CHARDHAM Part 1

Have you also seen this most magnificent site in your lifetime? Yes, it is called The Himalayas or the Himalay. 'Him' is snow or God and 'alay' is mountain or Abode of the Gods. It literally looks like the heavens portrayed or described in animes or poems or paintings. The grandeur of this terrain is so mesmerizing that every second one is meditating. We understand how inferior we are to that Highest Authority and how beautifully he creates every minutest being on this magical planet. You like to keep on staring at those splendid views, those captivating sights. 

India is a land of diversity in all its aspects. Be it topography, geography, history, minerals, food, costumes, festivals or even people, religion and language. It is the world's fastest growing democracy with the world largest population. It is a secular and a federal state with immense amount of variety.

Himalay encompasses in itself innumerable places to visit and out of those are the CHARDHAM. There are many pilgrim places in India with all of them alluring in their own kinds but these hit differently. They are four temples namely Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath belonging to Goddess River Yamuna, Goddess River Ganga, Bholenath Lord Shiva and Creator Lord Vishnu respectively.

Let's look into how to experience these places because TRAVELLING IS LIVING 

Quick Itinerary

Day 1: Delhi to Haridwar

Day 2: Haridwar to Jankichatti

Day 3: Jankichatti to Yamunotri to Barkot

Day 4: Barkot to Uttarkashi

Day 5: Uttarkashi to Gangotri

Day 6: Gangotri to Uttarkashi

Day 7: Uttarkashi to Gaurikund

Day 8: Gaurikund to Kedarnath

Day 9: Kedarnath to Gaurikund

Day 10: Gaurikund to Joshimath

Day 11: Joshimath to Badrinath

Day 12: Badrinath to Auli / Nandprayag

Day 13: Stay in Auli / Nandprayag

Day 14: Auli / Nandprayag to Rishikesh

Day 15: Stay in Rishikesh

Day 16: Rishikesh to Haridwar to Delhi

(This itinerary can be altered as per available days)

How to reach Delhi / Dehradun

By train: Delhi, being the capital of the country, is well connected by trains from all over India. Then there is also a train (Dehradun express) from Delhi. From all the Delhi railway stations there are metro trains available for Kashmere Gate if you wish to continue the journey by bus. (One can also Search for direct train to Haridwar like we have Yoga Express From Ahmedabad to Haridwar.)

By bus: Again you can reach Delhi by bus from anywhere in India but it is a tiring journey and getting tired right at the beginning is not advisable. But Delhi to Dehradun buses are good enough. You can travel through ISBT (Inter State Bus Transport) located at Kashmere Gate in Old Delhi.

By flight: You can directly take a flight to Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun or Indira Gandhi Airport Delhi (this is more frequent compared to the former)

By personal vehicle: You can hire a personal vehicle from the place you are travelling for the entire trip as it is done by tours and travels service providers but it has some problems which we will discuss in next articles. 

Best time to travel: May-June and Sept-Oct. These places are open for visitors from May to October but it is definitely not advisable to visit them during the monsoon months of July-August as it can prove fatal sometimes.

So friends this is the first part of the journey. Details and some personal tips will be shared in the next two parts soon. 

So stay tuned!!!!!! Stay safe and fit.

Ekta.