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Tirthas and dhams

The Chota Char Dham of Uttarakhand

In short

The Chota Char Dham of Uttarakhand are four Himalayan shrines, visited in this order: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.

#NameDistrictDeity or riverHeight (approx.)
1YamunotriUttarkashiGoddess Yamuna, near the source of the Yamuna3,233 m (Uttarakhand Tourism)
2GangotriUttarkashiGoddess Ganga; here the river is called the Bhagirathi, its source is at Gaumukh, 19 km away3,415 m (Uttarakhand Tourism)
3KedarnathRudraprayagShiva (a Jyotirlinga), on the Mandakini river3,584 m (temple committee)
4BadrinathChamoliVishnu (Badrinarayan), on the Alaknanda between the Nar and Narayan ranges3,100 m (Uttarakhand Tourism)

See these tirthas on a mapEach name opens its own page: place, deity, story and sources

The order of the yatra

According to Uttarakhand Tourism the yatra begins at Yamunotri and goes on to Gangotri, then Kedarnath and finally Badrinath. The season is given as May to October. Pilgrims register on the Uttarakhand government site registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in.

When the temples open and close

In 2026 the doors of Gangotri and Yamunotri opened on Akshaya Tritiya, 19 April (All India Radio News). Kedarnath opened on 22 April; the date was announced on Maha Shivaratri at the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath after consulting the panchang. Badrinath opened on 23 April (DD News).

According to the temple committee, Kedarnath usually closes at the start of Kartik (October-November), and in winter Kedarnath is worshipped at Ukhimath. The closing dates are announced in advance every year.

Where the sources differ

  • Heights differ between sources: the temple committee gives Kedarnath as 3,584 m and Uttarakhand Tourism as 3,580 m. Other sources give other figures, so the table gives the official figures as approximate.
  • The word "Chota" (small) is only used to tell the lists apart; Uttarakhand Tourism calls this yatra simply the "Char Dham". The Char Dham of India (Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, Rameswaram) is a different list.
Edited by the SanatanBodh editorial teamLast updated: 4 sourcesDrafted with AI, checked against sourcesReport a mistake

Frequently asked questions

Which temples make up the Chota Char Dham?

Yamunotri (goddess Yamuna), Gangotri (goddess Ganga), Kedarnath (Shiva) and Badrinath (Vishnu). All four are in the Garhwal Himalaya of Uttarakhand.

In what order is the Char Dham yatra done?

According to Uttarakhand Tourism: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, then Badrinath.

When did the Char Dham open in 2026?

Gangotri and Yamunotri on 19 April (Akshaya Tritiya), Kedarnath on 22 April and Badrinath on 23 April 2026.

Is Kedarnath a Jyotirlinga?

Yes, Kedarnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. It is also one of the Panch Kedar.

Sources

  1. Uttarakhand Tourism (uttarakhandtourism.gov.in): pages on Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath
  2. Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee: Shri Kedarnath Dham and Shri Badrinath Dham (badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in)
  3. Uttarkashi district website: Gangotri Dham, Yamunotri Dham (uttarkashi.nic.in)
  4. All India Radio News (newsonair.gov.in), 15 February and 19 April 2026; DD News, 23 April 2026

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