The char Dham yatra in Uttarakhand is called as “Chota Char Dham” yatra. This yatra is a pilgrimage to the holy sites. Each of the site is attributed to God and goddess of Hindu mythology. The Char Dham sites consists of namely Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. These holy sites can be accessed after the snow accumulated in the winters reduces gradually in the summers.

Now Let us Talk about the Sites Individually
Yamunotri
Situated at an altitude of 3293M, Yamunotri is a source of river Yamuna. Its name is attributed to goddess Yamuna. The shrine is a temple which generally opens in the last week of April and first week of May with its time as 6PM-8PM with the arti time being as 6:30 PM to 7:30PM. It closes after a brief ceremony on the day of Diwali in the mid October and first week of November after which the temple staff returns to their villages and the valley is covered with the thick sheet of the snow which melts gradually in the next summers.
The actual source of the river Yamuna lies in the Yamunotri glacier adjoining which is the famous peak called as Bandarpunch.
Gangotri
Situated at an altitude of 3100 Mtr and is a town which is also a Nagar Panchayat or municipality of the district Uttarkashi and situated at the bank of river Bhagirathi. It is region which is also the origin of the river ganga though its precise origin is from the snout of the glacier called as Gaumukh.
Kedarnath

located at the bank of river Mandakini and at the altitude of 3685 Mtr it is a holy shrine with a temple dedicated to the God shiva. Due to extreme weather conditions the temple is open during the month of April and November.
Badrinath
Located at an altitude of 3300 mtr it’s a holy town and Nagar Panchayat of the District Chamoli and at the bank of Alaknanda river. Due to extreme conditions, it is open to visit during May to June and September to October.
How to Visit these Shrines?
It is best to consider the month in which the shrines are open for the pilgrims and contact the travel agency. The travel agency will manage your travel and stay in respective places.
Clothing for the Journey
It must be remembered that even if the shrines are open in the summers and post monsoon, the temperature is considerably low, and one must wear warm clothes from head to toes and carry and extra. One should consider carrying sunscreen lotions due to high altitude exposure to UV radiations, rain protection such as raincoat, poncho umbrellas etc.
Hydration and Nutrition
As the pilgrimage after the roadhead will on foot it is recommended that you are in good health prior and during the pilgrimage. During the pilgrimage one must remember that they are exposed to high altitude, and this can lead to various kind of high-altitude sickness. One should stay hydrated all the time as this will help in acclimatization.
Helicopter Journey
In the recent times in order to ease the Char Dham journey, helicopter service has been initiated. One can get in touch with the helicopter operator agency and proceed ahead. Some of the dos and don’ts to take care of with respect to the helicopter journey are as follows.

Weight limit in the helicopter is up to 300 kg of weight in total i.e., passenger and their luggage combined. So, one should be mindful of the luggage they are carrying.
The bookings are don’t in advance and the 50% charges are to be cleared 15 days in advance. One should avoid overeating prior to helicopter travel and be mindful of the effects of the sudden altitude gain.
Last few Tips for the Journey
- Stay in good physical and mental shape.
- Carry a firs aid kit along.
- Carry good stock of healthy snacks.
- Dress modestly and be respectful to culture and shrines.
- Do not make your own route and always stick to the signs and indications.