The following article provides a comprehensive list and
information directory of places to visit during Chardham Yatra.
The Chota Chardham of Uttarakhand encapsulates the crux of pilgrimage
stopovers spread across Garhwal Himalayas. Apart from the four Dhams of
Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath
and Kedarnath, the pilgrimage trail carries in her mantle many other sacred
shrines. Also, one comes across a multitude of tourist attractions known for
their scenic beauty, adventurous treks, etc. To ensure that your itinerary does
not miss relishing in the wonders of the entire pilgrim trail, we have created
a comprehensive list of all the major places to visit during the Char Dham Yatra.
Char Dham Yatra
usually begins its pilgrimage course from Haridwar. A list of places to visit
during Char Dham is incomplete if one does not begin with an exposition of
famous sites in and around Haridwar and Rishikesh.
Places to Visit During Chardham Yatra
Haridwar:
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| Haridwar |
Har Ki Pauri:
Taking a dip in the holy waters of Ganga at Har ki Pauri is said to free one’s
ancestors from the cycles of birth and death they are irrevocably caught in. In
fact, this site is cited as the place of penance at which King Bhagirath
successfully sought to please Lord Shiva for the sake of his ancestors.
Mansa Devi Temple:
Resting on the nearby hilltop, Mansa Devi is said to grant the wishes of every
devotee who ties to the sacred trees within the temple. The temple can be
reached via a cable car ride or ‘Udan Khatola’ (in the local language).
Chandi Devi Temple:
One needs to ascend further from Mansa Devi Temple to reach Chandi Devi Temple
residing on the top of Neel Parvat. This is famed as one of the Siddha Peethas
of Haridwar. Both Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi temples can also be reached by
trekking.
Ganga Aarti: As
the day metamorphosizes into varied hues of dusk, Haridwar worships Mother
Ganga in its famous ‘Ganga Aarti’. The aarti usually begins with a pledge in
which thousands pledge to honour the river and keep it clean. It then proceeds
to float of thousands of diyas into its waters from devotees spread across
the shore. The beautiful panorama of the river bearing thousands of lights just
as darkness tightens her hold in the surrounding environment enchants every heart
that beholds her. This has been cited as one of the must-experience events in
one’s life.
Barkot-Hanuman Chatti-Janki Chatti-Kharsali
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| Barkot |
Barkot acts as an important stop-off for pilgrims on the
Char Dham Yatra. A hill station in its own right, Barkot gifts one an ideal
escapade into the serene joys of natural beauty and spiritual joy with its
snow-engulfed views of ‘Bandarpoonch’ Peak and
the holy environment of an ancient Shiva temple.
Hanuman Chatti boasts of a famous Hanuman temple as its
major attraction. You will part ways here with those treading on adventure
treks to Dodi Tal and Darwa Top.
Once one reaches Janki Chatti, the real perilous trek to
Yamunotri begins. This steep climb of 6 km requires intense physical stamina.
Ponies or Palkies can be hired for those who find it difficult to travel by
foot. But the trail also gifts some of the most enchanting views of
Himalayan topography. Make sure you savor the scenery and do not get lost in the
rush to reach the destination.
When extreme winter necessitates the closing of Yamunotri, the
idols are brought down to Kharsali to be worshipped in the interim. Kharsali is
also famous for its very ancient Shani Dev temple, one of its kind.
Yamunotri:
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| Yamunotri Temple |
A visit to Yamunotri is considered incomplete without one’s
paying obeisance at Divya Shila and the thermal kunds. One may keep in mind
that the actual origin of River Yamuna occurs at about an altitude of 1 km up
from the Yamunotri temple, at Champasar glacier. Owing to the steep climb, only
adventurers strive to approach the River’s source. The rest of the devotees pay
homage to Shakti, embodied as the River Yamuna, at her temple built at the foot
of the mountain.
