Char Dham Yatra

Overview - Char Dham Yatra

Devbhoomi, also known as Uttarakhand or the Land of Gods, is a place where you can find numerous temples and attracts pilgrims throughout the year. Among several sacred places in Uttarakhand, Char Dham Yatra stands out prominently. This trip includes four high-altitude holy places in the Himalayas: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. In Hindi ‘char’ means four while ‘dham’ signifies holy places.

Char Dham Yatra is closed for about six months every year, opening during summer and closing down with the onset of winter in November. The direction of the pilgrimage to Char Dham Yatra should be clockwise.

Therefore, the Char Dham Yatra Package starts from Yamunotri then proceeds to Gangotri and Kedarnath lastly Badrinath. The journey can either be by road or air. Some devotees even do a ‘Do Dham’ Yatra or pilgrimage to two shrines: Kedarnath and Badrinath.

Therefore, the Char Dham Yatra Package starts from Yamunotri then proceeds to Gangotri and Kedarnath lastly Badrinath. The journey can either be by road or air. Some devotees even do a ‘Do Dham’ Yatra or pilgrimage to two shrines: Kedarnath and Badrinath.

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Char Dham Yatra Best Time

If you are planning for the Char Dham Yatra temple then you should know that the doors of temples open in mid-April and close during Diwali that’s in November. Char Dham Yatra best time is from April to June or September to November. Also, you can make a budget-friendly trip with Char Dham tour packages.

Char Dham Yatra Package from April to June

During the summer, Char Dham is heaven on Earth, with clear skies, calm days, and beautiful landscapes to explore. As in other seasons, you will have snow or rain, but summer makes this the greatest time to visit these holy places. Furthermore, you can share the spirituality of the temple, yatra, or pilgrimage.

In the summer, the sun comes out to bless the weather in Char Dham. Although temperatures might drop as low as 5°C at night, summer weather is generally pleasant. Summer is the ideal time to visit Char Dham and its surroundings. The sun warms the land sufficiently, which makes travel easy. Char Dham Yatra best time to visit is during this month.

Char Dham Yatra Package from July to September

Cold and chilly days make up an important aspect of the monsoon weather in Char Dham. The monsoon season may be great for visiting the area, with one exception being rain. Monsoon showers range from light to severe rainstorms, which may limit your ability to go out and explore.

July and August witness the most rain, with the droplets drying up substantially by September. The risk of landslides in this location is considerable during the monsoon season. It is recommended to tourists or pilgrims to avoid visiting here during this time of year. Keep checking for the weather report if you are planning to come here during the rainy season.

Char Dham Yatra Package from September to November

While September and early October are mostly dry and snow-free, the first snowfall of winter begins to fall in mid-October or starting November. By the end of November, Char Dham temple is covered in a thick covering of snow.

Roads to the city are closed because of severe weather, as snow continues till March. November is the last month until you can visit the temple because the door closes during ‘Bhai Dooj’ and opens again in April. Due to heavy snowfall, the yatra remains closed until the weather and roads are clear.

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How to Reach Haridwar For Char Dham Yatra

If you are planning to travel in Char Dham then you need to know the entire route and how you can smoothly plan your travel. All the major cities in India are connected through road, train, and air. You can take our Char Dham Yatra package for a seamless travel experience.

These are the best 3 ways to visit Char Dham:

By Air

The main airport of Uttarakhand is Jolly Grant Airport which is in Dehradun. Many prefer to come to Dehradun via flight as it saves a lot of time but it will cost you some extra money. Direct flight is available till Jolly Grant, Uttarakhand. From the airport, you need to travel around 40 km to reach Haridwar. You can either book a cab or use local transportation like a bus to reach here.

By Train

To reach Haridwar the most convenient and affordable means of travel option for you is the train. Nanda Devi, Kota Express, Shatabdi, Jan Shatabdi and Vande Bharat are some of the best express trains to reach Haridwar directly from Delhi.

By Road

Find a direct Volvo bus that will drop you at the Haridwar bus Station. However, it will take longer as compared to flight but will save a lot of money. You can also book a direct cab and come to Haridwar.

