Char Dham, the sources of two rivers, Gangotri and Yamunotri are devoted to the female dities – Ganga and Yamuna. They both, along with Badrinath and Kedarnath form the Char Dham of the Garhwal, the four most hallowed shrines in the Himalayas. The Ganga, especially, is the river of India, beloved of her people, around which are entwined her memories, her hopes and fears, her songs of triumph, her victories and defeats. She has been the symbol of India’s age long culture and civilization, ever-changing, ever-flowing and yet ever the same Ganga.

Ancient India gave countless names to the Ganga. Among them is Loknadi or River of the World. In its most prisitine form, Goddess Ganga as she is reverentially known,first descended to Earth from Heaven at Gangotri where Lord Shiva received her into his matted locks to counter the immense impact of her fall From there ; the one which commenced from Yamunotri was termed Yamuna, from Gangotri – Bhagirathi from Kedarnath – Mandakini and the one which commenced from Badrinath was termed Alaknanda.

Garhwal is smack in the middle of the Himalayas, with Himachal Pradesh in the West and North-West; Tibet in the North; the plains of Western Uttar Pradesh in the South and Kumaon in the East. Historically, it has been described in the ancient text of Kedarkhand to extend from Gangadwar (modern day Hardwar) in the South to the high mountains in the North, and from the Tamsa (Tons) river in the in the West to Buddhachal (probably the Nanda Devi group of peaks between Garhwal and Kumaon) in the East.

Today it is an administrative division of the raising state of Uttaranchal, comprising the districts of Chamoli, Dehradun, Pauri, Tehri and Uttarkashi. The history of Garhwal is older than that of the Ramayan and Maha- bharata. It is a land of popular myths, like that of Lord Shiva appearing as Kirat, of Urvashi, Shakuntala and the Kauravas and Pandavas. Worship of Lord Shiva is pre-dominant in this region.

In earliest times, Garhwal was known as Kedarkhand, or the region of Kedarnath. Scriptural texts mention a number of tribes that inhabited the region, such as the Sakas, the Nagas, Khasas, Hunas and Kiratas. The Nagas were a mysterious race whose traces are still to be found in the Hills. The hooded snake was sacred to them, hence their name. (Naga-Snake). The Khasas were the dominant race in the Garhwal and Kumaon Himalayas till the coming of the Rajputs and Brahmins from the plains.

According to one version, Garhwal derives its name from the fifty two forts, ‘garhs,’ that had come together to form a loose confederacy. The first recorded name of this region was Kartipur. Later on, according to another tradition, since it was surrounded on all sides by mountains - it came to be known us "Giri - avil", which, by passage of time, got trans- formed into Garhwal.

Tour Package for Char Dhar

Day 1: Delhi - Haridwar (230 kms/6hrs)
Arrival Delhi Railway Station, Meet & Assist further drive to Hardwar, enroute lunch. Later drive to Hardwar transfer to your Hotel. Visit Har-ki-Pauri for Ganga Aarti in evening. Back to your hotel, Dinner & Night halt.

Day 02: Haridwar - Barkot (220kms/7hr)
After breakfast drive to Barkot via Dehradun & Mussoorie. Enroute visit Kempty Fall and others later drive straight to your Hotel for night halt.

Day 03: Barkot - Yamunotri - Barkot {36kms drive & 10kms Trek (one side)}
Drive to Phool Chatti, trek start from here to Yamunotri (7kms). Either by walk or by horse or by Doli at own cost. Arr. Yamunotri, One can cook rice by packing it in a cloth and dipping it in the hot water of the hot kund. Pilgrims take this cooked rice home as "Prasad". Here near the temple "Pooja" can be offered to Divya Shila, After taking bath in Jamunabai Kund's warn water and having "Darshan" of pious "Yamunaji" returning to Hanumanchatti. Later drive back to Barkot. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 04: Barkot - Uttarkashi (100kms/4hr)
Drive to Uttarkashi via Barkot. Check in Hotel, Later visit Vishwanath Temple. Night Halt.

Day 05: Uttarkashi - Gangotri - Uttarkashi (100kms/3hr each side)
We proceed to Gangotri (3048 mts), enroute we enjoy picturesque Harsil village, Bhagirathi River and the most magnificent view of the Himalayas. After Gangotri Darshan we return to Uttarkashi. overnight stay at Uttarkashi.

Day 06: Uttarkashi - Rudraprayag (175kms/6hr)
Early morning, drive to Rudraprayag enroute visit Tehri Dam. Check in Hotel, night halt.

Day 07: Rudraprayag - Kedarnath (75kms by road & 14kms Trek)
Morning drive to Gaurikund, Trek start from Gaurikund to Kedarnath (3584 mts) on foot or on by pony / Doli. Tour members should carry personal medicines, heavy woolen, tolietteries and clothes for an overnight halt at Kedarnath. Check in Hotel. Later visit Kedarnath Temple. Night halt.

Day 08: Kedarnath - Rudraprayag (14Kms Down Trek & 75kms/3hr by Road)
Early morning, after Temple Darshan trek down to Gaurikund. Later, drive to Rudraprayag via Guptkashi. Check in Hotel at Rudraprayag. Night Halt.

Day 09: Rudraprayag - Badrinath (165kms/7hr)
Drive to Badrinath via Joshimath. Check in Hotel. Later at evening visit Badrinath Temple for Aarti. Overnight stay.

Day 10: Badrinath - Joshimath (44kms/3hr)
Early morning, pilgrims after having a bath in the Taptkund have the Darshan of Badrivishal. Brahamakamal is significant for Pinddan Shraddh of ancestors (Pitrus). There are other interesting sight seeing spot like Mana, Vyas Gufa, Maatamoorti, Charanpaduka, Bhimkund and the "Mukh" of the Saraswati River. Just within the three kms of Badrinathjee. Later drive back to Joshimath. Check in Hotel. Overnight stay at Joshimath.

Day 11: Joshimath - Rishikesh (254kms/8hr)
Early morning, visit Narsingh Temple & Shankracharaya Math. Later, Drive back to Rishikesh. Check in Hotel. Overnight stay.

Day 12: Rishikesh - Hardwar - Delhi (230kms/7hr)
Morning, visit Hardwar Local Sight Seeing & Temples. Later drive back to Delhi. On Arr. Delhi, transfer to Railway Station / Airport. Tour Terminate.