Is the Char Dham Yatra suitable for senior travellers?

Yes, with the right pacing. We plan shorter driving days, comfortable halts and arrange ponies, palanquins or helicopter services for the Yamunotri and Kedarnath sections where needed. A medical check-up before travel is recommended for high-altitude journeys.

Do I need to register for the Char Dham Yatra?

The Uttarakhand government requires yatra registration for pilgrims. We guide you through the process and help with the documents required as part of our planning.

How many days does the Char Dham Yatra take?

The full circuit by road from Haridwar usually takes 10 to 12 days, including a spare day for weather or road delays. A Do Dham journey covering Kedarnath and Badrinath takes around 6 to 7 days, and helicopter-assisted itineraries can be shorter still.

Can I visit only Kedarnath and Badrinath?

Yes. The Do Dham Yatra covers the two eastern shrines and is a common choice for travellers with less time. We plan it from Haridwar or Rishikesh with the same halts and support as the full circuit.

Is a helicopter service available for Kedarnath?

Helicopter services fly to Kedarnath from helipads in the valley during the season, subject to weather and seat availability, and are booked through the official government portal. We advise on timings and always keep a road and trek alternative in the plan.

What should I pack for the yatra?

Warm layers, a waterproof shell, walking shoes with good grip, a torch, sun protection, personal medicines and a small daypack for the trek days. Nights at Kedarnath and Badrinath are cold even in summer. We share a full checklist with your itinerary.

Char Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand

Four shrines, one road into the high Himalaya.

Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath: the Char Dham of Uttarakhand, travelled west to east in the order the pilgrimage has always taken. Planned from Haridwar, where the road begins.

01Yamunotri
02Gangotri
03Kedarnath
04Badrinath

About the yatra

What the Char Dham is, and why the order matters

The Char Dham of Uttarakhand, sometimes called the Chota Char Dham to distinguish it from the four dhams of India, is a circuit of four Himalayan temples in the Garhwal region. Two honour rivers at their sources: Yamunotri for the Yamuna and Gangotri for the Ganga. Two honour deities: Kedarnath, a Jyotirlinga of Shiva, and Badrinath, the abode of Vishnu.

Tradition travels the circuit clockwise, from west to east, so the yatra begins at Yamunotri and ends at Badrinath. The order also makes practical sense: the drives grow longer and the altitude higher as the days pass, which gives the body time to adjust before the demanding Kedarnath trek.

The temples open in spring and close before winter, when the deities move to lower winter seats. Dates are announced each year by the temple committees, usually around Akshaya Tritiya for the opening and Diwali for the closing, so the season runs roughly from late April or May to October or November.

Order: Yamunotri → Gangotri → Kedarnath → Badrinath
Duration by road: Typically 10 to 12 days from Haridwar
Distance: Approx. 1,400 to 1,600 km round trip
Highest point: Kedarnath, about 3,583 m
Season: Typically late April/May to October/November
Starting point: Haridwar or Rishikesh

In yatra order

Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath

01/04Goddess Yamuna

Yamunotri

Alt. 3,293 m

River: Yamuna
Overnight halt: Barkot
Access: 6 km trek from Janki Chatti; ponies and palanquins available

The yatra begins in the west at Yamunotri, where the Yamuna emerges below the Bandarpunch massif. The temple sits in a narrow valley reached by a six-kilometre trail from Janki Chatti, the last point vehicles can go.

Beside the temple, the hot spring of Surya Kund is where pilgrims cook rice and potatoes in cloth bundles to carry home as prasad, and the Divya Shila is worshipped before entering the shrine. Most travellers base themselves at Barkot and make the darshan a full-day excursion.

Leave Barkot early; the trail is busiest and the weather most settled in the morning.
Treat the trek as a fitness check for Kedarnath later in the week.
Carry a rain layer even in May and June; showers arrive quickly in the gorge.

