Chardham Route And The Places

Are you ready to embark on a spiritual journey that will take you through breathtaking landscapes and sacred temples? Look no further than the Char Dham Yatra, one of India’s most revered pilgrimage routes. This ancient trail winds through the heart of the Himalayas, connecting four holy sites – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Each stop along the way holds deep significance for Hindus around the world. In this blog post, we’ll explore the history and mythology behind these destinations and share tips for making your own unforgettable Chardham experience. Get ready to discover a side of India that few tourists have seen!

Barkot

Barkot is a town in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. It is situated on the banks of the River Yamuna at an elevation of 1,220 meters (4,003 ft). Barkot is one of the four main gateways to the Char Dhams, comprising Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.

The town derives its name from two Sanskrit words, “bala” meaning “child” and “kota” meaning “fort”. According to legend, when Balarama, the brother of Lord Krishna visited this place, he was so impressed by its natural beauty that he decided to build a fort here.

Barkot is also said to be the place where Sage Vyasa wrote the Mahabharata. There is a small temple of sage Vyasa which attracts a lot of pilgrims.

Apart from being an important gateway to the Char Dhams, Barkot is also known for its scenic beauty. The town is full of mountains and forests which offers stunning views of the Himalayas.

Yamunotri

The Yamunotri Temple is the starting point of the Char Dham Yatra. It is situated in the Garhwal Himalayas at an altitude of 3,293 m above sea level. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna and is a major tourist attraction. The main attraction of the temple is the black marble idol of the goddess which is believed to have been installed by sage Asit Muni.

The temple complex also houses a hot spring, where devotees can take a dip in the holy waters. This water has medicinal properties and it can cure various diseases.

Yamunotri is also the source of River Yamuna, which is one of the most holy rivers in Hinduism. Every year, thousands of devotees visit Yamunotri to offer their prayers to the goddess and take a dip in her holy waters.

Uttarkashi

Uttarkashi is one of the most important places to visit in the Char Dham Yatra. It is the gateway to the Garhwal region and is situated at an elevation of 1,315 m above sea level. The town is known for its temples and ashrams, which pilgrims visit from all over India. The most famous temple in Uttarkashi is the Vishwanath Temple, which is the shrine to Lord Vishnu. Other notable temples include the Ekadash Rudra Shrine, the Baijnath Temple and the Gyaneshwar Mahadev Temple.

Gangotri

One of the most religious and significant Hindu pilgrimage circuits in India, Char Dham Yatra comprises of visiting the four abodes of Goddess – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. The Chota Char Dham or the Smaller Char Dham is a subset of this comprising visit to Yamunotri, Gangotri and Badrinath temples.

Gangotri is one of the four sites in the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. It is located in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 3,048 mts above sea level. It is considered to be the origin point of River Bhagirathi which later on becomes Ganga as it reaches Devaprayag where River Alaknanda joins it. It houses the sacred shrine of Goddess Ganga and holds great importance for Hindus all over the world.

The best time to visit Gangotri is between May and October when weather conditions are favourable.

Guptkashi

Guptkashi is a town situated at an elevation of 1,319 metres in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The town is in the Kedar-Ganga valley on the right bank of the Mandakini river, between latitude 30° 10′ N and longitude 79° 4′ E. It lies in Chamoli District, approximately midway between Badrinath and Kedarnath.

The name Guptkashi means “Hidden Benares”. According to mythology, Guptkashi was once known as Kashipuri. When the Pandavas were travelling incognito during their final year of exile, they stayed here for some time. It is said that when Vishwamitra created the city of Benares (Varanasi), Kashipuri became hidden or “gupta”. However, another legend associates the name with Gorakshanath, who is believed to have been born here and later founded the Nath Sampradaya.

There are a number of temples  in Guptkashi. These are Ardhanareshvara (a form of Shiva), Uma Devi (wife of Shiva) and Gaurikunda (the pond where Parvati bathed). The main attractions in Guptkashi are Vishwanath Temple and Ardhanareshvara Temple.

Vishwanath Temple is a five-story structure with a gold-plated

Kedarnath

The Kedarnath temple is  in  Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state in India. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples of Shiva and is one of the Chardhams. The shrine is at an elevation of 3,583 m above sea level and is one of the highest Shiva temples in the world. Kedar is another name of Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the temple. The other names by which the temple is known are Kedara, Kedarkuta and Kedarghati.

The sanctity of Kedarnath is believe to have been established by the Pandavas who are said to have visited this place during their exile (Agayatwas). Legend has it that Nara-Narayana, saints who were incarnations of Vishnu did severe penance here for many years.

Kedarnath temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya in 8th century AD though there are references to this shrine being existent even before that. This can be seen from a stone lingam inside the main sanctum which bears an inscription dating back to 7th century AD.

The main attraction inside the temple complex is the conical shaped idol made out of black granite stone which represents Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form. The idol stands 14 feet tall and 12 feet broad with a small face adorned with a trident on each side.

Badrinath

Badrinath is one of the most important and sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites in India. It is situated at an altitude of 3,133 meters (10,279 feet) in the Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand state. Badrinath is known as the “Gateway to Heaven” and is one of the four popular pilgrimage sites that together form the Char Dham Yatra. The other three sites are Yamunotri, Gangotri and Kedarnath.

Badrinath Temple is the Shrine of Lord Vishnu. Devotees call it the shrine of Badrinarayan also. The temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya in the 9th century CE. It is said that Shankaracharya also installed a black stone statue of Lord Badrinarayan inside the temple.

The main attraction of Badrinath is the Badrinath Temple, which is one of the 108 Divya Desams or holy abodes of Lord Vishnu. The temple remains open for only six months in a year, from April to November, due to heavy snowfall in winters. During this time, pilgrims from all over India visit Badrinath to seek blessings of Lord Vishnu.

Apart from Badrinath Temple, there are several other temples and shrines in and around Badrinath town. These include Mata Murti Ka Mela Temple, Sheshnetra Parshwanath Jain Temple, Sri Laksh

Rudraprayag

Rudraprayag is a town and a nagar panchayat in Rudraprayag district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It lies at the confluence of the rivers Alaknanda and Mandakini. Rudraprayag was the capital of Garhwal Kingdom before 1803 AD.

Rudraprayag is one of the Panch Prayags or five confluences of rivers in Garhwal region, the prayags being Vishnuprayag, Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Rishikesh/Devprayag and Rudraprayag. All these rivers are part of the Ganga basin. The main attraction in Rudraprayag is the meeting point/confluence (Sangam) of two holy rivers – Alaknanda and Mandakini.

The other important temples nearby are Chamunda Devi Temple, Koteshwar Mahadev Temple, and Ukhimath which are the winter seat of Kedarnath temple.

Conclusion

The Char Dham Yatra is a journey of reverence and spiritual renewal. Its four destinations, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath are known for  its own unique beauty and significance. This pilgrimage has become an integral part of Indian culture and religion over centuries and offers a unique opportunity to experience the spiritual richness and diversity of India.tremendous opportunity to explore the majestic Himalayan landscape while discovering one’s inner self. Experience this profound adventure full of divinity and serenity to revitalize your soul!

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