Char Dham Ki Yatra
The popularity of Char Dham yatra tour packages speaks volumes about the prominence of this sacred pilgrimage, which covers four sacred temples in the lofty Himalayas in Uttarakhand. The cost of a Char Dham yatra package covers a visit to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath – each of the places with its own legends and histories. While earlier the pilgrimage involved strenuous journeys made on foot across hilly terrains, now you even have the choice to book a package for a Char Dham tour by helicopter. Each of the abodes that form the highlights of any Char Dham package boast of their own religious significance and is dedicated to a different deity. Yamunotri is said to be the abode of the Goddess Yamuna who is believed to be the daughter of the Sun and the twin sister of the god of death, Yama. According to legend, sage Asit Muni resided here and had a ritual of bathing in the waters of both rivers, the Ganga and Yamuna. As he got older and could no longer travel to Gangotri, a stream of the Ganga made its way to him, flowing across the stream of Yamuna.
Dedicated to the Goddess Ganga, this Dham is surrounded by the legend of Bhagirath whose meditation managed to summon Ganga to the earth, where she was tied down by Lord Shiva, sending the waters down several streams, so the earth could be protected against the mighty force of the Ganga. Kedarnath is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has quite the legend associated with its origin. It is said that Lord Shiva, in no mood to forgive the Pandavas so easily, dived into the ground as they came looking for him to absolve them of the crimes they committed on the battlefield. Different parts of the lord came up at different sites – Kedarnath, Tunganath, Madhya-Maheshwar, Rudranath, and Kalpeshwar, which together are known as the Panch-Kedar, where the Pandavas later had temples built.
Badrinath is said to be the abode of Lord Vishnu, who is believed to have meditated in penance when his indulgent lifestyle was criticised by a sage. As he meditated, he was sheltered from the elements by his wife, Goddess Laxmi, who turned into a berry tree.
Book the best Char Dham tour package that suits your preferences and budget. You can explore the best deals for cost-effective prices for Char Dham yatra packages with Veena World for a hassle-free experience. With Veena World, you can also book a package for a Char Dham yatra by helicopter, the cost of the Char Dham yatra package will vary accordingly.
Places Included in Char Dham Yatra Packages
Char Dham yatra packages typically involve a circuit of the four most holy sites in Uttarakhand on a transcendental quest. Apart from the prominent temples, the journey in itself is quite spellbinding as well. As you travel on your Char Dham package, you get amazing views like that of the Himalayas, meadows, mountain forests, waterfalls, rivers, valleys, and surreal natural landscapes. Other spots you can include in your Char Dham package, to cover along the way include Divya Shila, Vasuki Taal, Surya Kund, Bhagirathi River, Neelkanth Peaks, Brahma Kapal, Tapt Kund, Kedarnath Gufa, Gaurikund, and many more sacred sites.
Popular belief states that the journey must be taken in a clockwise direction across the four sacred sites that form the focal point of all Char Dham yatra packages:
1. Yamunotri Dham
Yamunotri Dham is where your Char Dham yatra itinerary will begin. Yamunotri is the point of origin of the Yamuna, which is the second most holy river in India. It is believed that bathing in the river’s water cleanses away sins and protects one from painful and untimely death. The yatra to Yamunotri begins from Janki Chatti and you can book a package for a Char Dham tour by helicopter to get to the temple, you can walk, or you can ride a palanquin or pony.
2. Gangotri Dham
The most sacred river in India, the Ganges, originates from the Gangotri glacier at Gaumukh, located 18 km from the town of Gangotri. The second stop in any Char Dham tour package and a popular destination for a vacation as well as religious tourism, Gangotri is also one of the highest pilgrimage sites in India.
3. Kedarnath Dham
Dedicated to Lord Shiva and revered as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, Kedarnath is the remotest pilgrimage site included in Char Dham yatra tour packages. At a height of 3.580 metres, the temple is also located close to the Chorabari Glacier, which is the source of the Mandakini River. The temple has been built using extremely large, evenly shaped grey stone slabs
4. Badrinath Dham
Badrinath Temple or the Badrinarayan Temple will be the third stop in your Char Dham tourism package. The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams and is said to have been established by sage Adi Shankaracharya, who found the idol of Lord Badri (Vishnu) Alaknanda River (originates from Badrinath), which he put up in a cave near the Tapt Kund. Later, in the 16th century, a temple around the cave was erected by a Garhwal King, sandwiched between two peaks (Nar and Narayan), against a backdrop of the Neelkanth peak.
The Best Time to Book a Char Dham Tour Package
You can make a booking for the Char Dham yatra after Akshaya Tritiya in the Hindu calendar, which would fall around April-May. The yatra is not conducted during the winter season from October to March. The summers, from April to June, are ideal for booking a cost-effective Char Dham yatra package, as the temperatures are perfect for exploring the holy sites and the blooming flora of the foothills makes for the most amazing landscapes for you to explore. With an extremely high risk of landslides, the monsoon season (June-September) is not ideal for booking a Char Dham package. Based on when you plan to travel, the inclusions you opt for, and the itinerary, the cost of the Char Dham yatra package will also vary. With Veena World, you can find the most cost-effective Char Dham yatra package that matches your plans exactly You can also opt for Customised Holidays by Veena World, where you get to personalise your Char Dham package according to your preferences.