As has been mentioned above, the most important sites to visit around Yamunotri temple include the thermal spring named Surya Kund. Legend claims that Goddess Yamuna is the daughter of Surya, the Sun
God. The necessitated ritual one is supposed to take part in before entering the
temple includes one’s taking a bath at this natural thermal spring. Also,
taking home the prasad of rice and potatoes, boiled after their having been
dipped in this hot water spring, is a popular practice. There is a pillar of
rock built near Surya Kund called Divya Shila. Before worshipping at the shrine
inside Yamunotri temple, devotees pay their respect at the ‘Divya Shila’.
Uttarkashi:
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| Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Uttarkashi |
Uttarkashi, Kashi of the North, bearing the ‘Swayambhu
lingam’ of Lord Shiva at Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the venerated Trident as
Shakti at Durga Temple, and Manikarnika Ghat falls en route to Gangotri. One
ought not to miss the spiritual serenity the confluence of Shiv and Shakti
evokes in this holy town.
Gangnani:
The thermal spring, namely ‘Rishikund Teerth’, at Gangnani
is a popular stopover for pilgrims heading to worship Maa Ganga at her origins
in Gangotri.
Harsil, Dharali, Mukhba Village
It is only recently that Harsil has marked its emergence in tourist itineraries. In fact, its rather concealment comes as a boon as
its idyllic beauty, salubrious fresh air, and peaceful charms unwind and
rejuvenate one’s physical and emotional well-being. If time permits, try going
for a trek to ‘Sattal’. This site of several high-altitude alpine lakes
beautifully clustered together creates such pristine beauty for the senses to
indulge in that one would carry its imprints in memory forever.
The idol of Goddess Ganga is brought down from the temple at
Gangotri during winter and worshipped at the nearby village of ‘Mukhba’ for six
months. The village replete with colorful gardens, forests of sky-high pine
and rhododendron trees, and tiny rustic huts will not let you drive away without
having captured its picture-perfect beauty in camera.
At a mere 2km from Harsil, one encounters the village of
Dharali. The ‘Shiv Temple’ in Dharali is a popular stopover for the pilgrims
on Char Dham Yatra. Also, continue to be enchanted by the beautiful views of the apple orchard the village gifts.
Gangotri:
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| Gangotri Temple |
Gangotri offers much more than just the revered temple of
Maa Ganga. Its submerged Shivling and Bhagirath Shila bring alive the myths
popularly evoked about the inception of the River. The Submerged Shivling is
cited to be where Lord Shiva received the incredible flow of Ganga from the
heavens in his matted locks while Bhagirath Shila is where King Bhagirath
did his tapasya to please Lord Shiva.
Don't forget to head onto the beautiful Surya Kund
waterfalls, located just half a kilometer ahead of the Gangotri Temple. The
nearby Pandav Gufa is another site bearing its mythical reference, of having
been once the abode of Pandavas before they ascended to the heavens.
Witnessing the actual conception of the River Ganga from the
cow-shaped glacier at Gaumukh is an experience not to be missed by anyone whose
spirit of adventure permits the same. The perilous trek should not be taken
lightheartedly though. This 18 km trek from Gangotri requires one’s obtain
special permits from the Uttarkashi Forest Department Office. One will be duly
warned of the probability of encountering landslides en route to the glacier.
There are even more arduous treks to Tapovan and Nandanvan, which a few
spirited travelers successfully complete. The enchanting view of Shivling Peak
the course offers is worth all the risks,.
Ukhimath, Guptkashi, Son Prayag, Gauri Kund
Ukhimath is blessed as the site of worship of Lord Kedarnath
and Lord Madhyamaheshwar at its Omkareshwar Temple during the cold winter
months when the original shrines remain closed. The town also houses one of the
108 Shakti Peethas at its revered ‘Kalimath Temple’. The eighth chapter of Devi
Mahatmya portrays how Goddess Kali annihilated the demon Rakhtbeej, whose each
drop of blood engendered a new ‘Rakhtbeej’ in a fiery battle. Well, the temple
is said to have been constructed at the battle site.
