The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand has officially begun on Akshaya Tritiya, marking the start of the annual pilgrimage to the four sacred Himalayan shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri in the Garhwal region. Gangotri and Yamunotri opened their portals on Akshaya Tritiya, drawing a set of pilgrims into the high Himalayas. Preparations are now underway for the remaining two shrines, with Kedarnath scheduled to open on 22 April, followed by Badrinath on 23 April.

"The high-altitude shrines remain shut for around six months every year, opening in summers (April or May) and closing with the onset of winter (October or November). It is believed that one should complete the Char Dham Yatra in a clockwise direction. Hence, the pilgrimage starts from Yamunotri, proceeds towards Gangotri, onto Kedarnath, and finally ends at Badrinath," states the website of Uttarakhand Tourism.

Each of the four Dhams carries its own distinct history and spiritual weight. Here’s what makes them so significant on the Char Dham route.

According to Uttarakhand Tourism, "the actual origin of the river is at Gaumukh in the Gangotri glacier, 19 km away from Gangotri and is accessible by trekking. After it originates from Gaumukh, the river is known as Bhagirathi and it acquires the name 'Ganga' after the river Alaknanda merges into it near the town of Devaprayag. The kapat is open now for darshan." The Gangotri temple was built in the early 18th century by Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa.

It is believed that a dip in the Yamuna protects one from untimely death, since she is the daughter of the Sun God Surya and sister of Yama, the god of death.

It is one of the more physically demanding shrines to reach and is accessible via trek from Janki Chatti.

According to beliefs, after the Kurukshetra War, the Pandavas felt deep remorse for killing their own relatives and sought forgiveness from Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva eluded them and moved across the Himalayas to remain hidden. He finally took refuge at Kedarnath, assuming the form of a buffalo.

"On being followed, the Lord dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface at Kedarnath. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four other places and are worshipped there as his manifestations. The arms of the Lord appeared at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at Madmaheshwar and his locks (hair) with head at Kalpeshwar. The Kedarnath and four above mentioned shrines are treated as Panch Kedar (Panch means Five in Sanskrit)," states the website of Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee. The current temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya. Mythology also states that the original temple was built by the Pandavas.

"The Garbha Griha portion has its canopy covered with a sheet of gold and houses Lord Badari Narayan, Kuber (God of wealth), Narad rishi, Udhava, Nar and Narayan. The complex has 15 idols. Especially attractive is the one-metre high image of Lord Badarinath, finely sculpted in black stone. According to legend, Shankara discovered a black stone image of Lord Badarinarayan made of Saligram stone in the Alaknanda River. He originally enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund hot springs. In the sixteenth century, the King of Garhwal moved the murti to the present location of the temple. It represents Lord Vishnu seated in a meditative pose called Padmasana," states the website of Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee.

The Badri-Kedar Festival is celebrated at the Badrinath Temple. It is held annually between June and September and celebrates the union of Lord Vishnu (Badrinath) and Lord Shiva (Kedarnath). "With colourful processions, cultural performances, and rituals at both the Badrinath and Kedarnath temples, you will have the opportunity to experience the region's rich cultural heritage and spiritual fervour and witness the unique traditions and rituals associated with the festival," states Incredible India's website.

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