Published On - Jul 06, 2025
Updated On - Jul 06, 2025
15 min
Journey to the Char Dham Uttarakhand
The Char Dham Yatra is not just a journey of feet, it is a journey of the soul. It is where mountains tell ancient stories, rivers sing godly songs, and temples whisper blessings into your heart. One day, you must visit these places – to see, to feel, and to learn about life beyond books and classrooms.
Once upon a time in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand
Today I will tell you a beautiful story about four magical places in the Himalayas – places where gods walked, sages meditated, and where rivers began their journey to nurture the earth.
Close your eyes for a moment. Imagine high mountains with white snow on top, cool breeze, tall green trees, and little rivers flowing with a musical sound. Let’s begin.
First Dham – Yamunotri Ji
Many thousands of years ago, there lived a great sage called Jai Muni. He loved Ma Yamuna, the river goddess, like a daughter and wanted her to come down to earth to give water and life to all people.So, he sat in deep meditation. For days and nights, without eating or sleeping, he prayed with full faith. Ma Yamuna was happy with his devotion and appeared at a place called Yamunotri.
Today, when people visit Yamunotri Dham, they trek 5 km uphill after reaching Janki Chatti. The trek is steep and tiring, but kids can go on pithhu (porters) and elders on doli (palanquin). Some people use ponies but it is a little risky on steep bends.
When you reach the temple, you can see hot springs bubbling, where rice is cooked for prasad. You feel peace in your heart as you sit near Ma Yamuna, remembering the sage who called her to earth.
1. Route
- Drive till Janki Chatti
- Trek: 5 km steep climb (2.5-3 hrs)
-- Porters (pithhu) for kids
-- Doli (palanquin) for elderly
-- Ponies (risky on steep bends)
2. Temple Significance
- All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing via email or through our customer support team.
- Refunds will be processed based on the date of cancellation and the applicable deductions as follows:
- Certain activities or arrangements may be cancelled or rescheduled.
- Wherever possible, alternative arrangements will be made to minimize inconvenience.
3. Second Dham – Gangotri Ji
Now, let’s walk ahead in our story to another king – King Bhagirath. Long ago, he prayed for 5,500 years to bring Ma Ganga to earth to clean his ancestors’ sins. His prayers were so powerful that Ma Ganga agreed. But she asked, “Who will hold my strong flow when I come down from heaven?”
Only Lord Shiva could do that. When King Bhagirath prayed to him, Lord Shiva smiled. He spread his matted hair across mountains and called, “Har Har Gange!” Ma Ganga fell on his head softly and flowed down to earth, giving life to forests, fields, and all living beings.
Today, at Gangotri Dham, you can reach almost near the temple by car, then walk 1-1.5 km. If you want to see where Ma Ganga actually begins, do the Gaumukh Trek – a two-day journey to the glacier where she is born. Only 150 people can go each day, so permission is needed in advance.
When you sit near Gangotri temple, close your eyes and listen to the river sound. It feels like Ma Ganga is telling you her secrets.