Best Time to Visit Chardham Tour

Best Time to Travel to Chardham

The sacred shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are nestled at an elevated altitude in Indian Himalayas. Due to this altitude, these religious places receive moderate to heavy snowfall and are covered by the same for almost six months every year. With the onset of summer, snow is cleared from the roads, and the routes are set to open for the devotees to visit the four abodes of God to find solace and peace. 

The opening and closing dates of the routes and temples are a significant factor in the Char Dham pilgrimage. The dates are ascertained beforehand by the concerned authorities. Every year, the doors of the temples are closed on the day after Bhai Dooj, after Diwali, in October or November. During this closure period, the idols are shifted to their winter abodes till the temples are opened. Devotees are permitted entry into the holy shrines from the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya in April or May. 

Suitable months - The months of April or May to June and from September to mid-November are the best time plan for Char Dham as the weather during these months remains pleasant.  

Summer (April to June) - After the snow-covered winters, the approach of the summer season marks the onset of the peak time for the visit of pilgrims. Due to the altitude, even during the summers, visitors need to carry warm and woollen clothes, as it gets cold after evening. 

Monsoon (June to September) - The entire Garhwal region receives a heavy amount of rainfall during the monsoon season. It is not a very suitable time to embark on the Char Dham journey as there are high chances of the pilgrims getting stranded due to landslides and floods. The helicopter services are also discontinued sometimes during the monsoon. However, from the mid of September to mid-November, the weather becomes suitable for the pilgrimage.

Winter (October to March) - The beginning of November month brings the cold and chilly winters in the Garhwal region. From mid-September, that is, the post-monsoon season, to Bhai Dooj, till the closing of Char Dham Yatra, the moderate chilly weather condition is preferred by many devotees to plan for the holy journey. After the closing down of the Char Dham temples, the entire region gets submerged under thick layers of snow till March.

A tabular representation for easy planning for Char Dham Yatra