Best Time to Visit Char Dham Yatra

Char Dham is considered to be one of the most special and spiritual journeys for the devotees across India. The Char Dhams are surrounded by the pristine and unspoiled beauty. The pilgrims who experience this pilgrim tour know that they will not only get a chance to be blessed by the omnipotent but they will also explore of the most scenic and picturesque all around their pathways and surrounded by beautiful snow-clad mountain peaks and meandering rivers.

If you are planning to opt for a Char Dham tour package, one and foremost thing to be considered is to know is when to travel Char Dham or what is the best time to plan Char Dham trip.

What about summer?

Well, after the extremely cold winter, summer looks beautiful in the mountains, with the blooming valleys, snowy peaks, mild to cold weather. In summers, from April to June is the best time to visit the Kedarnath temple which the adobe of Lord Shiva. During this time, Badrinath temple can also be covered which is the adobe of Lord Vishnu. When we talk about Gangotri and Yamunotri which are the adobe of Goddess Ganga and Goddess Yamuna respectively, lie at a higher altitude. So, summer starts a bit later there, almost in the last week of April.

The weather of these regions is unavoidable and inevitable and it is advisable to carry woolen clothes even during the summers, the temperature goes down in the evenings.

What about Monsoon?

Monsoons arrive at the regions of Char Dham around the end of June and continue till the mid of September. Due to heavy rains, landslides and flooding in rivers are quite common during the monsoon season which makes it difficult to survive. So, it is not advisable to travel during the monsoon season.

Besides that, other best time to start the Char Dham tour is from the last week of September to the mid of November. This is the starting of winter in the mountains when the valleys are covered with plush greenery after a great monsoon and smoothness of winter can be experienced. Hence, this is the best time to approach the Char Dham Yatra.

What about winters?

Winters arrive in the last week of November and last up to the end of March. Due to heavy snow and minus degree temperature, the doors of the shrines are closed down after Diwali. The door of the Char Dham temples opens only in the spring, during the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya.

Apart from its religious value, the devotees should know that this journey is also known for its challenging route that includes trekking on the rugged terrains, crossing the river & peaks, facing unpredictable weather conditions and endurance every moment etc. It is always advisable to carefully research about the best time to visit the Char Dham yatra, before planning for this pious journey as the Himalayan climate is highly unpredictable and constantly fluctuating. Those who are not able to take trek can opt for ‘Palkies’ and Pony Rides. Alternatively, one can also go for the helicopter services complete the Char Dham journey in the most comfortable way.

Note: All the pilgrims are suggested to carry a basic medical kit including their routine medicines and some medicines for the headache, fever, cold, cough, etc. and will come in very handy. Bandages, crepe bandages, painkillers, ointments, moisturizer, and antiseptics etc. should be the part of your medical kit