Char Dham Yatra

Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath — with a buffer day built in

Rated 4.7 out of 5

About This Tour

The Char Dham is the journey of a lifetime, and the one itinerary where the schedule matters more than the sightseeing. Ours deliberately holds a buffer night in the Kedarnath region rather than packing two nights at the shrine itself, because weather in that valley closes roads without warning and a yatra with no slack in it falls apart.

Yamunotri is a six-kilometre trek from Janki Chatti, on foot, by pony or by doli. Gangotri is reached by road through the Harsil valley. Kedarnath is a nineteen-kilometre trek from Gaurikund, with an overnight at the temple. Badrinath closes the circuit, with the Tapt Kund springs, Mana village and Vyas Gufa within three kilometres, and Auli by ropeway on the ninth day.

Route: Barkot 2N · Uttarkashi 2N · Guptkashi 2N · Kedarnath 1N · Joshimath / Badrinath 2N
Duration: 9 nights and 10 days
Starts and ends: Haridwar

Included

Excluded

Itinerary

Day by day, here is exactly how Char Dham Yatra unfolds — 9 nights and 10 days, starting and ending at Haridwar.

Day 1, Haridwar to Barkot
Our driver meets you at Haridwar, or at Dehradun airport or station, and the yatra begins with the climb to Barkot — about two hundred and ten kilometres and seven to eight hours. Mussoorie Lake and Kempty Falls come en route. Check in at Barkot for dinner and the night.
Day 2, Barkot – Yamunotri – Barkot
An early start with a packed breakfast, driving to Janki Chatti and then trekking the six kilometres up to Yamunotri — on foot, by pony or by doli, at your own cost. At Jamunabai Kund pilgrims bathe in the warm water and cook rice by dipping it in the hot spring, carrying it home as prasad. Divya Shila, the rock pillar worshipped before entering the temple, and Surya Kund stand beside the shrine. Yamunotri lies at 3,235 metres on the Bandar Poonch peak and is the source of the Yamuna. Trek back to Janki Chatti and return to Barkot for the night.
Day 3, Barkot to Uttarkashi
A leisurely breakfast, then the hundred-kilometre drive to Uttarkashi, about four hours. The town sits on the bank of the Bhagirathi and is named for the Vishwanath temple at its centre, where a massive iron trident stands. Ekadash Rudra, Bhairav, Gyaneshwar and the Kuteti Devi temple are close by. Overnight at Uttarkashi.
Day 4, Uttarkashi – Gangotri – Uttarkashi
An early departure with packed breakfast for Gangotri at 3,048 metres, a hundred and twenty kilometres each way. At Gangnani you may take a holy dip in the Garam Kund, and the road then runs through the Harsil valley, famous for its deodar forest and mountain views. At Gangotri, bathe in the Bhagirathi, perform puja and darshan, and rest a while in the surroundings. This is where Shiva is said to have released the Ganga from his hair. Drive back to Uttarkashi for the night.
Day 5, Uttarkashi to Guptkashi
A long day — two hundred and ninety kilometres, eight to nine hours, via Moolgarh and Lambgaon. At Tilwara the road meets the Mandakini, which comes down from Kedarnath, and follows it up to Guptkashi. Visit the Ardhanarishwar temple on arrival. Overnight at Guptkashi.
Day 6, Guptkashi to Shri Kedarnath
Drive to Gaurikund and begin the nineteen-kilometre trek to Kedarnath at 3,584 metres, on foot or by pony or doli. Carry personal medicines, heavy woollens and toiletries for the overnight halt. The temple was built in the eighth century by Adi Shankaracharya on the site of an earlier Pandava shrine, and stands at the head of the Mandakini among snow peaks. After freshening up, visit the temple and perform puja, and in the evening the Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi behind it. Overnight at Kedarnath.
Day 7, Shri Kedarnath to Guptkashi
Trek back down and drive to Guptkashi. This night is deliberately kept as a buffer. Weather in this valley closes roads without warning, and an itinerary that books two nights at the shrine leaves nothing in hand when it does — which is how yatras come apart. If the day runs to plan, the Triyugi Narayan temple can be added at extra cost. Overnight at Guptkashi or Phata.
Day 8, Guptkashi to Badrinath
After breakfast, the hundred and eighty kilometre drive to Shri Badrinath, about seven hours. Pilgrims bathe in the Tapt Kund thermal springs on the Alaknanda before darshan of Badrivishal and the evening aarti. Brahma Kapal, where pind daan is performed for ancestors, is beside the temple, and Mana village — the last Indian village before Tibet — Vyas Gufa, Bhim Pul, Mata Murti and Charan Paduka all lie within three kilometres. Overnight at Badrinath.
Day 9, Badrinath – Joshimath – Auli
Visit the Narsingh temple at Joshimath on the way, an ancient shrine of Vishnu in his Narasimha avatar; when Badrinath closes for the winter, the idol of Lord Badri is brought here and worshipped for six months. A day trip to Auli by ropeway follows, payable directly. Overnight stay.
Day 10, Joshimath to Haridwar
The final drive, a hundred and sixty-five kilometres and five to six hours, back to Haridwar via Rishikesh. There is time for the Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula before you are dropped at Haridwar, and the yatra concludes.

Price on Request

/ per person

*Rates are quoted against your travel dates, hotel category and group size. Write to us or send the enquiry form and we will come back with a full costing the same day.