CHAR DHAM YATRA

24 MAY 2024 – 6 JUNE 24

Char Dham Pilgrimage is considered one of the most popular and sacred pilgrimages in India. It consists of four holy shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath.

State: UTTARAKHAND, Country: India

I had a wish to do this yatra in my lifetime hopefully, before I turn 60. But destiny had planned this wish to come true much earlier than I expected. A random telephone conversation with my cousins from Vadodara ends up in us registering for the trip. The trip cost was fairly reasonable amount, so I knew instantly that there would be no comfort or luxury on this journey, and got prepared to face whatever comes in this journey. It was this mindset which helped me in this journey of self realization.

The complete itinerary, which we followed for Char Dham Yatra is –

Day 1 – 25 May 2024. Reach Haridwar 4 PM. NIGHT STAY HARIDWAR.

Day 2 – 26 May 2024. Haridwar → Barkot (192 km; 7 hrs). NIGHT STAY BARKOT

Day 3 – 27 May 2024. Barkot → Janki Chatti (45 km, 2 hrs) → Yamunotri Temple (7 km trekking one way) and back to Barkot. NIGHT STAY BARKOT.

Day 4 – 28 May 2024. Barkot → Uttarkashi (82 km, 3 hrs). NIGHT STAY AT UTTARKASHI

Day 5 – 29 May 2024. Uttarkashi → Harshil (79 km, 3 hrs) → Gangotri Temple (26 km, 1 hr) and back to Uttarkashi. NIGHT STAY AT UTTARKASHI

Day 6 – 30 May 2024. Uttarkashi → Guptakashi. (230 km, 8 hrs)

Day 7 – 31 May 2024. Guptakashi → Sonprayag (40 kms, 3 hrs)→ Kedarnath Temple (18 km trekking one way). NIGHT STAY AT KEDARNATH

Day 8 – 1 June 2024. Kedarnath → Phata NIGHT STAY AT PHATA.

Day 9 – 2 June 24. Phata – TUNGNATH (55 Kms, 2.5 hrs) – Pipalkoti. (66 kms, 2.5 hrs) NIGHT STAY HERE).

Day 10 – 3 June 24. Pipalkoti – Rudraprayg → Joshimath (114 km) → Badrinath Temple (39 km). Reach Badrinath and immediately go for darshan. NIGHT STAY AT BADRINATH.

Day 11 – 4 June 24. Badrinath to srinagar.

Day 12 – 5 June 24. Srinagar to Haridwar.

Day 13 -6 June 24. Flight, Dehradun to Mumbai

Banks of River Ganga
Bustling River Yamuna
Entry Gate to Gangotri Shrine
Almost there… Kedarnath mountains view
Most beautiful hills around…!
One of the beautiful bridges in Hrishikesh

HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE CHAR DHAM YATRA

  1. Start by changing the MINDSET and accepting things & situations the way they are. Complain less. Because this journey would teach you to APPRECIATE what you have instead of criticizing it.
  2. Get a STRONGER body. Start climbing stairs, steep hills and walk 5 km at least everyday. At least a month of Physical Fitness needed.
  3. Start Eating SATTVIC at least a week before the yatra. Tamasic food would take away the energy from your body and you will feel fatigue more often. Whereas Sattvic food would help conserve energy in your body
  4. Apart from mental and physical fitness preparation, you would need other standard goods which we pack for every other trip – Sunglasses, comfortable shoes, rain gear, sun scree, cap, warm socks, thermal wear
  5. Basic medicines also need to be packed for some common symptoms like cold and flu, fever, sore throat, motion sickness, altitude sickness – like paracetamol, throat lozenges, Vicks inhaler, a pain balm.
  6. Ensure to follow religious customs and traditions at the pilgrimage sites, Consume only VEGETERIAN food and NO alcohol while on this yatra and wear modest clothing in temples. Head cover not needed.
  7. To reduce plastic waste, preferably carry your own water bottle and refill it at restaurants or temples where a water filter is installed.
  8. Not compulsory but definitely, it would be more engaging if you could beforehand read up on the legends and mythologies associated with each Dham.

Remember the Char Dham Yatra is not a physical journey or a trip involving simply travel, sightseeing and a darshan. It is a spiritual journey, wherein one should meditate, recite mantras or prayers and engage in self-reflection or introspection. The Ultimate goal is to UNIFY the mind and body with the DIVINE.