Char Dham Travel Tips

Whether you are visiting the Chardham for pilgrimage or adventure, you should behave as a responsible traveller. If you uphold the key principles of responsible tourism and make the least impact on the environment, your holidays in Uttarakhand are going to be more fun and useful than you thought. A variety of experiences are waiting for you in the region and while you return from your tour, you will surely want to visit Chardham over and again. But each time you return, do try to remember a few travel tips given below.

• While you are in the Chardham region, do keep in mind that alcohol or non-vegetarian food is not permitted and you have to abide by it.
• While you visit mythological sites, shrines and temples, you should remove your shoes and cover your head with a piece of cloth before entering the premises.
• At all the chardham destinations, there are a number of restaurants and hotels and you can find one fitting in with your budget, regardless of which background you come from.
• The chardham or the four pilgrimage destinations are accessible only for six months (May to October) a year. The region becomes inaccessible during the other half of the part of the year due to snowfall.
• If you are planning your trip to Chardham in October-November, you need to bring along heavy woollens with you to protect from freezing cold.
• The chardham yatra in the Himalayan region can prove to be tedious if you do not start the preparation for the trip 4 months in advance.
• Though self-managed tours happen to be economical, it is advisable for your Chardham yatra to go for a guided tour arranged by an expert local travel agent.
• As per Hindu traditions, a Chardham yatra should be undertaken from west to east : Yamunotri - Gangotri - Kedarnath - Badrinath.