Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand takes the pilgrims on a devotional pilgrimage of a lifetime across the 4 temples of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri which are located on the Garhwal Himalayas. It was during the 8th century that the great sage and philosopher, Adi Shankaracharya, had made his way from South India to North India and established this pilgrimage along with many other temples and Maths all along the way. The aim was to reignite a wave of Hinduism, oneness and brotherhood in the country after numerous invasions by different empires.
Ever since its establishment, the Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand has drawn lakhs of pilgrims from all over the world. The Char Dham Tour Packages have grown in number with the Char Dham Yatra by Helicopter being the most loved among them. With the plethora of Char Dham Packages available planning a trip to these holy temples is no problem anymore. The ancient wisdom, belief and respect attached with it has been one of the prime reasons for its continuing popularity.
Still wondering if you should go for the Yatra or not? Here are 8 reasons why everyone should plan a Trip to Char Dham Yatra:
IT IS A SIGNIFICANT PILGRIMAGE AMONG HINDUS
Every year lakhs of pilgrims go for a Trip to Char Dham Yatra by Car, Bus, and Helicopter and on foot. According to ancient scriptures and available holy literature, anyone who makes the time and effort to go for Char Dham Yatra, achieves moksha or the liberation from the karmic cycle of birth and rebirth.
Moksha is the 4th and the ultimate goal of life which transcends all the other arts has or goals of human life. It is achieved only after overcoming ignorance and desire.
THERE ARE MANY PLACES FOR ADVENTURE LOVERS TO HAVE FUN
Kedarnath is located in Rudraprayag district, Yamunotri and Gangotri in Uttarkashi district and Badrinath in Chamoli. The geographical locations of the temples make it incredibly favorable for adventure lovers to indulge in some adventure activities.
Yamunotri requires the pilgrims to walk 8 kms on a narrow path hanging by the mountainside to reach the temple. Kedarnath is much more challenging since the only walking route here is 18 kms of just continuous uphill trek which on foot takes a whole day. Although Badrinath and Gangotri are easier to reach but there are many treks around the region like Gaumukh trek that goes from behind the Gangotri temple and trek to valley of flowers, Hemkund Sahib and Satopanth Glacier trek that starts from near Badrinath temple.
THERE ARE MANY PLACES TO VISIT WITH FAMILY
The Char Dham Yatra is not just about visiting the famous ancient temples of religious significance. There are plenty of sightseeing destinations located around these temples. In Kedarnath places of tourist interest includes Gaurikund Temple, Triyuginarayan Temple, Bhairavnath Temple and Kedarnath Gufa; in Badrinath there are places like Mana Village, Vasudhara Waterfalls, Bheem Pul and Vyas Gufa; Gangotri has places like Harsil, Mukhba, Surya Kund and Nelong Valley and in Yamunotri you can visit places like Shani Dev Temple, Kharsali and Janki Chatti.
Char Dham Yatra is not only about visiting these temples, it is also a great way of checking out the bountiful beauty these hill places have to offer.
WITNESS THE PANCH PRAYAG
The name Panch Prayag depicts the 5 points where 2 rivers meet and finally flow out as the holy life giving Ganga River. The 5 Prayags are Vishnuprayag, Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, and Devprayag and Rudraprayag. The Panch Prayag path starts from Alaknanda River which is joined by Dhauliganga in Vishnuprayag, Nandakini River in Nandprayag, Pindar River in Karnaprayag, Mandakini River in Rudraprayag and finally the confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi Rivers in Devprayag.
During a Char Dham Yatra Trip by Road, which starts from the gateway to Char Dham, Haridwar and Rishikesh, pilgrims will be able to stop over at these Panch Prayag points to offer prayer and to take some amazing pictures.
BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF THE HIMALAYAS
Char Dham Yatra is undoubtedly one of the most important Hindu pilgrimages in the world and its popularity continues to grow on an exponential rate. There are several packages available for Char Dham Yatra which enables every devotee to make their way to these temples ranging from Char Dham Helicopter Packages to Char Dham Yatra by Road.
Experiencing Char Dham Yatra from a helicopter is an experience that everyone should aim for. The beauty of the Himalayas from high above is indescribable. All you see is the lush greenery below in complete comfort and luxury. Even if you decide to go by road, the beauty of these places is constant.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT MORE WITH NATURE
The Himalayan terrain is interesting and very exciting. There are jagged terrains, wide open fields, ancient tall trees and clear open sky. This is the exact kind of natural beauty every nature lover adores. Kedarnath Dham is located inside the premise of Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary and Gangotri is situated inside Gangotri National Park which also houses the famous Gaumukh Glacier, the main source of Ganga River.
This means that most of these temples are located inside strictly preserved natural surroundings. If you are a nature lover and taking walks among the greenery is something you love, then going to these Char Dham temples will be a very soulful and exciting thing to do.
MEDICAL REASON
Did you know that sitting down in one place for long hours, especially in an office, is very harmful for health and overall wellbeing? Char Dham Yatra is challenging at parts and tough for many people due to its high elevation, sudden weather changes and the mountain terrain. Doing this Yatra will put you in the habit of exercising regularly because every pilgrim needs to be physically fit to complete this journey.
Hiking and trekking your way up to the temple entrance will lower blood pressure, keep the heart in shape while also controlling diabetes. Other than the walk there are several natural hot water springs around all the 4 temples where taking a dip will rid you of all bodily pains and rejuvenate you from within.
GET A GLIMPSE OF THE REAL INDIA
India is known as a treasure for culture and traditions. If you are looking for a different kind of Indian experience then the Char Dham pilgrimage will be perfect. The pilgrimage goes through some of the most interior villages which otherwise nobody would visit voluntarily. In these villages you will be able to see how the people live, what they eat and learn more about their ways of life.
The Garhwal Himalayas are inhabited by various ethnic groups, sub groups and tribes that coexist with nature. You will also be interacting with different pilgrims from different parts of India and various walks of life. Char Dham Yatra promotes the peaceful mingling of people from not just all over India but all over the world.
Take this as a sign and start planning a spiritual Trip to Char Dham Yatra with your family and loved ones.
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