Char Dham Yatra

A Spiritual Odyssey through the Himalayas

Introduction

Traveling to the holy Char Dham yatra was a deeply spiritual and awe inspiring moment for my life. The four holy shrines are – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath the center of Hindu’s spiritual salvation. The pilgrimage is about transforming the inner soul and experiencing the divinity and raw beauty of Mother Nature.

Yamunotri: The Origin of the Yamuna River

Background History

Yamunotri, represents Goddess Yamuna – the sister or God Yamma is the first major step in our holy journey of Char Dham. Goddess Yamuna is the sister of Yama, the god of death and dharma. According to Holy Scriptures, and voices of sages, if one takes a bath in her waters, he cleanses himself of all his sins and protects himself from untimely death. The temple was located at an altitude of 3293 meters, the surrounding view of the place was exotic and charming to the eyes.  Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal built this Holy Temple.

Getting There

My trip to Yamunotri began at Janki Chatti. I had to trek for 6 KM to get through the lush valleys, dense forests, and the bubbling Yamuna River. For the aged people and those who could not afford to trek, for them ponies are available on rent basis by the locals. So, I had the golden opportunity to take a dive into the river Yamuna. I pray to the goddess to clean our soul and bring enlightenment.

Staying Options

With limited lodging options too one can find a comfortable stay proposition in the chill climate. I stayed at a guest house in Janki Chatti. The rooms were basic but to my surprise the rooms were clean. The rooms had hot water available—a necessity in the cold mountain air. Although I am not so fond of hot water for bathing as I enjoy the cold water for daily activities (Thande Thande Paani Se). Some popular stays include GMVN Tourist Rest House and private guesthouses like Durga Resort. Nearby Attractions

• Surya Kund: There is a hot water spring near the Maa Yamuna temple. Many pilgrims cook rice and potatoes in the boiling water as offerings to the goddess.

• Divya Shila: Just near the temple one can find a rock pillar situated, where devotees worship before entering the Yamunotri temple. This is often termed as the first gateway to heaven.

The sight of the snow-capped mountains surrounding Yamunotri is just mesmerizing. The sound of the river flowing beside the temple made this a serene and peaceful experience. I hoped to stay here for my whole life, but I had to move to the other stops as well.

Gangotri: The Source of the Holy Ganges

Background History

The next destination on the cards was Gangotri, where the holy river Ganga originates. Maharaja Bhagirathi made extreme devotions to Goddess Ganga descended as Akash Ganga. There is a temple of goddess Ganga located at a height of around 3100 meters. Amar Singh Thapa, a Gorkha Commander, built this temple in the early 18th century.

Getting There

A beautiful scenic drive from Uttarkashi will take you to Gangotri. With mesmerizing views and vivid landscape one will get to see the real architecture of the world – God’s own creation with the Bhagirathi river flowing across the towering peaks and valleys. One will have to do a small trekking from the parking area to the temple.

Staying Options

You will find great numbers of accommodations  from guesthouses to ashrams. I chose to stay at the GMVN tourist rest house. The rooms were very comfortable and the views were just majestic. There are many dharmshalas for pilgrims and all run by charitable trusts. There are other options available which I will give all the details in the next articles. Nearby Attractions:

• Gaumukh Glacier: This place is the true source of the river Ganga. Its coordinates are around 18km from Gangotri. It is a real challenge for anyone to trek that place. There are plenty of geographical marvels along with the gigantic Glaciers. The river originates from its mouth.

 

• Pandava Gufa (Cave): This is the place where the Pandavas had taken rest during their exile from Kurukshetra with a turmoil with their brothers the Kauravas. Pandavas had medicated here during their stay here.

I felt a deep sense of connection standing by the banks of the river as if there was nothing in this world left to acquire. Coming here brings so much calmness to mind that money, rush, work, anything just becomes worthless. The chanting of the river flow, and daily rituals, aartis (prayers) done here is a site to watch out for as this may become a once in a lifetime experience.

Kedarnath: The Abode of Lord Shiva

Background History

With the completion of the beautiful journey and stay at the Gangotri, it is now time to cross paths at Kedarnath, the third destination in our list. Kedarnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The temple, located at a height of 3583 meters from sea level. According to Hindu mythology the temple for Lord Shiva was established by the Pandavas and later revived by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. I was amazed to see the stone architectures, how they were created in that period when there were not enough tools at hand. This is really an engineering marvel and the science behind its construction is yet to be discovered.

