Best Time to Visit Chardham Yatra - Chardham Yatra is one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations in India. It’s a religious pilgrimage that takes pilgrims to four Hindu shrines located in the Himalayas: Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Kedarnath. If you’re planning to make a pilgrimage to Chardham this year, there are a few things you should know.
The weather throughout India changes depending on the location. You can use that to your advantage, because all of the locations in India have near-perfect weather conditions, even during the winter months. However, during Char Dham Yatra, you'll need to be prepared for snowbound conditions, which will cause temporary closure.
The best time to visit the Chardham Yatra is during the months of April and May. This is because the weather is pleasant, there is little dust in the air, and most pilgrims have already left for their pilgrimage. The bad news is that November and December are also good months to visit, as the temperatures are mild but traffic can be quite heavy.
The month of April marks the beginning of the summer season in Uttarakhand. There is a temperature range of 25°C to 35°C, making it perfect for Char Dham Yatra. The season ends in June.
Uttarakhand witnesses yearly monsoon season rains from July through September. In these months, the whole state receives heavy rainfall, including the destinations of Char Dham. Despite this, the pilgrimage sees a tremendous number of devotees coming in during the wintertime. If you're going during this time of year, it's important to know some basic weather precautions. For instance, carry an umbrella and keep it handy along with extra rain gear and necessary equipment.
Char Dham is venerated in Hinduism, a faith that believes in the existence of ten incarnations or avatars of Vishnu. They descend on Earth to spread blessings and lead mankind away from darkness. The winter season when Char Dham is closed coincides with the months of September through March during which devotees attempting to access the religion's most holy destination are faced with heavy snowfall which leaves them stranded.