The Char Dham ("four abodes") is a set of four pilgrimage sites in India. Hindus believe that visiting these sites helps achieve "Moksha" (salvation). Char Dham, was established by the renowned Shri Adi Shankaracharya, around 1200 years ago. A score of pilgrims from all over the world visit the four shrines that open from April to September, (April to June is Peak period) every year and these shrines shut their doors because of biting winters after Diwali .This trip refers to the journey up the mountains to the four sacred temples in Uttarakhand namely Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath.
Each of these four sites is devoted to a specific deity. Yamunotri, is dedicated to the Goddess Yamuna who goes along the pilgrims to the high altitudes of the picturesque Rawai Valley. It is believed that a bath in the waters of the Yamuna protects the devotee from untimely death. Gangotri is dedicated to the Goddess Ganga. The shrine overlooks the River Bhagirathi, another name of River Ganga – the name having been derived from the myth of the ancient King Bhagirath’s penance that succeeded in bringing her upon the earth from the heaven. Kedarnath is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is also a part of the Panch Kedar. It is the northernmost Jyotirlinga and is close to the source of the holy River Mandakini. Badrinath is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is situated on the bank of the River Alaknanda. According to legend, Lord Vishnu meditated here while his consort Lakshmi took the form of a berry (Badri) tree to offer him shade.
Before embarking on this journey, one has to be prepared to experience physical as well as mental hardships on the Himalayan roads. The Char Dham Yatra is one of the most accessible yet the most arduous journeys. The Yatra route is usually bustling with activity, especially during the summer and the scenic beauty of the mountains solemnly provides strength to the pilgrims as they move towards their destination.