Feb 12, 2013 17:33 IST Chardham Yatra in Garhwal

Spirituality has a great prominence into the lives of the human beings. Every year, a large number of people undertake a spiritual drive to the state of in search of divinity and attain . With a plethora of pilgrimage sights under its belts, the enchanting place is renowned worldwide as the 'Land of Gods'. The Chardham Yatra is one of the most sought honored and sacred sites in the Uttarakhand region that is thronged by the saints and pilgrims to find a great peace of mind and get divine pleasure.

Chardham is primarily an amalgamation of four famous holy destinations, which are , , and . The serene environment of these four pilgrimage sites provides a perfect opportunity to the people to rejuvenate their lives again and most importantly find a peaceful salvation. Generally, the journey is carried out from the direction of west to the east that starts from Yamunotri, advances to Gangotri and lastly to Kedarnath and Badrinath. At these places, besides attaining salvation, one can also enjoy the fresh air and see the awe-inspiring sights.

Four Prominent Sacred Destinations of Chardham Yatra Yamunotri Dham

The abode of Goddess , Yamunotri Dham, is the first destination of Chardham Yatra Uttarakhand. It is nestled at an altitude of 3,293 meters in of Uttarakhand. There is a popular notion that before entering the , people should not forget to worship a rock pillar known as 'Divya Shila'. There are two unique hot springs near the temple, which are renowned as Kund and . Surya Kund is a very important spring that is essentially a reservoir of hot boiling water where the raw potatoes and rice are cooked and offered as a ‘Prasad’ to the devotees. Gauri Kund is a tank of warm water, mainly used for bathing. The beautiful surroundings such as the snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear flowing river, peaceful environment and bone-chilling breeze will simply make you think and admire the true majestic beauty of the holy place. Gangotri Dham

Gangotri is a pilgrimage place where the sacred river Ganga flows. The dham is situated at an elevation of 3,048 meters in the Garhwal Himalayas. Millions of people visit the famous Gangotri Temple to offer their prayers. It was back in the 18th century, when the Gorkha General Amar Singh constructed this renowned holy temple. The temple is enveloped by the snow-clad mountains and the natural scenic beauty that will really make your yatra truly unforgettable. The famous evening Aarti in the temple is an absolute treat to watch that should not be missed. If you are an adventure freak, then you can undertake trekking route from the Gangotri to Gaumukh, which is essentially an 18 kilometer journey.

Kedarnath Dham

Kedarnath Dham is a very popular holy destination site of Chardham Yatra Uttarakhand that is located in the Prayag district near the . The Shri is primarily dedicated to the Lord . Many people from the various geographical locations of the world flock in large numbers to see one of the twelve nestled in the temple. The place has a plenty of other prominent attractions to offer such as the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Agastyamuni, Trijugi Narayan, , Vasuki Tal and many more. You will also find innumerable kunds near the temple, namely, Udhak kund, Rudhir Kund, Gauri Kund, Hans Kund and so on. The best time to visit the temple is in the month of May. The temple generally closes on the end of October during the festival of Bhai Dooj. The beautiful snow-capped mountains and the chilling, usually proves an uphill task for the people to visit the sacred place, but in spite of all these hassles, millions of devotees visit the holy shrine to offer their devotion.

Badrinath Dham

Badrinath is a last dham where the Chardham yatra comes to an end. It is situated at the altitude of 3,133 meters just above the sea level. The place is an abode of Lord Badrinarayan (Lord ). In the 8th century, Shri was constructed by Shankaracharya ji. The temple also has idols of Goddess Mahalaxmi and Garuda (vehicle of Lord Vishnu). The doors of the temple are usually opened from the month of April to November due to the difficult and harsh weather conditions. During the journey of Badrinath, the people can also visit a famous Sikh pilgrim known as Hemkund Sahib. Therefore, a Chardham Yatra Uttarakhand offers a golden opportunity to the people to kick out the frenetic world and get immersed in the world of peace and offer their respect and dedication to the almighty.