Of the many journeys, Holy Char Dham Yatra is the vital life force that keeps the faith alive. The Char Dham Yatra is a lifetime achievement for devotees and it is believed that one can be get rid of the continuous cycle of birth and death and wash away all sins. It is mentioned in ancient Hindu Vedas that one can attain nirvana by undertaking a journey to four prominent holy destinations which are Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath, and Kedarnath known by the sacred name Char Dham.
Here is an Essential Guide you should keep in mind before going to Char Dham Yatra and related trips:
Know road Connectivity from locals before you leave
In the mountains weather changes so fast that you cannot imagine, at any time you can find heavy rains, snowfall, cloud bursts, and landslides resulting in roadblocks. Sometimes government authorities stop the tourist due if there is a high alert given for extreme weather conditions. So it is must necessary to call your agent who is from nearby places like Haridwar, Rishikesh, or Dehradun and ask for road status before you leave for the holy journey.
Complete Photo-metric Registration before you start your Journey
Char Dham Yatra Registration is Compulsory for all the devotees who are interested to go for Chardham Yatra. The government of Uttarakhand forms a considerable number of the total visitors to Char Dham each year so it is very necessary to do registration for every tourist for Char Dham Yatra. Now the state has plans to contain the number of visitors at any given point in time and the government has made arrangements for mandatory photometric registration of all visitors. Every devotee will be tracked using a monitoring system with the help of GPS. This will also help in keeping a check on tourist movement. This will come in handy to keep the journey safe since regular location updates will be recorded.
Registration for Chardham Yatra is now known as photometric registration which is considered as Yatra Pass or Permits.
Be prepared mentally and physically for Sacred Chardham Yatra
It takes more than 10 days to cover Char Dham Yatra and someday you are a daylong drive to reach the destination. Also, have a 6 km trekking distance in Yamunotri and 19 Kms in Kedarnath so it can be a problem for those who are not physically fit. So it required lots of physical fitness and stamina to cover the Char Dham. People suffering from breathing problems like asthma must avoid going. For long treks, you need to have a strong mentality so people suffering from altitude Sickness, high blood pressure, asthma, heart disease must refrain from carrying out the journey. You need to do regular exercise and advice from your doctor to be strong for a long divine journey.
Autumn can be the best time to visit Chardham Yatra
Yatra is open from April to Nov till Diwali each year and April, May, and June are peak periods so there will be a very rush during these months, you will get proper time for Darshan and Pooja in Temples, July and -August must be avoided as there will be raining in this season that can be lead to flood, landside and cloud bursting. After the rainy season, the month of September and October can be the best time to plan for the journey.
Select Best Travel Route for Char Dham Yatra
Each year devotees undertake the arduous journey of reaching these challenging locations. Currently, there are 2 different routes that will take you on a spiritual journey of a lifetime. This is from Dehradun and Haridwar and also from Yamunotri to Badrinath.
Char Dham Tour is all about the four holy rivers of India, which can be deciphered from the very name of the journey; as char literally translates to four. The 4 holy rivers of Ganga, Yamuna, Mandakini, and Alaknanda, are located very close to the holy ancient temples of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.
If you are not able to cover the journey on foot then there are alternate ways of traveling available that will make your journey even easier.
A helicopter journey will not only cut down your Char Dham Yatra to 3 days but it will also be one of the most luxurious and comfortable ways of traveling and is considered to be the best travel option for Char Dham for senior citizens. Chardham Yatra by Helicopter is the best way of traveling.
Select the Best Travel Package for Spiritual Yatra
If you have been thinking of going on the Char Dham Yatra so do the necessary arrangements in time to select the best travel package that combined good hotels, transportation, and itinerary with an affordable price to make your tour simple and beautiful. Pick the spot that suits you to start your Journey. Although it is not that difficult to create a travel itinerary of your own but the travel packages available these days make everything easier. These travel packages are designed in such a manner that you can save both your money and time.
Pack heavy woolen clothes and other Essentials to Make Yatra Comfortable
A good backpack always helps you keep your things well organized on a long Char Dham Journey including thermal body warmers, sweaters, mufflers, caps that cover your head and face, trousers, or any other form of clothing that undertake the journey successfully.
Other impotent essentials to carry are an umbrella, Raincoat, Torchlight, canvas shoe moisturizers, sunscreen creams, and a medical kit with painkillers, medicines for cold and fever, and your routine medicines. You can carry extra batteries and films for your camera and charger.
Be Aware of Altitudes Sickness while reaching at Top Destinations of Yatra
You will get a short time might be day one or two to visit high pilgrimage places like Yamunotri Gangotri Kedarnath and Badrinath so it is very difficult to acclimatize at that places as they are located at the high altitude. At these places, with very high altitudes people might face the fear of height.
Yatra has no options for alcohol & non-vegetarians
Non-vegetarian food and alcohols are strictly not allowed in our Pilgrimage places especially known for their reverential attitude to Hindu religion and at Yamunotri and Gangotri worship the river Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna as embodiments of Shakti. It is sad to witness many offering ritualistic reverence before the holy idols.
Always book your hotels in Advance
It is essential to book get your hotels in advance of the beginning of the pilgrim season in Chardham Yatra as It gets very difficult to find accommodation during peak season if one has not made early reservations. There is all option available from economy to luxury hotels so book in advance as per your affordable cost.