Char Dham Yatra is the most famous and loved pilgrimage among the hindu devotees around the world. You visit four sacred places throughout this yatra namely Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. This pilgrimage holds special significance among the devotees as it is believed that completing this yatra would bring you a step closer to attaining salvation.
The mesmerizing and soothing views offered by the snow-capped Himalayas and stunning valleys offer a sight to behold. But you are not confined to just visiting the four major shrines here on your yatra. You can explore many places other than these and make the most of your trip.
So, below here are listed some of the most-visited and famous places you can visit on your Char Dham Yatra.
- Surya Kund: Surya Kund is a famous hot spring located in Yamunotri. Yamunotri is the first Dham of the Char Dhams. This would be the first place you’ll be visiting on your Char Dham Yatra. This natural water spring is dedicated to the father of Goddess Yamuna. It is believed that one should take a bath in this ‘Surya Kund’ before offering their prayers at the main Yamunotri Temple. You can also cook rice and potato in the hot waters here, which are offered to the goddess in the shrine, and thereafter you can take it as Prasad with you.
- Vishwanath Temple: Vishwanath Temple is a beautiful temple located in Uttarkashi. Uttarkashi is a mesmerizing sacred city located on the banks of the Bhagirathi River. While going towards Gangotri Dham, pilgrims can stop here for some rest. There are many holy temples and ashrams one can visit here. This temple is believed to be the oldest shrine ever made dedicated to Lord Shiva. In the Hindu Mythology, it is said that lord Shiva first appeared here to save Rishi Markandeya from the death of God. You can offer your prayers to the idols of goddess Parvati, lord Ganesha, and Rishi Markandeya here.
- Mukhba Village: Mukhba Village is located near Dharali (another beautiful and famous picturesque beauty) in Uttarkashi. On your way to Gangotri, you can explore this beauty if you want to. When the Gangotri Shrine is closed for the six months of the year owing to peak winters, the idol of Goddess Ganga is placed here. You can visit the famous and holy ‘Ganga Temple’ during winters to seek blessings from goddess Ganga here. The picturesque small wooden huts, colorful flora and fauna, and pine trees make the surroundings too beautiful to talk about. One cannot express it in words, you should not miss visiting this place on your Char Dham Yatra.
- Gaumukh Glacier: Gaumukh Glacier is one of the most visited places in Gangotri. If you are someone who loves nature and trekking, then this destination is for you. All the adventure enthusiasts who love extreme adventures should plan a trip to this Glacier. One needs to complete a rigorous trek of 18km from Gangotri to reach the Gaumukh Glacier. If you plan to go on this trek, then don’t forget to take special permission from the forest department in Uttarkashi. The mesmerizing scenic views surrounding the mighty Himalayas will lift your mood and you will be rejuvenated with a different kind of energy only.
- Bhairav Temple: Bhairav Temple is a holy and sacred shrine dedicated to lord Bhairavnath. You can visit this while offering your prayers at the third dham of the Char Dham Yatra which is Kedarnath. This temple is one of the most famous and attractive tourist destinations in Kedarnath. It is widely believed that Lord Bhairavnath is the guardian and protector of the Kedarnath Town and the Kedarnath Temple during winters when everything is covered under thick layers of snow. You need to hike around a kilometer to reach this temple. The hike starts from Kedarnath Temple only. People also visit this famous Bhairavnath Temple to catch a bird’s eye view of the Kedarnath Valley, which cannot be described in words.
- Joshimath: Joshimath is a beautiful city located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. When you will be traveling to the Badrinath Dham, which is also the last dham of the sacred Char Dham Yatra, you can take a stop here. This is an important place for stopovers as the roads to Badrinath remain closed during the night. This beautiful town is also a famous destination visited by explorers traveling to Auli. The stunning and soothing views around this place will make your heart sign with peace. This place is a must-visit destination for all nature lovers. You can also go for some treks from here such as Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib. Narsingh Temple and Shankaracharya Math are also some places loved by tourists here.
- Mana Village: One of the nicest things you can do on your trip to Badrinath is to explore Mana Village. This village, which is known as India’s “Tourism Village,” is the last one to be found close to the Tibetan-Chinese Border and is situated 3 kilometers from Badrinath. This town is sheer visual splendor because the Himalayan Ranges surround it. Your eyes will enjoy the stunning and captivating views. While exploring this picture-perfect village, you can go trekking, which is another interesting pastime.
- Shani Dev Temple: The earliest Shani Dev Temple can be found and visited in Kharsali, in the Uttarkashi region of Uttarakhand. This temple is one of the most well-known locations in Yamunotri, and you should surely think about visiting this holy shrine on your way to Yamunotri Temple. A kilometer away from Jankichatti, the Shani dev temple is referred to as Goddess Yamuna’s winter residence. When the Char Dham Yatra begins, this temple will be the first stop you will be stopping at. Hindu believers consider it to have religious significance because it is thought that the Pandava Brothers erected this temple. Take blessings of Lord Shani Dev and continue your Char Dham Yatra ahead.
- Saptarishi Kund: Saptarishi Kund is a place that should be visited by every devotee on their Char Dham Pilgrimage. This kund can be seen situated at a distance of 10 km from the main Yamunotri Shrine. So, you can explore this place en route to the Yamunotri Dham. This kund is famous amongst the tourists as it is surrounded by a rare Himalayan Flower, namely Brahma Kamal. It is believed that this place is named after the seven mighty rishis who used to perform meditation and yoga here. You would need a help of a local guide or someone who knows about the place very well, as this lake is situated in a very remote area of Yamunotri. The stunning views here will surely capture your heart.
- Gaurikund Temple: Nearly 200 meters separate the Gaurikund Bus Stop from the Gaurikund Temple. You can stop by this serene location before beginning your trip to Kedarnath temple. This holy and sacred temple is well-known among Hindu devotees and is dedicated to the goddess Parvati. It is believed according to the hindu mythology that in order to impress Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati is said to have performed yoga here. As a result, it has a huge historical significance. In order to avoid missing out on this temple, you should visit it before beginning your trek to Kedarnath. This would be a memorable visit for sure.
- Tapta Kund: One of the most well-known places to visit in Badrinath is the Tapta Kund. Before visiting the Badrinath Temple to offer their prayers, devotees bathe in this sacred kund. It is a kind of ritual followed by each devotee coming here. The Alaknanda River and Badrinath Temple are separated by this kund, which is a natural hot spring. After taking a bath in this holy kund that is heated to 45 degrees, people report feeling pure and refreshed. Additionally, it is commonly accepted that this kund possesses unique therapeutic properties. Many pilgrims have admitted the fact that the water of this kund holds special healing qualities.
- Yamunotri Temple: One of the dhams of the well-known Char Dham Yatra is the Yamunotri Dham. The holy and sacred Yamunotri Temple is devoted to the goddess Yamuna. This temple situated at a height of 3,291 meters in the stunning western Garhwal Himalayas is a stunning picturesque attraction. Your hearts will be calmed and comforted by this place’s spiritual and religious energy. You will be astounded by the stunning views around this temple. You can visit this religious place from the months of May to November to seek the powerful blessings of Goddess Yamuna. This would be undoubtedly a heart-warming experience for you. The timings to visit this temple are also fixed, devotees can visit the temple from six in the morning till eight at night.
Visit All these beautiful places in your char dham tour and get the blessing of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.