The picturesque town of Uttarkashi, resting along the serene
banks of the Mandakini River, is said to have prepared the sacred ground for Lord
Shiva’s marriage proposal to Goddess Parvati. Its major attractions include
Vishwanath Temple, Ardhnarishwar Temple, and Manikarnika Kund.
Head along a bit further on the course to come across the
actual wedding site of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati at the “Triyuginarayan
Temple’ in Sonprayag. This divinely auspicious Vishnu Temple set the divinely
auspicious stage for the holy union.
The trek to Kedarnath begins at Gaurikund. The site not just
reverberates with the ascetic devotional penance of Goddess Parvati whose
single-minded soulful will won her Lord Shiva as the chosen husband, but also
with her affectionate murmurings in molding Sri Ganesha, her son, from clay on
her own. The site is known for its having been the birthplace of Lord Ganesha and
for its preparing the sacred ground for Maa Parvati’s rigorous penance born of
her unwavering devotion to Lord Shiva harbors temple dedicated to Maa Gauri.
Pilgrims set out on their perilous trek to Kedarnath after taking a bath in the
thermal spring at Gaurikund and paying their obeisance at the temple.
Kedarnath:
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| Kedarnath Temple |
Well, the most attractive of all sites in Kedarnath remains
its temple for Lord Shiva, housing its beautiful jyotirlinga, nestled in between
the banks of River Mandakini and peaks of Kedar and Swargarohini. Not just does
the temple finds itself among the ‘Char Dham’, but also does it form a part of a conglomerate of ‘Panch Kedar’.
An eight km long trek would take one to Vasuki Tal. It is revered
to have been the site where Lord Vishnu bathed himself. Bhairav Temple can be
reached after a one km long trek from the Kedarnath shrine; what one discovers
at the site of the temple is the marvel and abundance that Kedarnath valley is, for
the panorama the temple’s location offers of the valley is inexpressible even
for poetic elegance. Lord Bhairavnath, the major deity of Bhairavnath Temple,
is worshipped by the local population to be the guardian of the entire valley.
Chopta
This hill station, known for its beautiful meadows and lush
green evergreen forests, forms the crux of the Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary. It is
emerging as a very popular destination for trekking, snow skiing, rock
climbing, rock craft, wildlife photography, etc. A moderately difficult trek of
3 km would take one to Chandrashila Peak through the mesmerizing forests of oak
and rhododendron interspersed with emerald green meadows. What can one say of
the breathtaking views of the Himalayan peaks the trail graciously offers? One
must experience the pleasure of imbibing so much natural beauty at least once
in their lifetime.
Also, Chopta acts as a base camp for trekking towards Tungnath
Temple, another of the Panch Kedar
conglomerate dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Gopinath Temple located in the adjacent
village is another Shaivite shrine that attracts many a devout heart to offer
their homage to Lord Shiva.
Nandprayag, Joshimath, Vishnuprayag
Pilgrims on their route toward Badrinath do not fail to
visit the temple at Nandprayag. Mythic legends suggest that this is where King
Nand was granted the boon to be the father of Vishnu’s human incarnation as
Krishna. One can enjoy the confluence of River Alaknanda and Mandakini in this
beautiful Prayag. Before long, one would reach Joshimath. Known for its having
been established as a Math by Adi Shankaracharya and its Narasimha temple that shelters
the Lord Badrinarayan during the winter months, Joshimath is as attractive a destination
for the adventurous spirit as for the pilgrimage fervor. In fact, Joshimath
offers itself as the ideal base camp for treks to ‘Hemkund Sahib’, ‘Valley of
Flowers, and ‘Auli’. The striking views of the Himalayan topography the roads of
Joshimath offer are so rejuvenating they relieve one of all remnants of
fatigue caused by the trip.
Another popular halt en route to Badrinath is at
Vishnuprayag, where the streams of Alaknanda and Dhauliganga merge. Worship at
the ‘Vishnu kund’ and Vishnu Temple, probably you get to share in the divine
ecstasy of Lord Narada’s worship of Vishnu eons ago on this site. Also, Hanuman
Chatti attracts many devotees owing to its fame in granting all wishes to the
sincere heart. Hanuman Chatti is cited as the site where Lord Hanuman
annihilated Bheema’s ego.
