When Four's A Pilgrimage
This summer, take a grand spiritual sojourn to the char dhams of the majestic Uttarakhand Himalayas and find your peace, nirvana …
The annual char dham yatra in Uttarakhand is, without doubt, the most important and spectacular event in the tourism and cultural calendar of this new picturesque Himalayan state.
For centuries, saints and pilgrims, in their search for the divine, have walked these mystical valleys and hills, which provide ample scope for spiritual experiences.
Divinity in The Hills
Nestling in the lofty Himalayas in Uttarakhand’s Garhwal region are the four holy shrines: Yamnotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath – together called the ‘char dhams’. Through these sacred sites meanders the holy Ganga in eternal sanctity and splendour. The dhams receive their holy waters in the form of four streams: Yamuna, Bhagirathi, Mandakini, Alaknanda.
While Yamnotri and Gangotri are located in Uttarakashi district, Badrinath is in Chamoli district and Kedarnath in Rudraprayag district. The opening and closing ceremonies of these shrines (at the beginning and conclusion, respectively, of the yatra) are sacred, colorful events awaited eagerly by locals and pilgrims alike. All shrines open in April-May and close in November, after which the region is snowbound. The yatra thus carries on for almost half the year; bringing in millions of devotees to the state and contributing to the tourism-based hill economy.
Pilgrimages form a very important part of Uttarakhand’s tourism activity. After being quiet for six months, the Garhwal hills come alive in March every year as hectic preparations begin at various levels for the pilgrimage. This keeps the hills abuzz with pilgrim activity through summer; monsoon, autumn.
Journey to The Soul
The char dham yatra got under way on April 19 this year with the reopening of the portals of Gangotri and Yamnotri shrines. Kedarnath dham reopened on April 30 while Badrinath opened on May 1.
Pilgrims usually start to arrive in Haridwar and Rishikesh a week before the portals reopen at Yamnotri. The yatra starts from Haridwar as well as Rishikesh. Both centres are decorated like brides to welcome pilgrims.
Two Pawan Hans’s helicopters operate between Agastyamuni and Kedarnath to ferry pilgrims who cannot undertake the arduous trek from Gaurikhand to Kedarnath. Tourism brochures and other literature related to the char dham yatra is available at all the tourist information centres and at the guest houses of the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam on all the yatra routes.
Crowds of pilgrims rub devout shoulders during the char dham yatra as well as the Hemkund, Kailash Mansarovar and Chhota Kailash yatras, all of which go on simultaneously from May through September. The markets are laden with religious items like agar battis, rosaries, hymn books, copper vessels and photos/posters of deities. Bhajan cassettes do brisk business on all yatra routes.
A Trek for the Spirit
The portals of the Yamnotri and Gangotri shrines close every year on the auspicious occasion of Bhaiya Dooj after Deepavali. They reopen on Akshay Tritiya, another auspicious day. Goddess Yamuna is worshipped at Yamnotri, Ganga at Gangotri, Shiva at Kedarnath and Vishnu at Badrinath.
FACT FILE
Nearest Airport: Jolly Grand Airport, Dehra Dun
Nearest Railheads: Dehra Dun (260 km from Delhi), Haridwar (200 km), Rishikesh (225 km)
From Rishikesh, a 205 km road journey takes you to Hanumanchatti, from where the remaining 14 km up to Yamnotri is covered on foot or pony. Horses and porters are also available.
Traditionally, the char dham yatra is undertaken from the west to the east, beginning at yamnotri. The usual starting points are Rishikesh and Haridwar, easily accessible from delhi by rail or road. From here, buses and taxis bound for the dhams are available.
Pilgrimages of various hues are at their peak in May and June in Uttarakhand with people from all parts of India and abroad venturing to pay homage at the renowned pilgrim destinations in Uttarakhand, popular as Devbhoomi or ‘Abode of the Gods’.
The yatra to Hemkund sahib begins on June 1 and ends on October 5. Pilgrims go up to Hemkund and Lakshmana Temple. Most pilgrims try to include a visit to the world famed Valley of Flowers nearby. The Kailash Mansarovar yatra begins in early June from New Delhi and culminates in the last week of September. The program for the challenging yatra, which passes through Uttarakhand and goes on to Tibet, is announced by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Dharchula in Kumaon is the yatra’s base camp.
Source - Jaskiran Chopra, Delhi Times Travel, Friday, May 25, 2007