Char Dham Yatra

Overview

The Char Dham Yatra is a journey of devotion as much as distance. Over eleven days you visit the four sacred shrines of Uttarakhand — the sources of the Yamuna and the Ganga, Lord Shiva's Kedarnath and Lord Vishnu's Badrinath.

Mountain roads here are long and weather-dependent, so this itinerary keeps buffer time, stays close to each shrine and plans the Kedarnath trek or helicopter carefully around your group's fitness.

• Pilgrimage
• Spiritual
• Family

Highlights

• Darshan at all four dhams: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath
• Evening Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar
• The trek to Kedarnath, with pony, palki or helicopter options
• Tapt Kund at Badrinath and Mana village near the Tibet border
• Help with mandatory yatra registration and planning

1. Day 01
   Day 1: Arrival in HaridwarHaridwar

   Arrive in Haridwar and check in. Evening Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri.

2. Day 02
   Day 2: Haridwar to BarkotBarkot

   Drive via Dehradun and Mussoorie to Barkot, the base for Yamunotri, with a stop at Kempty Falls if time permits.

3. Day 03
   Day 3: Yamunotri darshanBarkot

   Drive to Janki Chatti and trek about 6 km to Yamunotri (ponies and palkis available). Bathe in the hot springs, offer prayers and return to Barkot.

4. Day 04
   Day 4: Barkot to UttarkashiUttarkashi

   Drive to Uttarkashi along the Bhagirathi. Visit the Vishwanath temple in the evening.

5. Day 05
   Day 5: Gangotri darshanUttarkashi

   Day trip to Gangotri via Harsil. Darshan at the Gangotri temple and return to Uttarkashi.

6. Day 06
   Day 6: Uttarkashi to GuptkashiGuptkashi

   A long mountain drive to Guptkashi via Tehri. Rest for the Kedarnath day ahead.

7. Day 07
   Day 7: Kedarnath darshanKedarnath

   Drive to Sonprayag, then trek about 16 km from Gaurikund to Kedarnath, or fly by helicopter if pre-booked. Evening aarti and overnight near the temple.

8. Day 08
   Day 8: Kedarnath to GuptkashiGuptkashi

   Early morning darshan, then trek or fly back and drive to Guptkashi to rest.

9. Day 09
   Day 9: Guptkashi to BadrinathBadrinath

   Drive to Badrinath via Chopta or Chamoli and Joshimath. Evening darshan after a dip at Tapt Kund.

10. Day 10
    Day 10: Badrinath and Mana to RudraprayagRudraprayag

    Morning darshan and a visit to Mana village, Vyas Gufa and Bhim Pul. Drive to Rudraprayag.

11. Day 11
    Day 11: Rudraprayag to HaridwarHaridwar

    Drive back to Haridwar via Devprayag, where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi meet to form the Ganga. Departure.

Best time to visit

May to June and mid-September to October. The temples usually open around Akshaya Tritiya (April/May) and close around Diwali (October/November). July and August bring monsoon landslide risk.

Travel information

Registration

Char Dham Yatra registration with the Uttarakhand government is mandatory. We guide you through it once dates are fixed.

Fitness

The Yamunotri and Kedarnath treks are demanding. Ponies, palkis and helicopter options exist; please share any health conditions so we can plan around them.

Helicopters

Kedarnath helicopter tickets are released through the official portal in limited numbers and are not guaranteed.

Weather

Nights are cold even in May and June. Carry warm clothing, rain gear and comfortable walking shoes.

Frequently asked questions

Gallery