General Information on the Char Dham Yatra
The Char Dham temples are situated in the Himalayas, the humble adobe to the Gods, also known as Dev Bhoomi. Each of the four shrines is dedicated to a specific deity and river: Yaumnotri to Yamuna Devi, Gangotri to Goddess Ganga, Kedarnath to Lord Shiva, and Badrinath to Lord Vishnu. Originally, the Yatra is performed as – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath Yatra.
Altogether the sacred places create a multicolored fabric of devotion, myths, and history for those who want to taste the magic of this 4 dham Yatra. The legends surrounding the four dams are still eternally relevant, even for pilgrims from Surat to seek the darshan of Ganga-Yamuna or Lord Shiva or Lord Vishnu through the holy yatra.
Best Season to For Char Dham Yatra
The Char Dham Yatra is one of the most exquisite tours that one has to make sure of when to visit because the path is in the Himalayan region where weather patterns are always extreme. It is preferred to undertake the pilgrimage in the months between April and June and from September through November. It is good weather as it is not very hot or wet, the skies are clear and this makes it safer for the devotees to travel. The best season for a pilgrim can be stated to be April to June when the snow thaws, the ways are relatively easier and the temples can be reopened after the winter shutting down.
It is important not to travel during the monsoon period in July and August because of heavy rainfall which causes landslides floods and roadblocks. This season poses a lot of difficulty to most people and especially to those coming from such regions such as Surat; as this might eventually lead to either cancellation of their travel or compromise their safety. Another good time for Surat pilgrims to undertake Yatra is in the post-monsoon months from September to mid-November because people tend to travel in groups most of the time. The rains disappear and the air is fresh, cool, and suitable for the spiritual work of pilgrims.
Here’s Why Haridwar is the Best Place to Begin the Char Dham Yatra
It is indeed due to religious reasons that Haridwar is the perfect place to start the Char Dham Yatra. The starting point of the pilgrims is the Ganga Aarti performed at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar. It is thought that this experience cleanses the soul and provides favor for the rest of the trip.
By rail, road, and air the city is well connected so that the pilgrims from different parts of the country can assemble in the city. Additionally, it has most of the traveling facilities like travel agencies, and accommodation among other logistics issues; therefore it is the most ideologically and religiously appropriate place that this kind of journey should start from.
How to Reach Haridwar from Surat : Train and Air Options
1. Train Journey from Surat to Haridwar
Among the many pilgrims, it is noteworthy to list the following train travelers; those who believe that rail transport is cheap and convenient.
For Travel from Surat to Haridwar, A Few Reliable Train Options Include :
- Dehradun Express (Train No: 19019) : Starts from Surat, and reaches Haridwar within 22-23 hrs. This train is a direct train and this implies that, when boarding the train you do not need to transfer from one train to another.
- Yoga Express (Train No: 19031) : Another direct train from Surat to Haridwar trains that takes almost 24 hours for the journey.
- Other Routes via Delhi or Ahmedabad : Passengers can also choose connecting trains through Delhi or Ahmedabad to come to Haridwar.
Travel Duration and Amenities : To make your journey as comfortable as possible AC coaches should be taken. While taking more time than flying, trains are cheap, and several consider imagery views to be spiritually enriching.
Booking and Availability : Char Dham Yatra usually starts from May to June or from September to October, trains to Haridwar get occupied at that time. Buying tickets a month before the event is advised to be able to get a better view of the stage among other preferences. IRCTC and the other legal railway websites are the best to use for booking tickets.
General Fares and Classes :
- Sleeper Class (SL): ₹600–800
- Third AC (3A): ₹1,500–2,000
- Second AC (2A): ₹2,300–3,000
2. From Surat by Air – Reach Dehradun first and then Haridwar
If time is an issue there is no better way to get to Haridwar more so by air. There are no facilities for an airport in Haridwar but one can get the flight to Jolly Grant Airport (DED) at Dehradun which is about 50 Km from Haridwar.
Transfers from Dehradun to Haridwar : After reaching Dehradun one can travel by taxi, bus or a car pre-booked for a 1- 1.5 hrs drive to Haridwar.
Always book early because the prices of airline tickets are cheaper long before the Char Dham season.
3. Flight from Surat to Delhi and then Train or Taxi to Haridwar
The second way to go is by air from Surat to Delhi and one can take trains or taxi from Delhi to Haridwar. There is daily flight connectivity between Surat Airport (STV) to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi so flexibility is offered.
There are a few ways to reach Haridwar from Delhi :
Train : Dehradun Shatabdi Express takes about 4-5 hours
Car : About 5-6 hrs by taxi or by a private car
Selecting Char Dham Yatra Packages Available from Haridwar
If you want to avoid all the hassles and make your pilgrimage a real spiritual joy, it is wiser to take a Char Dham Yatra Package that generally starts from Haridwar. The following is a list of 4 dham packages all of which are unique and are intended to plan every detail of your trip from transportation, accommodation, meals, and sightseeing right to worship and meditation.
Key Chardham Yatra Package Options Available
All-encompassing tour package over the four Dhams beginning from Haridwar. Ideal for pilgrims who hope for a slow journey throughout the Char Dhams.
Duration : 8 Nights / 9 Days
Perfect for those who are in search of the cheapest tours and travel with a definite schedule. It guarantees most of the important points of interest and enough time for prayers at every place.
Duration : 9 Nights / 10 Days
Provides details on the two crucial pilgrimage sites of Hindus – Kedarnath and Badrinath. Ideal for short travels.
Duration : 4 Nights / 5 Days
Many people can easily reach within a limited amount of time when helicopter transport is used. Very suitable with those people who do have not much time or those people who wish to have a premium experience.
Price : INR 1,25,000 per person
Duration : 2 Nights / 3 Days
A superior service provision of Helicopter access and Transfers between all four Dhams, exquisite Accommodation and services.
Price : INR 2,00,000 per person
Duration : 4 Nights / 5 Days
Details of Do Dham Same Day Helicopter Yatra Package Starting Dehradun
Both Kedarnath and Badrinath are covered in one day with further room transfers with the help of helicopters. Ideal for tourists who want a short but thought-provoking tour.
Price : INR 1,20,000 per person
Duration : 1 Day
On What Grounds It Is Quite Suitable To Book These Chardham Packages?
Choosing a package for a big pilgrimage like Char Dham Yatra has numerous advantages especially for the people who will start the journey from the city like Surat. It lightens the journey since it also has meeting and movement, meal, and accommodation needs as well and most travelers prefer packaged organized tours, and guided tours respectively. The systematically developed Itineraries put into packages make sure that all four Dhams are visited together without missing any Dham and with due respect to the weather and road factors. Further, packages meet various requirements, where groups with low budgets or exotic helicopter tours are also available for travelers to make their decisions depending on their tastes and leisure time.
When it is done online from a completely different state say from Gujarat, it saves time that could otherwise be used to travel to physical offices of travel agencies to access and acquire packages, time that has been used to read more concerning various packages and even make comparisons. It is also possible to easily compare the prices offered by the numerous companies, secure transactions; and find the most untried deals that will be beneficial in terms of money spent as well as acquisition of early bird discounts.
