Home to the most revered Hindu pilgrimages nestled in the Himalayas, Uttarakhand is rightly called Dev Bhoomi (the Land of Gods). The four Char Dhams—Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath—draw pilgrims from all over India and beyond. These holy sites are only open to visitors for six months of the year.
The portals of the temples were opened in May this year and will close in October–November. Here’s all you need to know about Char Dham Yatra 2022.
How to reach:
Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport
Nearest Railway Station: Rishikesh Railway Station
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Gangotri
Gangotri Dham is dedicated to Goddess Ganga, the most sacred of all Indian rivers. Legend has it that Ganga descended at Gangotri on Earth from heaven when Lord Shiva released her from his locks. The portals of this auspicious temple were opened on 3rd May this year and will remain so until late October. Every day, a maximum of 7,000 devotees will be permitted to offer prayers at Gangotri.
अक्षय तृतीया के पावन अवसर पर आज पतित पावनी मां गंगा को समर्पित गंगोत्री धाम के कपाट श्रद्धालुओं के लिए खोल दिए गए हैं। प्रातः 11:15 बजे शुभ मुहूर्त में विधिवत हवन, पूजा-अर्चना एवं वैदिक मंत्रोच्चारण के बीच कपाट खोले गए।
📸 Rajat Semwal #gangotri #Chardham #chardhamyatra2022 pic.twitter.com/hPgInH8OKc
— Uttarakhand Tourism (@UTDBofficial) May 3, 2022
Yamunotri
Yamunotri is the source of the holy river Yamuna. Perched at the top of Bandar Poonch Parvat at an altitude of 3,293 metres, this temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. It is believed that a dip in this sacred river protects one from untimely death. Like Gangotri, the portals of this temple were also opened on 3rd May this year. A maximum of 4,000 devotees will be allowed in Yamunotri daily.
Kedarnath
Situated on the banks of the Mandakini River, the Kedarnath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is home to one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in the country. This temple is known for its exquisite architecture, with grey stone slabs interlocked together. In the background of the holy shrine, one can witness the mighty Kedarnath Peak, the Kedar Dome and other Himalayan peaks covered in snow. The doors of Kedarnath were opened for the devotees today, i.e., 6th May this year. A maximum of 12,000 devotees are allowed to visit Kedarnath Temple daily.
आज प्रातः 6:25 बजे शुभ मुहूर्त में पारंपरिक धार्मिक अनुष्ठान एवं विधि-विधान अनुसार श्री केदारनाथ धाम के कपाट खोल दिए गए। असंख्य श्रद्धालुओं का उत्साह देखते ही बन रहा था। भगवान शिव को समर्पित इस धाम के दर्शन के लिए आप भी 'देवभूमि' उत्तराखंड अवश्य आएं। हर-हर महादेव!#chardhamyatra pic.twitter.com/cShc86Cab0
— Uttarakhand Tourism (@UTDBofficial) May 6, 2022
Badrinath
The Badrinath Temple or Badrinarayana Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Located on the banks of the Alaknanda River, this holy shrine sits between the twin Nar and Naryana mountain ranges. It is believed to have been established by sage Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. The temple portals will open on 8th May this year, and a maximum of 15,000 pilgrims will be allowed to offer their prayers here daily.
So, which Char Dham temple are you planning to visit in Uttarakhand this year? We wish you a safe trip. Happy travelling! 😀
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