With our Char Dham Yatra Package, you will get all the accommodation from traveling, food, and staying.

Char Dham Yatra from Haridwar

Char Dham Yatra Package begins from Haridwar. However, if someone is planning to visit here at their convenience then they must know the entire route for a smooth travel experience. There are 2 ways to travel, local transportation: Bus or Jeep and Private Cab.

Bus/ Jeep

This is the cheapest traveling method. You can complete your Char Dham yatra through a bus. All the Dhams are connected by well-built roads and bus services. You can find a direct bus to Char Dham. From Haridwar to Yamunotri, Yamunotri to Gangotri, Gangotri to Kedarnath via Rudraprayag, and Guptkashi, and finally Kedarnath to Badrinath via Joshimath.

Cab

Book a direct cab from Haridwar to visit all the Char Dhams. However, this will cost you a lot more than the local bus. You need to book the cab for a minimum of 8-10 days to complete your entire Char Dham Yatra.

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Char Dham Yatra Package Itinerary

Day 01: Haridwar to Barkot.

Altitude: 4,000 feet/ 1,200 m

Distance: 190 Km

Duration: 6-7 Hours

The Char Dham Yatra package journey will begin from Haridwar in the early morning. The pickup location will be from Haridwar railway station and bus stand. Our destination is Barkot, a small village in Uttarkashi District. The town is a very beautiful place because of its natural scenery. The distance we have to travel is around 190 km which will take us 6-7 hours to reach. Once we reach Barkot, we will check into our hotel. You can explore the city and enjoy your evening. At night, have your dinner and sleep as we will be leaving the next morning.

Day 02: Barkot to Yamunotri Temple and Back to Barkot.

Altitude: 10,700 feet/ 3,200 m

Distance: 46 Km

Duration: 2-3 hours

This day will take you to the top of the hill in the Yamunotri region. This is the first temple on the Char Dham Yatra. The location is renowned for the Yamuna River's source. After breakfast, you will proceed to Jankichatti first, followed by the trek to reach the top of Yamunotri. Surya Kund, a pond at the main temple, is the region's hot water source. The local temple priest will boil rice and potatoes in the pond as Prasad. After Prasad and worship, visit the huge stone pillar known as 'Divya Shila' and then return to Barkot via Jankichatti. Arrive at the hotel, have dinner, and sleep.

Day 03: Barkot to Uttarkashi.

Altitude: 4,000 feet/ 1,200 m

Distance: 80 Km

Duration: 2 Hours

We will be leaving for Uttarkashi in the morning. Have your breakfast rooted in the Garhwali culture and get ready for your next adventure. Our destination is Uttarkashi, where we will visit the Prakateshwar Mahadev Temple, Shiva Falls, Mahadev Cave, and Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The beauty of the location will draw you in, and you will be fascinated by the history of all of the tourist places. After arriving in Uttarkashi, you can see the Bhagirathi River, the main river of the holy river Ganga. You can also see Lord Shiva's city and the Shakti temple. We will be spending the night in Uttarkashi.

Day 04: Uttarkashi to Gangotri Temple and Back to Uttarkashi.

Altitude: 10,300 feet/ 3,100 m

Distance: 100 Km

Duration: 3-4 Hour

Our day will start at Uttarkashi with a morning breakfast. We will be leaving for our second char dham temple darshan which is Gangotri. Gangotri is named after the river Ganga. The holy river originates from Gaumukh which is 19 km away from Gangotri. On the way to Gangotri, you will have the most picturesque location. You will be able to see the Gangotri Glacier.

Once we reach Gangotri, take a dip in the holy river Ganga which is also known as Bhagirathi river and visit the temple. Spend some time at the beautiful location then we will be heading back to Uttarkashi spending overnight.

Day 05: Uttarkashi to Guptkashi.

Altitude: 4,300 feet/ 1,300 m

Distance: 200 Km

Duration: 7-8 Hour

We will leave from Uttarkashi early in the morning, have our breakfast and check out of the hotel. It's going to be a long day as the travel distance is 200 km which will take us around 7-8 hours. Guptkashi is an ancient spiritual place in Uttarakhand. It is on the way to Kedarnath and is nestled in the lush green Mandakini river valley, which is full of magnolia blooms.

