3000 year-old Char Dham trek route once taken by Pandavas, could soon open for pilgrims

A new Hindu pilgrimage to Char Dham is set to start with the help of Uttarakhand Tourism. The route is the 3000 year-old ancient trail that was taken by the Pandavas as written in the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
Home to Badrinath, the Indian state of Uttarakhand promises a range of exciting and holy pilgrimages. The Char Dham Yatra will take trekkers to four of the holiest corners in the state. The tourism department of Uttarakhand is also offering cash prize of 1 lakh INR and 51,000 INR (first and second prizes respectively) for those who can provide information on the tour. The information should include maps, photographs, and details of stop-over. Applicants also have the opportunity to win third and fourth prize for 21,000 INR and 10,000 INR respectively if they are physically challenged and blind.

Satpal Maharaj, Tourism Minister, Uttarakhand, said in a statement, "Around 2,000 tourists trek the 230-km route, through Annapurna peak in Nepal. The Inca circuit in Peru, established in 1450, is frequented by a large number of tourists every year. On the same lines, we are going to open the ancient Char Dham route which was used by Pandavas around 3000 years ago, which Adi Shankaracharya named the Chota Char Dham in the 8th Century."

Those who are interested in taking the tour can also choose between two combinations of trips. Also the resting place for trekkers would have basic amenities.

According to historian Girija Pandey, some ancient travellers used to take the Rishikesh-Bamori-Kathgodam-Bheemtal route, while others diverted from Naini and went towards Bageshwar-Adi Badri-Simli-Karnaprayad, and Chamoli-Badrinath. In fact, famed Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang wrote about Haridwar in his travelogues, and a certain British officer explored Gomukh route.

Char Dham Yatra 2018 could soon be a possibility and an adventure awaits those who are interested.