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Chardham Yatra
Yamunotri at 3185m, Gangotri at 3048m, Kedarnath at 3584m and Badrinath at 3096m.
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What is Chardham yatra
'Char dham' means the 'four abodes' of gods and mostly refers to the The Garhwal Himalayas which are the revered sites for Hindus to be seen and visited in one's lifetime to wash away all our sins. The original char dhams are reffered to as Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, Jaganath puri in Odisha, Dwaraka in Gujarat and Badrinath in Uttarakhand. This covers the south, west, east and north of India symbolising the complete tour of India. Today char dham is reffered to as the place where Shankaracharya obtained salvation covering Yamunotri at 3185m, Gangotri at 3048m, Kedarnath at 3584m and Badrinath at 3096m.
Things to know before planning a Chardham yatra
It is a difficult yatra. It opens from May and ends in October. Preferably September is best because the rush is less, May being the peak and June and August being the monsoon months. A average of 25,00 INR minimum is reqd per yatri to take up the trip. Medicines are to be carried in case of any ailment, creams and sprays for sprains while trekking are important. 8-9 miles walk to Gangotri and Kedarnath is a bit difficult but a strong will can take you places. Ponies and dolis are available for people who cannot walk. Carry heavy woollens and try to plan the yatra in a group. Carry some dry fruits or biscuits for energy. Carry your cameras for taking beautiful shots of the Himalayas. Leisure hotels has camps and stays all over the char dhams, more details www.leisurehotels.co.in
Uttarakhand - Devbhoomi
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Ideal time to Visit - Anytime round the year.
Avoid July and August being monsoons landslides may occur. Skiing in Uttaranchal generally takes place in the winter seasons specifically December to March. The monsoon season continues from July till September. You will get good weather during the October months and in April-May-mid June when it is Yatra time and a lot of rush.
The best time to visit Uttrakhand if it is a religious tour esp to Sri Badrinath,Kedarnath,gangotri & Yamnotri is in the last week of May to mid July before arrival of monsoon. This time the weather remains pleasant and the roads are in good condition. You may also plan the trip in October post monsoon but then the weather gets quite cold but u get plenty accomodation at a cheaper price.
Capital - Dehradun
Road trip summary, time, kms and tolls and other information required to plan your road trip.
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How to plan a Chardham yatra
We need atleast 10-12 days to cover the char dhams starting from Delhi.
Day 1 - Delhi to Haridwar is 255 kms
and takes 6 hrs by road. In Haridwar we can witness the Ganga arti, the olden temples of Har ki pauri (the place where Ganga fell to earth from the locks of Lord Shiva), Chandi and Mansa devi temples which are twin sisters and approachable only by ropeways. and may other smaller temples around the holy place each having its own history and importance according to the locals.
Day 2 - Haridwar to Barkot is around 220 kms
and takes a little above 6 hours. Barkot is at 1280m and offers magnificient views of Banderpoonch.
Day 3- Barkot to Yamunotri (the first of the four dhams) is just 36 kms
and you can return back to Barkot in the same day itself. The temple to Yamunotri from Hanuman Chatti (till where the jeeps take you) has a trek of 7 kms and a total of 14 kms up and down. You can choose a horse if your health does not permit a trek so long. People take rice in a cloth and dip it in the hot water kund called the Surya kund to get it cooked and carry it home as prasad. A frozen layer of ice on the Kalindi parvat is the actual source of the river Yamuna at a height of 4421m which is another 1 km up, but the approach is not possible so the temple has been built at the foothill. Divya shila is a rock pillar which is worshipped first then Yamunaji. The temple is open from Akshya tritiya which falls during the last week of April or the first week of May till Diwali.
Day 4 - Barkot to Uttarkashi is 100 kms and takes 5 hours.
Uttarkashi is a temple town located on the banks of the Bhagirathi river. The temple of Lord Vishwanath is worth visiting. The Nehru Institute of Mountaineering is also located here.
Day 5 - Uttarkashi to Gangotri is nearly 85 kms one way and takes 3-4 hours each way.
The temple was built by Gorkha General Amar Singh on the spot where Bhagirath sad and meditated for over 5000 years to bring Ganga to earth. The shivlinga of Lord Shiva signifying the place where he received Ganga in his locks is visible when the water is less. Same as Yamunotri the Gangotri opens on Akshya Tritiya and closes by Diwali. The rest of the year it is covered with snow.
Day 6 - Uttarkashi to Rudraprayag is 185 kms and takes 7-8 hours.
Rudraprayag is located at the confluence of Mandakini and Alaknanda at around 610mtrs. There is a temple of Goddess Jagadamba Devi, the temple of Rudranath where Narad muni had meditated for several years to gain perfection in music.
Day 7 - Rudraprayag to Kedarnath is 80 kms and takes 6 hours plus 14 kms trek.
The trek starts from Gaurikund to Kedarnath. One can do it on foot, pony or doli. You can stay here for a day, the hot water pond of Gaurikund can be used for bath and visit Gauri temple. It is believed to be the place where Goddess Parvati meditated for attaining Lord Shiva as her husband. Kedarnath is the abode of Lord Shiva and stands facing Mandakini river and is one of the 12 sacred jyotirlings in India.
According to puranas
The front portion of Lord Shiva is worshipped in Pashupatinath, Katmandu
Tuganath for the arms
Rudranath for the face
Madyamaheshwar for the stomach
Kalpeshwar for hair
They together are called the Panch Kedars. Among them the shrine of Kedarnath is the most sacred. The temple is believed to be built by Pancha Pandavas and the walls have their stories as carvings. The opening of the temple also follows the same timings as the other temple.
