Quick Answer
The Char Dham of Uttarakhand ("Chhota Char Dham") comprises Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath in the Garhwal Himalayas. Traditionally revived by Adi Shankaracharya, the circuit runs west to east and opens roughly May–November. Kedarnath is the Shaiva heart of the yatra.
What is the Char Dham?
India has two famous "Char Dham" concepts. The all-India Char Dham — Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Rameswaram — spans the four directions. The Char Dham of Uttarakhand, often called the Chhota Char Dham, is the Himalayan circuit: Yamunotri (source of the Yamuna), Gangotri (source of the Bhagirathi/Ganga), Kedarnath (Shiva) and Badrinath (Vishnu).
The traditional order
Pilgrims traditionally travel west to east, following the rivers upstream: Yamunotri first, then Gangotri, then Kedarnath, and finally Badrinath. The sequence honours the goddesses of the rivers before the great gods, and it also works well logistically with the road network of Garhwal.
The four dhams at a glance
| Dham | Deity | Altitude (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yamunotri | Goddess Yamuna | ~3,293 m | Trek ~6 km from Janki Chatti |
| Gangotri | Goddess Ganga | ~3,100 m | Motorable; Gaumukh glacier trek beyond |
| Kedarnath | Lord Shiva (Jyotirlinga) | ~3,583 m | Trek ~16–18 km from Gaurikund |
| Badrinath | Lord Vishnu (Badri Vishal) | ~3,300 m | Motorable; Mana village nearby |
Season and registration
All four temples open around April–May and close around October–November; exact dates are announced yearly. Registration on the official Uttarakhand yatra portal covers the full circuit. Many pilgrims do only the "Do Dham" — Kedarnath and Badrinath — in 5–7 days from Haridwar.
Kedarnath within the circuit
Kedarnath is usually the most physically demanding stop: the only dham requiring a long trek (Yamunotri’s is much shorter). Pilgrims often schedule it mid-circuit, when they are acclimatised but not yet fatigued. See the Kedarnath Yatra Guide for detailed planning.