Getting There

One will have to do a trek of 16 km from Gaurikund to complete the journey to Kedarnath. The path is steep and challenging for a good physique male. It needs a lot of endurance and belief to take your body to the temple gate. But with the superb beauty along the way one will really forget the strain the body took to get there. Helicopter and pony rides are also available for old persons and physically challenged people.

Staying Options

Earlier people used to stay in the tent camps at this place, because there were hardly any buildings and houses available. However, with passing years, many construction came around and good guesthouses are now available nearby. One can also find dharmshalas too if you are traveling on a budget. There are many nearby must-see attractions:

• Bhairav Temple : Remember the fierce form of Lord Shiva, the Kaal Bhairav whose only purpose is to destroy anything that comes in his way. If you are a Hindu and happen to go to Kedarnath, then you must get your head touched at this temple first before going to Kedarnath temple. The blessings of Lord Bhairav will surely make your path easier and will protect you from any unnatural happenings. After reaching the temple I found that the panoramic view was just awesome. One must take his DSLR with him for capturing beautiful views, which you cannot get anywhere.

• Vasuki Tal:  This is a natural lake just around 8 Km from Kedarnath. Charming and scenic, words will be insufficient to describe this beautiful place. It is true why Lord Shiva never built any home for himself and his family. He always believed that mother nature has given so many beautiful places to live, then there is no purpose to build another one. These places are more than heaven. These are a living paradise on earth.

Surrounded by jaw dropping towering mountain peaks and the flowing Mandakini River is a place of overwhelming mountain exotic beauty, one must take its panoramic view on their cameras. This is more like going to heaven and coming back to earth.

Badrinath: The Final Destination

Background History

After a cool visit to Kedarnath Dham we came down to our final stop  of the Char Dham Yatra.  According to Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu meditated here while Lakshmi, in the form of Badri tree, provided him shelter from the harsh weather. Shri Adi Shankaracharya established this temple in the 8th century and has since been a prime pilgrimage site for all Hindu devotees. The temple is located at a height of 3133 meters from sea level.

Getting There

One can reach here through a scenic drive from Joshimath. The roads cross through the lush dense forests, valleys, rivers, and steep valley cliffs. Finally one will have to stretch himself to have a walk as motor vehicles can not go further from that point. The small town named Badrinath, is a vibrant place with colors all around. Alaknanda river flows from this part of the area, very clean, majestic, and beautiful.

Staying Options

There is a wide range of comfortable accommodation available in Badrinath, from budget hotels to guest houses. Our stay was at Sarovar Portico, it has an exquisite view of the Neelkanth Peak. There are many other options readily available. Nearby attractions:

• Tapt Kund: This is a hot spring situated just near the Badrinath temple. It is truly amazing to find a hot spring in this chilling climate. After taking holy dip from the hot spring we entered the temple. According to the locals this hot spring acts like a medicine and treat various skin diseases, and medical scientist says it is due to the high Sulphur content in it.

• Mana Village: This is the last Indian village before the Tibet borde. This beautiful village provides a glimpse into the plain life of the Indo-Tibetan community. The famous Vyas Gufa is also located in this village. In this place, Maharshi Vyas (holy saint) had composed the Holy Mahabharata.

• Charan Paduka: This is an ancient rock located about 3 Km from Badrinath. Lord Vishnu’s foot prints is imprinted on the rock as believed by locals. You must take a panoramic view of the valleys here. I bet you will never forget the scenic memory that you will cherish for a lifetime.

The Char Dham Yatra will bring peace and serenity to the inner soul. The rituals done at the temple, the devotions of the pilgrims clubbed with the vivid natural beauty of Badrinath will conclude your journey and it is a memorable experience. The view of the Neelkanth Peak glowing in the morning sun, brings a deep sense of fulfillment as if after this nothing more is needed to be done in life. You will attain Moksha (final path of life).

Conclusion

This Yatra connects you to the divine and natural beauty of the Himalayas. The challenging mountain treks, the serene temples and the amazing landscapes makes the journey a memorable achievement.

Nothing more satisfying for any Hindu, than getting spiritual salvation. However, for other religions also, this majestic beauty of the Himalayas, its adventure makes an unforgettable experience.

With this I conclude my journey experience and return with a heart full of peace, and memories.