Chardham Yatra is an ultimate chance to dig into marvelous Hindu cultures and sheer Himalayan beauty. The four major pilgrimage destinations – Gangotari, Yamunotari, Kedarnath and Badrinath – form this holy pilgrimage which is nothing less a breathtaking experience for devotees. The Yatra begins in April-June and ends till Diwali (October-November); due to extreme weather conditions, it remains closed during winters. People from each corner of the country take this Yatra to get blessings of the respective deities and enjoy mesmeric natural charms of Utterkhand’s Garwal region.

All the four destinations are located amidst lofty peaks of Himalaya, and are supported by four religious rivers – Yamun in Yamunotari, Bhagirathi in Gangotari, Mandakini in kedarnath and Alaknanda in Badrinath. Traditionally, the Yatra begins from the west (Yamunotari) and proceeds further towards east.

The great Hindu reformer and philosopher “Adi Shankracharya” is said to be the first person who made the Yatra first time in 8the centuries. Today, thousands of devotees from across the country take this pilgrimage which is believed to wash all the sins away. According to the Hindu myths, these places are as associated with Lord Shiva and Vishnu and are considered as the most sacred sites for Hindus.

Today, when an increasing number of pilgrims opt for this journey, travel companies have begun to offer travel packages for Chardaham Yatra. Considering the arduous trekking routes and uncertain weather, these packages are very helpful for devotees, especially the one who are not in prime health to trek up so long.Yamunotari, the very first destination on the pilgrimage, is accessed after a tough trekking of about 7km.