The Char Dham Yatra is considered very sacred in Hindu belief. Many people believe that completing this journey even once in life can wash away the sins of past births. Every year, millions of devotees set out on this spiritual path with deep faith. It is often said that these holy temples are places where the divine and the earthly world come together. Usually, people stick to the complete circuit of the Char Dham temples or Do Dham or Ek Dham Yatra. However, you can explore it in a different way by blending other exploration with spirituality. While planning for the Yamunotri and Gangotri Dham Yatra, you can visit other fascinating places like Hanol, Kharsali, and Harshil. The commencement of the Char Dham Yatra mostly begins from Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun. You can plan the entire journey by arriving at Haridwar or Rishikesh.
Here is a well-curated tour plan for exploring Hanol, Kharsali, Yamunotri, Harshil and Gangotri.
Day 1: Arrive at Haridwar/Rishikesh/Dehradun and explore the city for the day. Book an overnight stay and begin with the beautiful journey from the next day.
Day 2: Start early and drive to Hanol. The journey time is around 6 hours. Reach there and book an overnight stay.
Day 3: Visit the Mahasu Devta Temple and begin your drive towards Kharsali by evening. It will take around 4.5 hours to reach Karsali. Check into an accommodation for an overnight stay.
Day 4: Wake up early and complete your darshan at the Yamunotri Dham temple, the first shrine of the Char Dham yatra. In order to visit the Yamunotri temple, you have to trek from Janki Chatti. The distance is approximately 5 km. Trek down to Kharsali and take proper rest.
Day 5: Again, embark on a long journey of about 200 km from Kharsali to reach Harshil. After reaching Harshil, rest properly to wave off the day’s exhaustion.
Day 6: Harshil is a beautiful valley. Spend the day in some casual and local exploration, admiring the enchanting landscape.
Day 7: Head to Gangotri temple from Harshil. After the second dham darshan, return to Harshil, and you can spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring the surrounding areas.
Day 8: Begin your drive towards Uttarkashi from Harshil. Uttarkashi is another picturesque town in Uttarakhand. The distance is approximately 76 km. The landscapes are enchanting, and a relaxed stay here feels like a complete vacation in itself. Upon reaching, visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Day 9: Return to Dehradun or Haridwar for the departing journey.
This entire journey of 9-10 days is indeed scenic and full of enchanting and spiritual places to visit. However, you must consider the hours of travelling you have to undergo. If you are not used to so much commuting, you might get motion sickness. Hence, you must be prepared for the possible scenarios. Additionally, the weather also keeps changing in high altitudes. Therefore, carry all kinds of essential items like umbrellas or a raincoat and some essential medicines and first aid. Also, prepare yourself physically to enhance your stamina. Considering these factors will make the entire tour a smoother one.