The ‘Yog Dhyan Badri Temple’ housing Lord Vishnu’s
meditative form in Pandukeshwar is said to be as old as the Badrinath temple
itself. Pilgrims also offer their homage to Lord Vishnu here before heading
towards the darshan of Lord Badrinarayan.
Badrinath:
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| Badrinath Temple |
Other than the temple at Badrinath worshipping Lord Badrinarayan,
Badrinath offers the thermal water spring at Tapt Kund, the water spring at
Narad Kund from where Lord Badrinarayan idol was first discovered and Mana
village harboring ‘Vyas cave’ and ‘Ganesh Temple’ as its chief attractions to
include in a tourist itinerary. One might be astonished to come across the
‘lost river’ Saraswati still embodying a physical form in a minor stretch of
water near the Mana village before it disappears into its subterranean cocoon.
Also, a 6 km trek from the Mana village invites one into the captivating beauty
of Vasudhara Falls and its surrounding environs.
Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag & Devprayag – Three of the Rest of ‘Panch Prayag’
We did halt to imbibe the astonishing natural beauty only
the confluence of two rivers can inspire at Vishnuprayag and Nandprayag before
we reached Badrinath. The rest of the three Prayags – Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag, and Devprayag form major stopovers after one finishes one’s darshan at
Badrinath. Karna Prayag sees the merging of the waters of the Alaknanda and Pindar
rivers. The site houses temples dedicated to Karna and Uma Devi.
In Rudraprayag, where the rivers Alaknanda and Mandakini
come together as one, one can visit temples dedicated to Lord Shiva at
Rudranath temple and Koteshwar (cave) temple, Goddess Chamunda at Chamunda Devi
temple, Lord Kartik Swami at his temple perched at one of the highest peaks in
Rudraprayag offering magnanimous views of the valleys below. Also, the temple
dedicated to Goddess Hariyali situated at a distance of 35 km from Rudraprayag
attracts many pilgrims and forms one of the 58 ‘Siddha Peeth’ in India.
Devprayag witnesses the communion of the Bhagirathi River and the Alaknanda River, whence the River Ganga earns its name. The Raghunath temple in
Devprayag is said to be built where Lord Rama performed his penance to relieve
himself of the karmic stains of having murdered Ravana. The two water springs,
called Brahma Kund and Vasisht Kund, are other major attractions in the town.
Also, the water spring at Baital Shila is said to have medicinal properties
that cure even leprosy.
Augustmuni
The ‘Augustmuni Mahadev Temple’ in Agastyamuni falls on the
banks of the Mandakini River. Not only does the site offer spiritual sanctuary akin
to what it offered Sage Agastya for his tapasya, but it also harbors such
scenic beauty to help relish your senses in recovering from the fatigue
caused by the inbound trip.
Srinagar
While at Srinagar, consider paying your homage at Kamleshwar
Mahadev Temple. Its mythic significance abounds from the fact that this is
where Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva by placing one of his own ‘lotus eyes’
when he fell short of Lotus petals to culminate the pooja. The Dhari Devi
Temple is another venerated spot of the Shakti. The Goddess portrays the
fleeting nature of human reality by showing the metamorphosis of a girl to an
old woman during the course of a single day. The temple is highly revered as a
spiritually potent site for Shakti.
As you can see for yourself, places to visit during the four Dham Yatra boast of as equal mythic, religious, and spiritual significance as the four dhams themselves. That one on this pilgrimage trip gets to offer their sincere worship of the Divine at so many of its manifest forms at such spiritually potent sites that have inspired the spiritual evolution of many great saints and true yogis is a true blessing. Add to it the aesthetic pleasures of the intimate encounters with the Himalayan trails and rivers, and one can count it among the most pleasurable and awe-inspiring memories in her lifetime.
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