Day 8 - Kedarnath to Rudraprayag
after Darshan in the morning trek down and drive to Rudraprayag.
Day 9 - Rudraprayag to Badrinath is around 170 kms and takes 7-8 hours.
The route through Joshimath takes you to the abode of Lord Vishnu and is protected by two towering mountains the Nar and Narayan. The Nara parvat over which Neelkanth looms is considered to be the seat of Kubera, god of wealth, and the idol is rightly placed on the right of the Lord Vishnu. The Narad kund is from where the idol of Lord Badrinath was recoverd by Adiguru Shankaracharya. Vasundhara is a waterfall 5 kms from here, where till Mana village 2 kms is motorable and ten on foot. The Mana village is a village of Indomongolian tribe which is the last Indian village in Tibet. Vyas gufa is near Mana village the rock cave where Ved Vyas is believed to have composed the Mahabharata. The temple is also open for the same timing as the other temples.
Day 10 - Badrinath Joshimath
Day 11 - Joshimath Rishikesh
Day 12 - Rishikesh - Delhi
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Stay enroute the Chardhams
Haridwar
Hotel Arti Darshan in Har ki Pauri
Rooms starting from Rs 350/-
Tel - 01334-266161
Hotel Alaknanda, Belwala (UP Tourism),
Pooms from 900 to 2800
Tel - 01334 226379, 223787
Bhaj Govindam huts, Gangakinare, Bhimgoda
Rooms from 1400 to 2100
Tel - 01334 261682
Hotel Trishul, Railway road,
REooms starting from 550 to 1500
Tel -01334 224811, 222811
Hotel Pramila on the Delhi Haridwar bye pass road,
Rooms from 950 to 3000
Tel 01334 245041
Hotel Ganga Kinare
Niranjani Akhara Road.
Rooms from Rs 1650 located near the safe parking
Tel - 01334 221736
Barkot
Hotel Chauhan Annexe,
Rooms from Rs 800 to 1000/-
Tel 01375 224276
Tourist Rest House GMVN
Tel - 01375 224236
Barkot Chardham camp
Rooms from 3500/- onwards
Mobile : +919412074905
Camp Veda
Tel - 91-98373-10040, 91-94105-35050
Tara Yatri Niwas,
Rooms from Rs 300 onwards
Tel - 01375 224497, 224430
Uttarkashi
Tourist Rest House
Rooms from Rs 1600/- onwards
Tel 01374 222222, 222271
Shivparivar Resorts
Rooms from 5500 onwards
Tel +91-9871050725, 08057318630
Web http://www.shivparivarresorts.com
Hotel Akash Ganga
Rooms from Rs 950 onwards
Tel - 01374 222666, 224142, 222440
Satyam Tourist Complex
Rooms from Rs 750/- onwards
Tel - 01374 222566, 224242
Shivlinga Tourist Complex
Rooms from 1200/- onwards
Tel - 01374 223518, 224038, +91-94120 77718
Rudraprayag
GMVN Tourist Bungalow Rudraprayag
Tel 01364 233901
Balbir Palace Hotel, Rudraprayag
Rooms from Rs 2100/-
Tel - 01346 233038, +91 9720140063
Bhatt Resort, Rudraprayag
Rooms from Rs 1000/- onwards
Tel - 01364 233478, +91 9412081333
Monal Resort
Rooms from Rs 35oo onwards
Tel - 01346 233901-05
Shangrila Resorts
Rooms from Rs 1500/- onwards
Tel - 01346 233152, +91 9897607319
Sheetal Hotel
Rooms from Rs 1300/- onwards
Tel - 01346 211238, +91 9997619343
Hotel Suri
Rooms from Rs 1000/- onwards
Tel - 01346 233316, +91 9411153066
GMVN Tourist Rest House
Tel - 01346 233347
Kedarnath
Tourist Rest House Kedarnath
Tel - 01364 263210
Badri Kedarnath Samiti Dharamshala
Tel 01364 263231
Punjab Sindh Awas
Tel - 01364 263202
Sunil Guest House
Tel - 263223
Badrinath
Badri Kedar Mandir Samiti Dharamshala
Tel - 01384 222204
Dalmia Guest House
Tel 01384 222329, 222330
Hotel Devlok (GMVN)
Tel - 01384 222212
Hotel Dwarikesh
Tel - +91 9412465300
Hotel Narayan Palace
Rooms from Rs 3000/-
Tel - 01384 222380-81
Janta Yatri Niwas (GMVN)
Tel - 01384 222338
Joshimath
Hotel Dronagiri
Rooms from Rs 1100/- onwards
Tel - 01389 222254, 222662
Hotel Kamet
Rooms from Rs 1100/-
Tel - 01389 222155, +91 9412032202
Hotel Mount View
Rooms from Rs 1400/-
Tel - 01389 2432972, +91 9412960756
Hotel Snow Crest
Rooms from Rs 1700/-
Tel - 01389 222574, 75, 222344
Hotel Sriram
Rooms from Rs 900/-
Tel - 01389 222332
The Chardham Camp
visit www.leisurehotels.in
Himalayan Abode
Tel - 01389 222687, 222252
Visit www.himalayansnowrunner.com
GMVN Tourist Guest House
01389 222753
GMVN Tourist House (old)
Tel - 01389 222118
GMVN Tourist Rest House (new)
tel - 01389 222226