The Chardham Yatra

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The Char Dham Yatra is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage circuits in the Indian Himalayas. Located in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, the Chardham Yatra consists of four sites—Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.

The origins of the Char Dham are not well documented and there are many stories that revolve around their origin. The term Char Dham used to be reserved for India's most famous pilgrimage circuit, four important temples—Puri, Rameshwaram, Dwarka, and Badrinath—grouped together by the great 8th century reformer and philosopher Shankaracharya (Adi Sankaracharya), into the typical All-India pilgrimage circuit to the four prime points of the country. At some point, Badrinath, the last visited and the most important of the four sites in the original Char Dham, also became the cornerstone site of a Himalayan pilgrimage (Yatra) circuit dubbed the Chota (little) Char Dham. Unlike the original Char Dham, the sites of the Chota Char Dham do not com under the umbrella of a single sectarian affiliation. Instead, there are three major sectarian movements in modern devotional Hinduism all having representation, with the Vaishnava site Badrinath joined by one Shaiva site Kedarnath and two Devi sites (Yamunotri and Gangotri). Over the years the term Chota has been dropped from Chota Char Dham and now it is popularly known as Charm Dham Yatra.

 With infrastructure improvements in the Himalayan region, the importance of the Char Dham as both an actual destination and an object of the national Hindu religious imagination have increased significantly over the years. Sustained by the development and the rise of a conservative Hindu population compelled, the Char Dham has become an important destination for pilgrims from throughout South Asia and the diaspora.

Day 01: DELHI – HARIDWAR (overnight train)
Evening take train Mussoorie Express from Old Delhi Railway Station for Haridwar. Reach Haridwar in the morning and then transfer to Hotel The Haveli Hari Ganga, a heritage hotel with its own Ghat on river Ganga. Visit Mansa Devi by Cable car during day and evening attend Aarti in Har Ki Pauri. Overnight at hotel.

Day 02 - HARIDWAR – BARKOT. 230kms. [Drive 7 - 8 hrs.]
Depart from Haridwar early morning and take lunch on the way in Mussoorie. Restart your journey and reach Barkot in the evening after visiting Kempty Falls on the way. On 1arrival check in The Chardham Camp Resorts, Yamnotri, just 1 km out of Barkot town on the Yamnotri Road. Diner and Overnight at Camp resort. (Breakfast & dinner included)

Day 03 – BARKOT – YAMNOTRI – BARKOT. (Drive 32 kms, trek 14 kms round)
Again after an early breakfast leave for Hanuman Chatti (Drive 32 kms) to start your journey. Take a local jeep to reach Phool Chatti to shorten your trek by 5 kms. On arrival start your day on a tough trek of 7 kms one side. Arrive at Yamnotri and pray at temple and also take a holy Achman to start your most sacred pilgrimage to Char Dhams. Come back to Phool Chatti in the evening to return back to Camp resort for dinner and relaxation with Ayurvedic Massage at the resort. Overnight at The Chardham Camp Resorts. (Breakfast, pack lunch & dinner included)

Day 04 – BARKOT – HARSIL. (Drive 152kms 6 – 7 hrs)
After a relaxed breakfast leave for Harsil a drive of 152 kms. En route stop at Uttarkashi for Lunch. On the way stop at Gangnani for hot water spring dip. Restart to reach Harsil, One of the most beautiful valleys in the world and reach The Char Dham Camp Resorts set amidst an apple Orchard in Dharali village 2 kms away from Harsil cantonment in the valley on the highway itself. On arrival check in for dinner and overnight. (Breakfast, Lunch & dinner included)

Day 05 – HARSIL – GANGOTRI – HARSIL. Drive 22 one side
After breakfast leave for Gangotri and on arrival take a holy dip in the River sacred The Ganges, also called Bhagirathi at its origin. Perform Pooja after that and relax for sometime in the lovely surroundings. Come back to Camp resort in the afternoon to relax in the bright sunshine and some of breathtaking views of the valley beautiful. In the evening perform the Ganga Aarti at resorts own river bank. Dinner and overnight at The Chardham Camp Resorts. (All meals included)

Day 06 – HARSIL – GUPTAKASHI. (283kms. (Drive 9 – 10 hrs)
After a very early breakfast leave for the longest journey of the trip on the road. Late Lunch en route at Srinagar. On the way see the heritage city of Tehri going down in to the mighty waters of Holy River Ganges, because of the construction of Tehri Dam. After lunch restart your journey and today for the first time see the river beautiful MANDAKINI. Travel along this to reach Guptakashi late in the evening. On arrival check in The Char Dham Camp Resorts ( Guptakashi ) located 2 kms out of town towards Gaurikund. Dinner and overnight at The resort. (Breakfast & dinner included)

Day 07 - GUPTAKASHI – KEDARNATH. ( Drive 32 kms trek 14 kms )
After breakfast pick up your packed Lunch and leave for Gaurikund ( a 32 kms drive one way ) on arrival start your journey on the tough trek ahead. Stop for the lunch en route and restart after that to arrive by late afternoon. On arrival check in Punab Sind Awas. After freshening up perform Pooja and also Darshan at the Shri Kedarnath ji. In the evening also visit Adi Shankaracharya samadhi at the back of the temple. Dinner and overnight at Punjab Sind Awas. (Breakafast & pack lunch)
 
Day 08 – KEDARNATH – GUPTAKASHI. (Trek 14 kms, drive 32 kms)
After breakfast start you journey back to Gaurikund and on arrival leave for Guptakashi by road to reach The Char Dham Camp Resorts by evening. Relax with Ayurvedic Massage. Dinner and overnight at resort. (Dinner included)

Day 09 – GUPTAKASHI – JOSHIMATH via CHOPTA. 175kms. ( 6 – 7 hrs )
After breakfast leave for Joshimath via Chopta, one of the most beautiful sites on the whole trip. Enjoy the beautiful drive through the thick medicinal forest and stop at Pipalkoti for Lunch. Arrive at The Char Dham Camp Resorts Joshimath by late afternoon. Evening free in Joshimath. Dinner and overnight at resort. (All meals included)

Day 10 – JOSHIMATH – BADRINATH – JOSHIMATH. ( Drive 90 kms )
After breakfast leave for Shri Badrinath ji, on arrival take the holy Darshan and spend time visiting Mana village the last village before the Tibet border. Come back to The Char Dham Camp Resort for dinner and overnight. (Breakfast & dinner included)

Day 11 - JOSHIMATH – HARIDWAR. 274kms. ( Drive 9 – 10 hrs)
After breakfast leave for Haridwar and on the way take lunch at Srinagar. Restart and if time permits visit Devprayag (The confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Bhagirathi, to become Ganga). Reach Haridwar in the evening to check in Hotel Hari Ganga Haveli. (Breakfast & dinner included)

Day 12 – HARIDWAR - DELHI
Morning take Jan Shatabdi for Haridwar. Reach Delhi in afternoon.(Breakfast included)

Tour Ends.

Tour Cost (Standard Package)

* The above Costs are valid till 30 September 2009.

 Cost Includes:

1. Accommodation on twin sharing basis as per the program in Hotels / Camp resorts mentioned.

2. All meals during the tour as per inclusions on each day in the program.

3. Transport by AC Car Indigo/ Innova/Tempo traveler depending upon the group size.

4. Train Fare Delhi – Haridwar – Delhi by AC chair car in Shatabdi express.

5. Applicable Hotel Taxes.

Cost Excludes:

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