also a finest example of natural beauty. The real source of Yamuna River is

from the ice-covered lake and glacier located on the Kalind Hills. Approach to the extreme

height of the hill is impossible hence reaching the temple is quite enough for visitors. The

main spot for a tourist is a temple of Yamuna, which was constructed by Maharaja Pratap

Shah.

Yamunotri is very picturesque with beautiful views of a number of waterfalls. There are two

trekking routes from Hanuman Chatti to Yamunotri, the one along the right bank proceeds

via the Markandeya Tirth, where the sage Markandeya wrote the Markandeya Purana, the

other route which lies on the left bank of the river goes via Kharsali, from where Yamunotri

is a five or six hours climb away. Two hot springs are also present at Yamunotri offering

relief to tired hikers at a height of 3,292 metres (10,801 ft), Surya Kund, has boiling hot

water, while Gauri Kund, had tepid water suitable for bathing. The Yamunotri temple is a full

day's journey from Uttarakhand's main towns - Rishikesh, Haridwar or Dehradun

Things to keep in mind for a Char Dham Yatra Tour :-

Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. are very cold places so people should

get the warm clothes along with them.

The gates for Char Dham Yatra opens during Akshay Tritiya. The date of opening the

temple at Yamunotri is May 6, Gangotri is May 6, Kedarnath is May 8 and Badrinath is May

9. Visitors must map their trip consequently.

One more important thing is the Himalaya hills are fully covered of snow so the temples are

opened for limited period as well. Those who are planning to visit the mentioned places

should go through opening details. The cold weather of such areas can freeze the body so

people should take the warm clothes along with them.