Chatti

A pilgrim shelter, particularly in the
Himalayas. The word chatti is a variant
form of the word for “umbrella” and was
used because these shelters were often
simply roofs supported by pillars, to
keep the pilgrims dry in case of rain. Up
until the middle of the twentieth
century, many Himalayan pilgrims still
traveled on foot and used a network of
chattis along the pilgrimage routes.
These chattis were eight to twelve miles
144
Chataka
Vishnu sleeping on a serpent couch. According to Hindu tradition, during the four months that Vishnu
sleeps, the world is denied his protective powers and the Chaturmas Vrat is observed during this time.
apart, an easy day’s walk for younger pilgrims, yet manageable for the elderly.
Each chatti was maintained by a nearby
family, which would sell the pilgrims
wood and food grains and provide them
with cooking utensils. This arrangement
brought income to mountain families
during the pilgrimage season and freed
pilgrims to carry only their personal
belongings. The advent of paved roads
and bus transportation has largely rendered this network obsolete, although it
survives in certain place names, such as
Janaki Chatti and Hanuman Chatti.