Legend has it that while the Pandavas from the epic Mahabharata were looking for Lord Shiva, the Lord hid in Guptkashi. As a result, Lord Shiva is the primary deity worshiped here. Another attraction here is Manikarnika Kund, where the Ganga and Yamuna rivers are said to meet.

After reaching Guptkashi we will be spending the night here and preparing for our next day's visit to Kedarnath.

Day 06: Guptkashi to Sonprayag to Kedarnath.

Altitude: 12,500 ft/ 3600 m
Distance: 30 km drive to Sonprayag, 16 km trek to Kedarnath

Duration: 1-hour drive, 7-8 hour trek

The next day is the Kedarnath Temple darshan that you have been waiting for. Our journey will begin early in the morning from Guptkashi to Sonprayag. The distance is around 30 km. It will take 1 hour to reach Sonprayag. After that, we need to reach Gaurikund.

No private vehicle is allowed from Sonprayag so you have to take public transportation i.e. a taxi that will cost you 40-50 rupees per person to reach Gaurikund. The Kedarnath Trek begins from Gaurikund. It's a 16 km long trek that will take you 7-8 hours to complete.

Once you reach, spend some time and visit the Kedarnath Temple and the beauty surrounding the temple. We will have our meal and sleep for the night.

Day 07: Kedarnath –to Gaurikund by Trek to Sonprayag to Sari Village.

Altitude: 12,500 ft/ 3600 m to 6600 ft/ 2000 m
Distance: 16 km trek from Kedarnath to Gaurikund, 5 km drive to Sonprayag, 50 km drive to Sari Village

Duration: 7-8 hour trek, 1 hour drive to Sonprayag, 2-3 hours drive to Sari Village

The next day we will leave early after having our breakfast. We need to come back to Sonprayag from Kedarnath. First, we will trek down from Kedarnath to Gaurikund which will take 7-8 hours. After reaching Gaurikund we will drive back to Sonprayag and from there we will head towards Sari Village.

The total travel time will be around 4-5 hours to reach Sari Village from Sonprayag. Sari village is a beautiful village with a picturesque landscape located at an altitude of 6,600 feet/ 2,000 m. It is also the base camp for the Deoria tal. Chopta Trek is around 20 km away from Sari Gaon.

We will be spending our night at Sari Village and will leave for Badrinath the next day. Eat your dinner and rest for the night.

Day 08: Sari to Badrinath.

Altitude: 6,600 ft/ 2000 m to 10,200 ft/ 3100 m
Distance: 160 km

Duration: 6-7 hours drive

This is the day that you have been waiting for Badrinath Temple Darshan. We will begin our day early from Sari village after having breakfast. The journey will start from Sari Village to Badrinath which is around 160 km away and takes 6-7 hours. On the way to Badrinath, you will see the beautiful landscape that will fill your journey with joy.

Sari Village is located in the Rudraprayag area of Uttarakhand, surrounded by lush flora and breathtaking Himalayan peaks. After reaching Badrinath we will check in our hotel keeping the luggage in the room and will leave for the Temple darshan. Tapt Kund is a natural warm spring on the banks of the Alaknanda River, where bathing is traditional before entering the Badrinath temple.

Enjoy your time in the temple as we will be coming back to our hotel for an overnight stay in Badrinath. This is the last day of our 5-day trip as we will be leaving for Haridwar the next morning.

Day 09: Badrinath to Haridwar.

Altitude: 10,200 ft/ 3100m 1000 ft/ 640 m
Distance: 310 km

Duration: 8-9 hours

Our trip has come to an end. We will have our breakfast, check out of our hotel, and head back to Haridwar. We will be covering a distance of 310 km from Badrinath to Haridwar which will take us 8-9 hours. On the way, we will be stopping for lunch before starting our journey again. Enjoy the mesmerizing view and all the memories that you made here.

We will reach Haridwar by evening or night so if anyone has to travel to other cities make your necessary arrangements before reaching. The drop-off location will be Haridwar Railway station and bus stand. Kedarnath and Badrinath tour packages end when we reach Haridwar.

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