With a plethora of religious sites, India makes it a perfect destination for spiritual tours to seek peace of mind and tranquility. Amongst all the spiritual tours, the ‘Chhota Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand’ holds a great religious significance, especially for Hindus as it is believed that whosoever does this yatra once in his lifetime is relieved from the cycle of life and death and attains salvation. Pilgrims and travel enthusiasts from within India and different corners of the world travel to Uttarakhand in huge numbers every year to seek spiritual bliss that is offered in the Chhota Char Dham Tour.
The ‘Char Dham Yatra’ usually commences from the holy city of Haridwar, which is an important pilgrimage center for Hindus and millions of devotees. Many believers visit this place every year to take a holy dip in the sacred waters of River Ganga to sanctify themselves. Similar to Haridwar, there are many places in Uttarakhand that play an important role in keeping the Hindu faith strong and these places can indeed be visited during the performance of the main Chhota Char Dham Yatra. In other words, one may say that this sacred Yatra is one of the best ways to explore the mighty land of Uttarakhand. So, if one receives the ‘Calling’, he or she must not stop himself but embark on this journey, which certainly has the potential to change one’s perspective towards religion and faith. This is absolutely the right time to dive deep into the realm of spirituality.
Tourist Places To Visit In Char Dham
1.Hemkund Sahib
Photograph by https://sikhtourism.files.wordpress.comSituated at an altitude of 4,329 meters above sea level, Hemkund means ‘Lake of snow’. Surrounded by waterfalls and luscious forests and home to the revered Sikh pilgrimage site, Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara, this is another popular tourist place to visit.
2.Badrinath Dham
Nestled between the mountaintops of Nar and Narayan, the temple is the most majestic and significant of the Four Dhams. The Badrinathji Mandir draws lakhs of local and international visitors. It is definitely one of the most celebrated temples in the country and is the only memorial that is part of both Chota Char Dham and Bada Char Dham. Please note, it is open to the public only between April and November.
3.Kedarnath Dham
Kedarnath Dham is Situated in the Rudta prayag district of Uttarakhand ,Kedarnath is situated at an elevated height of 3586 meters above sea level, in the lap of the Garhwali Himalayan peaks, where the River Mandakini begins. It has the added history of being one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, or spots sacred to Lord Shiva. Extreme weather conditions mean it stays open to the public only between April and November.
4.Gangotri Dham
3100 meters above sea level in the uttarkashi region of Uttarakhand, it is another sacred and revered spot for Hindus, forming another part of the Char Dhams. Aside from the gorgeous location at the foothills of the Himalayas, Gangotri is renowned for its deep spiritual connection with the River Ganga. From the origin of Indian mythology till today, the Ganga River has remained a symbol of purity and unity for tourists and locals. This is the glacier from where River Ganga originates.
5.Yamunotri Dham
To the west of the Garhwal Himalayas, rests the sacred yamunotri Dham. Approximately 3,293 meters above sea-level, it is admired for its massive snow-capped mountains, being home to arguably India’s second most sacred river, the Yamuna and the beloved Indian goddess of the same name. It tends to be the first spot on the Char Dham Yatra and the origination point of River Yamuna.
6. Har ki Pauri
One of the most sacred Ghats in Haridwar Har ki Pauri is on the bank of River Ganga. This is a major landmark of this holy city and is literally Har means God ki means of Pauri means steps – Footsteps of the God. Pilgrims take a holy dip in the river and attend the world-famous Ganga Aarti here.
7. Rishikesh
Renowned as the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’, Rishikesh is located in the foothills of the Himalayas along the confluence of Chandrabhaga and Ganga Rivers. This pilgrimage town is not only a spiritual center but is also equally popular for adventure activities like river rafting, bungee jumping, and camping.
8. Mana Village
Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Mana is the last Indian village near the Indo-China border. Situated on the bank of River Sarasvati, Mana is located at an altitude of 3,219 m above sea level. The traces of Mahabharata can be seen here. It is believed that Pandavas crossed the Mana village during their journey to heaven.
9. Vasudhara Falls
Situated at 9 km from Badrinath, Vasudhara Falls is easily accessible from Mana Village also. This glistening cascade drops from the height of 400 feet and joins River Alaknanda. It is believed to be a place where Sage Ved Vyas divides the Vedas into four – Rig, Sam, Yajur, and Atharv Ved. The unparalleled beauty of the waterfall tempts nature lovers.
10. Madhyamaheshwar Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Madhyameshwar Temple is situated in the Goundar Village of Garhwali Himalayas of Uttarakhand. The trek to the temple started from Ransi Village is 19 km. It is among the Panch Kedar. It is believed that the temple was built by Pandavas. Surrounded by the Chaukhamba peak and lush valleys, Madhyameshwar Temple is accessible in the summer season as the region is covered in snow in winters.
11. Kalimath
One of the 108 Shakti Peethas in India, Kalimath is located on the bank of Saraswati River in Rudraprayag district. It is believed that after killing the demon Raktbeej, Goddess Kali went underneath the ground here. A silver plate (Sri Yantra) covering a point where Goddess Kali enters the earth is worshipped by the devotees. The Sri Yantra is opened and taken out of the temple only on the eighth day of the Navratri.
12. Chandrashila
Literally means ‘Moon Rock’, Chandrashila is a peak on which Tungnath Temple of Panch Kedar is positioned. The base camp of Chandrashila trek is Chopta. Situated at an elevation of 4,000 m above sea level, Chandrashila offers the enchanting 360-degree view of the majestic Himalayan peaks including Nanda Devi, Trishul, Kedar Peak, Chaukhamba, and Bandarpoonch peaks.
13. Surya Kund
One of the revered pilgrimage sites in the Uttarkashi district, Surya Kund is a mesmerizing waterfall that comes down the mountains and offers spectacular views. Pilgrims visit the waterfall to pay respect to the Sun God.
14. Saptrishi Kund
Located at an elevation of 4,421 m above sea level, Saptrishi Kund is a high-altitude lake. It is the original source of River Yamuna and is fed by the Champasar glacier. The trek to Saptrishi Kund starts from Yamunotri. This place is considered sacred as Sapt Rishi or seven sages named Rishi Kashyap, Atri, Gautama, Vishwamitra, Bhardwaj, Vashishtha, and Jamadagni performed penance here.