Explore Yamunotri

02/04Goddess Ganga

Gangotri

Alt. 3,100 m

River: Bhagirathi (the Ganga at its source)
Overnight halt: Uttarkashi or Harsil
Access: Motorable road to the temple via Uttarkashi and Harsil

Gangotri marks the place where, in tradition, the Ganga descended to earth. The river here is called the Bhagirathi and runs fast and cold beside a white stone temple, rebuilt in its present form in the early nineteenth century.

The road from Uttarkashi through Harsil is one of the most beautiful stretches of the yatra, with apple orchards and deodar forest giving way to the bare upper valley. The true source, the Gaumukh glacier, lies a further eighteen kilometres on foot and needs a permit and a separate plan.

The temple is reached by road, so this is a gentler day between the two treks.
Altitude is already above 3,000 m; walk slowly and drink water through the day.
Harsil makes a quieter overnight alternative to Uttarkashi when rooms are available.

Explore Gangotri

03/04Lord Shiva, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas

Kedarnath

Alt. 3,583 m

River: Mandakini
Overnight halt: Guptkashi, Sitapur or Sonprayag
Access: 16 km trek from Gaurikund, or helicopter from Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi

Kedarnath is the highest and most demanding of the four dhams. The stone temple stands at the head of the Mandakini valley at about 3,583 metres, with the Kedarnath peaks rising directly behind it. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and among the most revered Shiva shrines in India.

Vehicles stop at Sonprayag, with shuttles to Gaurikund where the sixteen-kilometre trail begins. Ponies, palanquins and porters are available along the route, and helicopter services fly from helipads in the valley. In winter the deity is worshipped at Ukhimath, and the temple is closed.

Build in a spare day; weather can delay both the trek and helicopter flights.
Book helicopter tickets early through the official portal; seats are limited in peak weeks.
Acclimatise on the days before, and speak to a doctor first if you have heart or breathing conditions.

Explore Kedarnath

04/04Lord Vishnu as Badrinarayan

Badrinath

Alt. 3,133 m

River: Alaknanda
Overnight halt: Badrinath or Joshimath
Access: Motorable road to the temple via Joshimath

The yatra ends at Badrinath, on the banks of the Alaknanda between the Nar and Narayan ranges, with Neelkanth peak behind the temple. The brightly painted shrine is dedicated to Vishnu, and pilgrims bathe in the hot spring of Tapt Kund before darshan.

The road runs all the way to the temple, so this is the easiest of the four to reach. A short drive beyond lies Mana, the last village before the border, with the Vyas and Ganesh caves and the Bhim Pul rock bridge. In winter the deity moves to the Narsingh Temple at Joshimath.

Evening aarti at the temple is worth staying the night for.
Auli, above Joshimath, is an easy addition on the return if the season suits.
The return to Haridwar passes Devprayag, where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi meet to form the Ganga.

Explore Badrinath

3D — The route in 3DSchematic terrain · not to scale

The whole yatra, in one view.

From Haridwar to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, in the order the yatra follows. Keep scrolling to trace the road; each dham lights up as the route reaches it.

See Char Dham itineraries

Journey overview

The classic route, stage by stage

This is how we usually plan the full circuit from Haridwar over ten nights. Distances and driving times are approximate and change with road conditions; halts can shift depending on where rooms are available.

Day 1Arrive HaridwarEvening Ganga Aarti at Har Ki PauriOvernight: Haridwar
Day 2Haridwar BarkotApprox. 210 km, 7 to 8 hrs via MussoorieOvernight: Barkot
Day 3Barkot Yamunotri and backDrive to Janki Chatti, 6 km trek each wayOvernight: Barkot
Day 4Barkot UttarkashiApprox. 90 km, 4 hrsOvernight: Uttarkashi
Day 5Uttarkashi Gangotri and backApprox. 100 km each way through HarsilOvernight: Uttarkashi
Day 6Uttarkashi GuptkashiApprox. 220 km, 8 to 9 hrsOvernight: Guptkashi
Day 7Guptkashi KedarnathDrive to Sonprayag, 16 km trek from Gaurikund or helicopterOvernight: Kedarnath
Day 8Kedarnath GuptkashiEarly darshan, descend the same wayOvernight: Guptkashi
Day 9Guptkashi BadrinathApprox. 190 km, 7 to 8 hrsOvernight: Badrinath
Day 10Badrinath RudraprayagMorning darshan and Mana village, then approx. 160 kmOvernight: Rudraprayag
Day 11Rudraprayag HaridwarApprox. 165 km, 5 to 6 hrs via DevprayagOvernight: Journey ends

