Introduction
Uttarakhand is well known as the land of god or "Dev Bhoomi.". Thousands of temples are available all around the state. In addition to being known for temples, Uttarakhand is also known for its natural beauty and adventure sports. In this blog, I am going to discuss the top 9 places to visit around the Char Dham Yatra. So if you are planning for Char Dham Yatra, then you can add some of these places to your bucket list for a fulfilling journey. So without wasting any more time, let's dive deep into this blog to explore some of the most popular places in Uttarakhand.
Vishwanath Temple, Uttarkashi
Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas at an altitude of 1,158 meters (3,799 ft) above sea level in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. It is one of the most beautiful and prominent temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated on the bank of the Bhagirathi River, and lies on the main route of the Char Dham yatra. It is believed that this temple was initially built by sage Parshuram and later renovated by Maharani Khaneti, the wife of Sudarshan Shah, in 1857. Vishwanath Temple, Uttarkashi was built using Katyayni architecture and signifies the rich architectural skill of the artisans of this region. As per the holy scriptures this temple is considered to be the adobe of lord shiva for the second part of Kaliyuga and it is said that when both Kashi and Varanashi will get submerged, lord Kashi vishwanath will be shifted to this temple. Every year millions of devotees visiting this region don't forget to visit Vishwanath Temple to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.
Harsil Valley
One of the most beautiul valley of this region well known for aplle archard and beautiful views is Harsil valley. Located at an altitude of 9,005 ft (2,745 meters) above sea level, in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, this is one of the most beautiful places to visit during the Char Dham Yatra. Visiting this place is going to be a treat for you. Far away from the hustle of city life, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, lush green apple orchards, crystal-clear water of rivers flowing all along the valley, and chilling cold wind, will certainly make your day. So if you are planning to visit the Gangotri temple or going for a char dham yatra, then this should be on your bucket list.
Gartang Gali
Well known for the wooden bridge trek of 2.5 km, Gartang Gali is another of the most famous and loved places to visit during the Char Dham Yatra. This bridge was initially constructed by Peshawari Pathans in the 17th century to transport goods between India and Tibet, but a few years back this wooden bridge was recovered and opened for the general public. This bridge is located at a height of 3350 meters above sea level and is hanging on the mountain with a deep valley opening in front of this bridge. Walking on this bridge will give you a feeling of walking in history with adventure and thrill all together. The view of the beautiful green valley, snow-capped mountain, and Bhagirathi river flowing under the bridge will certainly be a treat for your eye.
Triyuginarayan Temple
Are you willing to visit the marriage spot of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati? Yes, it's possible. Deities got married in a holy land of Uttarakhand in a temple known as Triyuginarayan temple. This temple is located very close to the Kedarnath temple. This got its name because it is telling the story of first love marriage since three yugas, i.e., Satyuga, Dwapar yuga, and Treta yuga. This temple is also known as the Akhand Dhuni temple due to the perpetual fire in the compound of this temple, which is believed to have been alive since the marriage of the deities. Every year millions of devotees visit this place to offer wood and black sesame seeds to keep this fire alive. They also seek the blessings of the deities for prosperity and happy married life.
Dhari Devi Temple
One of the well-known temples en route to the Char Dham Yatra is the Dhari Devi Temple. It is included in most of the Char Dham Yatra packages. This is a beautiful temple located in the middle of the Alaknanda River and is believed to be the protector of Char Dham temples. Not only on Char Dham, you can also cover it if you are going just for Do Dham Yatra or even Kedarnath Yatra. Dhari Devi is believed to be the incarnation of Maa Kali, and the upper body part is being worshipped in this temple while the lower body part is being worshipped at Kalimath temple, which is near Guptkashi. One of the most interesting facts about this temple is that the form of the idol of this temple changes with the passing of time. During the morning time, the idol of this temple will appear as a small child, while during the afternoon the idol will appear as a young lady, while in the evening time she will appear as an old lady. So if you are also willing to witness this miracle, then don't forget to include this temple in your itinerary.
Auli
Are you an adventure lover or a nature enthusiast? Then Auli is going to be the place you like the most. It is located just 9 km from Joshimath en route to the Badrinath temple. It is well known as the skiing heaven and snowboarding. Although skiing and snowboarding can be done during the winter season, if you are coming for a Char Dham Yatra, then you can also include this place in your bucket list. As this is a natural marvel, the view of the wide valley from the ropeway at Auli is one of the best things to do.
Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara
One of the most rewarding and the most beautiful places to visit around the Char Dham circuit is the Valley of Flowers. The complete valley will be filled with colorful flowers, and trekking to the valley of flowers is nothing less than visiting a fairyland. In addition to this, you will also get to visit Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara, which is also known as the highest gurudwara in this world and is dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh and is one of the most sacred spots for the Sikh community of India and abroad.
Tungnath Temple
Another of the most famous spots to cover during your Char Dham Yatra is Tungnath Temple, which is also one of the highest Shiva temples on this earth. It is among the panch kedar, and the forelimbs of Lord Shiva in the form of Nandi are being worshipped in this temple. In addition to being a pilgrimage site, this place is also known for the adventure activity and well known as the Chopta Tungnath trek. 1 km ahead of this temple is Chandrashila peak, which is a perfect location to have a 360-degree view of the valley and snow-capped mountains all around. This place is also famous among birdwatchers, as a huge number of migratory birds can also be seen at this place.
Mana Village
Another famous place on this circuit is Mana Village, which is also known as the first village of India. Earlier it was used as a silk route between India and Tibet. In this village, mostly you will get the people from the Tibetan community. Houses made of rock, narrow streets, snow-capped mountains, and the juggling sound of the Sarashwati River flowing by this village will certainly make your days. It is located just a distance of 5 km from the Badrinath temple, and most of the visitors coming to the Badrinath temple do visit this village to have a wonderful photograph at the Maggi Point in this village. So if you are also planning for the Char Dham Yatra, then do visit this place without fail. In addition to this village you can also do a short trek to Vasudhara fall. It is one of the most beautiful fall in this area and miraculous one. As per the locals it is believed to be one of it's kind and it's water doesn't touches any sinner.