Complete Guide to Char Dham Yatra

What is the Char Dham Yatra?

The Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand is a pilgrimage to four Himalayan shrines: Yamunotri, source of the Yamuna; Gangotri, associated with the Ganga; Kedarnath, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva; and Badrinath, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Traditionally, the yatra is done from west to east, starting at Yamunotri and ending at Badrinath.

When the temples are open

The shrines usually open around Akshaya Tritiya in April or May and close around Diwali in October or November. Exact dates are announced each year. May–June and mid-September–October are the most comfortable windows; July and August bring monsoon rain and landslide risk.

Registration

Registration with the Uttarakhand government is mandatory for every pilgrim. It can be done online before you travel, and checks happen along the route. Keep your registration and ID easily accessible.

How physically demanding is it?

Two shrines involve walking. Yamunotri is roughly a 6 km climb from Janki Chatti, and Kedarnath is around 16 km from Gaurikund. Ponies, palkis and porters are available on both routes, and Kedarnath also has helicopter services from the Guptkashi–Phata–Sersi area. Gangotri and Badrinath are reachable by road.

Helicopter tickets

Kedarnath helicopter seats are sold through an official portal in limited numbers. They sell out quickly in peak weeks, so decide early if you want to fly.

What to pack

Warm layers, rain gear, sturdy walking shoes, a small first-aid kit with your regular medicines, and copies of your ID. Even in June, mornings at Kedarnath and Badrinath are cold.

Plan with buffer days

Mountain roads can close without warning. A well-planned yatra keeps some slack in the schedule. Our 11-day Char Dham Yatra is paced this way, and we can plan shorter Do Dham versions too.

Travel conditions, permits and timings change. Check current rules before you travel — we confirm them in every quotation.