Do Dham
Kedarnath and Badrinath only, usually six to seven days from Haridwar. A common choice for travellers with less time or those returning for the eastern shrines.
Helicopter-assisted
Helicopter services can replace the Kedarnath trek and, on some itineraries, shorten the whole circuit. Availability depends on weather and seats, so we always plan a road fallback.
Extended
Add Auli, the Valley of Flowers in season, or a slower start in Rishikesh. The route is flexible once the four darshans are in place.

Planning the yatra

Useful things to know before you go

The Char Dham is a mountain journey as much as a pilgrimage. These are the questions we work through with every group; the details for your dates are settled during planning.

Best time to travel
May and June, before the monsoon, and mid-September to October, after it, are generally the most comfortable windows. July and August bring heavy rain and the risk of landslides and road closures. Opening and closing dates are announced each year.
Registration and permits
The Uttarakhand government requires every pilgrim to register for the yatra, online or at registration counters on the route. We guide you through the process and let you know which documents to carry.
Health and fitness
Three of the four temples stand above 3,000 metres. Walk slowly, drink water, and rest on arrival. Travellers with heart, blood pressure or breathing conditions should consult a doctor before travelling and carry their regular medicines.
- A basic first-aid kit and personal medicines
- Doctor's letter for pre-existing conditions
- Health check-up camps operate on the route in season
Weather and roads
Mountain weather changes quickly. Mornings are usually clearest, so we plan early starts and keep afternoons free. Road delays happen; a spare day in the itinerary is the simplest insurance.
What to pack
Layers rather than one heavy jacket, a waterproof shell, sturdy walking shoes with grip, a torch, sun protection and a small daypack for the trek days. Nights are cold at Kedarnath and Badrinath even in June.
- Warm layers and a waterproof
- Walking shoes already worn in
- Torch, power bank, cash for small purchases
Helicopter, ponies and palanquins
Helicopter services operate to Kedarnath from helipads in the valley, subject to weather and availability, and are booked through the official portal. Ponies, palanquins and porters serve both the Yamunotri and Kedarnath trails at posted rates.
Food and stays
Accommodation ranges from simple guesthouses to comfortable hotels in the halt towns; options at Kedarnath itself are basic. Meals on the route are vegetarian, and we choose halts where rest and a good breakfast are reliable.
Travelling with elders or children
For seniors and families with children, we shorten driving days, avoid late arrivals, arrange ponies or palanquins in advance and recommend a spare day, so the pace suits the slowest member of the group.

Packages

Char Dham itineraries to begin with

Each itinerary is a starting point. Duration, hotels, vehicle and pace all change once we know who is travelling.

Explore Packages

Customisable
- Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand
- 10 Nights / 11 Days
Char Dham Yatra
All four Himalayan dhams in eleven days, in the traditional order from Haridwar, with hotels, breakfast and dinner, and road transport throughout.
Starting from
₹19,999
per person

Questions

Frequently asked about the Char Dham Yatra

The temples usually open in late April or early May and close around Diwali. May, June and the weeks after the monsoon (mid-September to October) are generally the most comfortable. We will advise on the current season's dates and road conditions when you enquire.

Plan your yatra

Ready to plan your Char Dham Yatra?

Tell us your preferred month, who is travelling and whether anyone needs extra support on the trek days. We will reply with a route, halts and clear inclusions.

Plan Your Trip Chat on WhatsApp

Four shrines, one road into the high Himalaya.

What the Char Dham is, and why the order matters