Char Dham (Uttarakhand)

Char Dham refers to the four most sacred Hindu pilgrimage shrines in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand: Yamunotri (source of the Yamuna), Gangotri (source of the Ganges), Kedarnath (one of twelve Jyotirlingas dedicated to Shiva) and Badrinath (dedicated to Vishnu). Set among high-altitude valleys and glacial rivers, the circuit is traditionally undertaken in a fixed sequence over one to two weeks and typically opens to pilgrims between April/May and October/November, closing for the harsh Himalayan winter. The Yatra is among the most significant pilgrimage circuits in India, drawing lakhs of devotees each season despite its remote and physically demanding terrain.