What To Do In Chardham
The holiest shrines in India are situated in the lofty, mostly inaccessible peaks of the Himalayas and other mountain ranges. The pilgrimages to these places are arduous and pilgrims require a lot of faith to undertake the long journey there. Chardham is among the popular pilgrimages for those who are spiritually inclined and the journey to these 4 mountain temples takes a few days and can take place only when the temples are open to visitors during a few short weeks in summer. Chardham comprises Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Badrinath temples.
A pilgrimage to these holy spots brings peace of mind as the tranquil surroundings and the journey there help pilgrims to appreciate God's creations and his blessings. Most of the pilgrimage trips to Chardham are with tours and there are many reputed packages one can join to visit these temples.
There is a lot to do in Chardham and these days among the pilgrims there are trekkers and adventure enthusiasts as well who come here to test their skills in trekking, rock climbing, mountaineering, and even for river rafting.
The rapids here are intense and require a high level of experience. Camping too is popular in this region and there are organized adventure tours for this region. The treks or religious trips to this region start with Yamunotri in Uttarkashi, believed to be the start of the river Yamuna. The next stop is the Gangotri Dham and the River Ganga is believed to flow from here. The temple here is usually open from May to November. Kedarnath is the next stop on the route and falls in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. This region is incredibly scenic surrounded by mountains and the River Mandakini flowing through it. The temple dedicated to Shiva is particularly powerful. The final destination of Chardham is the Badrinath temple and this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
As with any religious tour, there are many related things to do in Chardham as well like visiting ashrams and other important temples along the way. Uttarakhand is also home to many yoga schools and centers for meditation and many travelers come here looking for that elusive peace of mind and to renew their faith in a higher power.
