Winter Char Dham

The most sacred and revered Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand can now be undertaken even during winter. Yes! You read that right. The Uttarakhand government is now promoting the Winter Char Dham Yatra and inviting pilgrims to the winter abodes of the Char Dham shrines. During winter, pilgrims can seek the blessings of the Char Dham deities at their respective winter seats. As we all know, due to inclement weather and heavy snowfall, the route to the Char Dham shrines becomes inaccessible. During this period, the shrine doors are closed to pilgrims, and the palanquins of the respective deities are ceremoniously brought to their winter seats.

Winter Abodes- Winter Char Dham in Uttarakhand

Each Char Dham shrine has its designated winter seat. The four winter abodes of the Char Dham shrines are Kharsali, Mukhba, Ukhimath and Pandukeshwar. As soon as the portals of the shrines close, their palanquins are ceremoniously brought to these winter seats. The priest of the respective shrine mentions that seeking blessings at the winter seat is equally significant as visiting the main shrine. Interestingly, pilgrims are not required to trek, as all winter abodes are located close to the motorable road.
 

For the next six months, the deities will be worshipped at these winter homes, giving an opportunity to those unwilling to attend the regular Char Dham Yatra. These winter homes of the Char Dham are safe and easy to access.

Winter Char Dham Temples

The portal of the winter Char Dham Temple remains open for devotees throughout the year. Pilgrims visiting the regular Char Dham yatra often mark their attendance and visit these temples as well. Similar to the traditional Char Dham Yatra, pilgrims can undertake this Winter Char Dham Yatra in the following order such as Kharsali, Mukhba, Ukhimath, and Pandukeshwar.

Kharsali

Kharsali is the winter seat of Yamunotri Dham, the first Dham of Char Dham Yatra. This small village lies en route to the Yamunotri, around 6 km away. The symbolic idol of Goddess Yamuna was brought here to the Shani Dev Temple. The deity will remain worshipped here until the portal of Yamunotri Dham reopens next year. Kharsali is nothing less than a hidden gem as the village receives heavy snowfall, which turns the entire region into a winter wonderland. The village provides all basic amenities with good stay and food options.

Mukhba

Every year, when the portal of the Gangotri Dham closes, the idol of Maa Ganga is brought to Mukhba Village. Here, the idol of the deity is kept at the Maa Ganga Temple, which resembles the original Gangotri shrine. Mukhba is located around 27 km from the Gangotri and is just 5 km away from Harshil hill station. However, the village does not offer many facilities to its visitors, which is why most of the visitors prefer staying at Harshil. The old Ganga Temple is a major attraction of the village, which is beautifully built with devdar wood and brass.

Ukhimath

Ukhimath serves as the winter abode of the most renowned shrine among the Char Dham, i.e. Kedarnath Temple. The Panch Mukhi idol of the Lord Kedarnath is brought to the Omkareshwar Temple and stays until the portal of Kedarnath reopens. Devotees gather here in large numbers to seek the blessings of Baba Kedar. Along with Lord Kedarnath, Omkareshwar also serves as the winter seat of Madmaheshwar Temple.

Pandukeshwar

The winter seat of Badrinath Dham is shared between Pandukeshwar and Narsingh Temple at Joshimath. While the idol of the Lord Uddhava and Kubera is placed at Pandukeshwar, the idol of Lord Badri Vishal rests at the Narsingh Temple at Jyotirmath (Joshimath).

Accommodation

All winter seats of the Char Dham shrines offer a range of accommodation options, such as hotels, resorts, homestays, guesthouses and more. Pilgrims can book their stays for the Winter Char Dham Yatra either online or in person, subject to its availability. Among all winter seats, Mukhba, the winter seat of Gangotri, offers least stay options. Therefore, the pilgrims visiting Mukhba prefer to stay in Harshil, which is just 5 km away from the village.

Food Guide

Along with the divine blessing, pilgrims can enjoy the traditional cuisine of the Garhwal region. All winter seats of the Char Dham have a variety of restaurants and dhabas where visitors can enjoy different dishes.

How to Reach the Winter Char Dham?

• Kharsali

Located around 171 km from Dehradun, Kharsali is easily accessible by shared taxis and buses from Dehradun. Alternatively, it can also be visited by booking a cab directly from your respective places. To access the site, pilgrims must first reach Dehradun, which is well-connected to major cities by road, rail and air.

• Mukhba

Situated in Uttarkashi, Mukhba is around 222 km away from Dehradun. It can be visited by bus or shared taxi up to Uttarkashi, followed by another shared taxi to Mukhba. Visitors will get the bus and taxi facilities from Dehradun Hill Bus Stand.

• Ukhimath

Located in the Rudraprayag district, Ukhimath is approximately 175 km away from Rishikesh. Regular buses and shared taxis are available from the Rishikesh bus stand. To access the site, the pilgrims must first reach Rishikesh, which provides good road and rail connectivity. Although it doesn't offer direct air connectivity, the nearest airport is just 16 km away.

• Pandukeshwar

Situated in Chamoli District, Pandukeshwar is around 264 km away. It offers good road connectivity and is accessible by bus and shared taxi. If direct transportation is unavailable, pilgrims must first travel to Joshimath and then proceed to Pandukeshwar.

Important Tips for Winter Char Dham Yatra

• No Registration is required for the Winter Char Dham Yatra.
• Carry sufficient woollen, as the region becomes extremely cold.
• Before booking any accommodation, confirm it is operational during winter.
• If travelling by bus, arrive early at the bus stand, as buses usually depart early in the morning.
• Heavy snowfall is common in peak winters, so plan your visit accordingly.
• Keep sufficient cash during the pilgrimage.