Char Dham — 4 sacred Hindu pilgrimages. Big Char Dham (Adi Shankara): Badrinath, Dwarka, Jagannath Puri, Rameshwaram. Small/Uttarakhand Char Dham: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath. Open May-November.
✦ Uttarakhand Char Dham
1. Yamunotri (3293 m): source of Yamuna.
2. Gangotri (3100 m): source of Ganga.
3. Kedarnath (3583 m): Shiva jyotirling. 16 km walk from Gaurikund.
4. Badrinath (3300 m): Vishnu dham. Direct road.
✦ 2026 Opening Dates
Yamunotri & Gangotri: 30 April. Kedarnath: 2 May. Badrinath: 5 May.
All close: mid-November.
📚Sources & References
Content in this article is verified against the following classical and modern authoritative sources. Readers may independently verify against the original sources.
- ▪Surya Siddhanta — classical Sanskrit astronomical text (~5th century CE)
- ▪Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra — foundational text on Vedic astrology by Maharishi Parashara
- ▪Muhurta Chintamani by Ram Daivajna (16th century) — standard reference for muhurat selection
- ▪Astronomical Algorithms by Jean Meeus (Willmann-Bell, 1998) — basis for all astronomical computations on this site
- ▪Lahiri Ayanamsa — standard sidereal reference adopted by the Indian Calendar Reform Committee (1955)
✦ Frequently Asked Questions
Best time?▼
May-June and Sep-Oct. Avoid monsoon (Jul-Aug landslides).
Cost?▼
₹25-50K per person standard. ₹60K+ with helicopter.
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Note: This content is published for educational and cultural reference. For personal religious or astrological decisions, please consult a qualified pandit or jyotishi.