City Covered : Mussorie-Barkot-Yamnotri -Uttakashi, Gangotri, Guptkashi-Kedarnath- Chopta- Joshimath-Badrinath-Visnuparyag- Karanparyag-Nandparyag- Devparyag- Rishikesh

The Chota Char Dham (Devanagari: (literally translated as ‘the small four abodes/seats’, meaning ‘the small circuit of four abodes/seats’), is an important Hindu pilgrimage circuit on the under upgradation Chardham Road Highway and under construction Chota Char Dham Railway in the Indian Himalayas. Located in the Garhwal region of the state of Uttarakhand (formerly the northwestern section of Uttar Pradesh), the circuit consists of four sites—Yamunotri Kedarnath  and Badrinath Badrinath is also one of the four destinations (with each destination being in different corners of the country) of the longer Char Dham from which the Chota Char Dham likely draws its name.

The Annual Char Dham Yatra restarted in May 2014, after remaining suspended since the outbreak of 2013 Uttarakhand floods. The footfall has now improved due to proactive measures taken by the government of Uttarakhand.

The day of Akha-Trij or Akha-Teej (in the month of May) marks the beginning of the Char Dham Yatra. The ‘Yatra’ typically closes 2 days after Diwali, on the day of Bhai-Bij (or Bhai Dooj).

Also, there are chances of roadblocks due to heavy rainfall in late July and August. In May and June, tourists flock in large numbers. So, there is very little time offered for ‘Darshan’. So, it is best to take the Char Dham Yatra in mid May to July and September – October.

Chota Char Dham is located in

Pilgrimage
Access to the pilgrimage is either from Haridwar, or Rishikesh, or from Dehradun. The tradition is to visit the sites in the following order:

Yamunotri, the source of the Yamuna River and the head of the goddess Yamuna.
Gangotri, the source of the Ganges (River Ganga) and head of the goddess Ganga.
Kedarnath, where a form of the Hindu god Shiva is venerated as one of the twelve jyotirling.
Badrinath, the seat of the Hindu god Vishnu in his aspect of Badrinarayan.

Kedarnath is located at a distance of 223 km from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand and close to the source of Mandakini river at a height of 3,583 m (11,755 ft) above sea level.[7] The township itself cannot be called attractive, as it is built on a barren stretch of land on the shores of Mandakini river but the surrounding scenery of Himalayas and green pastures makes it a very attractive place for pilgrimage and trekking. Behind the town and Kedarnath temple, stands the majestic Kedarnath peak 6,940 m (22,769 ft), Kedar Dome 6,831 m (22,411 ft) and other peaks of the range.