Chota Char Dham Yatra refers to the four sacred pilgrimage sites located in the Indian Himalayas: Yamunotri, dedicated to the goddess Yamuna, Gangotri to the goddess Ganga, Kedarnath to Lord Shiva, and Badrinath to Lord Vishnu. These sites are revered by Hindus as places of worship and reflection, representing the four paths to salvation.
1. Yamunotri – Yamuna River
Yamunotri is the beginning of the Chota Char Dham Yatra and the divine source of the River Yamuna. Located at an altitude of 3,293 meters, the Temple of Yamunotri is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, worshiped as the divine daughter of the Sun God (Surya) and sister of Yama (the God of Death). The temple of Yamunotri was initially built in the 19th century by Jaipur Maharani Gularia, though it has been rebuilt many times owing to weather and natural disaster damage.
The holy river is said to cleanse sin and guard pilgrims from premature death, courtesy of her special connection with Yama. Interestingly, the true origin of the Yamuna River, a glacial lake known as Yamunotri Glacier, is about 6 km higher up at Saptarishi Kund. Yet, because of its inaccessibility, pilgrims offer worship to the temple itself, situated close to the gushing thermal springs of Surya Kund, where devotees cook rice and potatoes as offerings.
The temple remains open on Akshaya Tritiya (April/May) and closes after Diwali (October/November), as it receives heavy snow in winter.
How to Reach
- By Road: The closest road head is Janki Chatti, 6 km from Yamunotri. You can take a bus or taxi from Dehradun (180 km) or Rishikesh (220 km).
- By Trek: A 6 km trek (moderate difficulty) from Janki Chatti will take you to the temple. Ponies and palanquins can also be used.
- By Train: Nearest railway stations are Rishikesh and Dehradun.
- By Air: Nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun), approximately 210 km away.
2. Gangotri – Ganga River
The second destination of the Chota Char Dham Yatra and the spiritual origin of the River Ganga is Gangotri. Gangotri Temple, located at a height of 3,100 meters, is dedicated to Goddess Ganga, who came onto earth to purify mankind of all their sins. It is said that King Bhagirath did severe penance here to force the heavenly river Ganga down to earth to cleanse the souls of his ancestors. Feeling sympathetic towards him, Lord Shiva ensnared the powerful river in his matted hair to gently let her fall and gently released her onto the Himalayas.
This divine occurrence is said to have taken place at Gaumukh, the actual glacier origin of the river, which is roughly 18 km from Gangotri. The Gangotri Temple was constructed in the early 18th century by Amar Singh Thapa, a Gorkha general. It is constructed of white granite and rests gently on the banks of the Bhagirathi River, which later flows as the Ganga after joining the Alaknanda River in Devprayag.
The temple is open yearly on Akshaya Tritiya (April/May) and is closed on Diwali (October/November), when the idol is relocated to Mukhba village for winter worship.
How to Reach
- By Road: Gangotri is well-connected via road from Rishikesh (270 km), Dehradun, and Uttarkashi (100 km).
- By Train: The nearest railway stations are Rishikesh and Dehradun.
- By Air: The closest airport is Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun), about 250 km away. Taxis and buses are available from there to Gangotri.
3. Kedarnath – Lord Shiva in the Himalayas
Kedarnath is among the most revered places of pilgrimage of Lord Shiva worshippers and the third destination of the Chota Char Dham Yatra. Situated at an elevation of 3,583 meters among the snow-clad peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas. It is also among the twelve Jyotirlingas and thus a crucial shrine of the Shaivite religion. Legend has it that when the Pandavas, after the war of the Mahabharata, went to Lord Shiva to atone for their sins, Shiva refused to pardon them readily and disguised himself as a bull and concealed himself within the Himalayas.
When the Pandavas identified him, Shiva attempted to flee by plunging into the earth. It is believed that his hump appeared in Kedarnath, while other parts appeared in nearby places (now known as the Panch Kedar). Kedarnath Temple, constructed during the 8th century CE by Adi Shankaracharya, is an architectural wonder composed of huge stone slabs. Despite harsh weather and natural disasters, including the devastating floods of 2013, the temple has remained resilient, symbolizing the eternal divine presence.
Temple is open from April/May (Akshaya Tritiya) and closes near Bhai Dooj (Oct/Nov), followed by which deity is worshiped at Ukhimath during winter.
How to Reach
- By Road: Nearest road head is Gaurikund, where pilgrims have to travel a 16 km uphill trek to the temple. Ponies, palanquins, and helicopter services are also available.
- By Train: Nearest railway stations are Rishikesh (215 km) and Haridwar.
- By Air: Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun) is the nearest airport (about 250 km). Helicopter services are also available from Phata, Guptkashi, and Sersi.
4. Badrinath Temple – Lord Vishnu
Badrinath Temple is among the most revered pilgrimage sites in India and the last destination of the Chota Char Dham Yatra. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple is situated at an elevation of 3,133 meters on the Alaknanda River and is a destination where faith meets divine tranquility. Read here for more details.