Char Dham Yatra Package from Haridwar

Start by 5:30–6:00 AM. Drive to Janki Chatti (approximately 45 km from Barkot), which is the trekking base for Yamunotri. The 6 km trail from Janki Chatti to the temple is well-laid and manageable at a steady pace. Pony and Doli (palanquin) services are available at Janki Chatti for those who need them — hire directly at the government-regulated counters, not from touts.

At Yamunotri (altitude 3,293 m), take a ritual dip in the Surya Kund hot spring before darshan at the temple. This is the source of the sacred Yamuna river. After darshan, descend to Janki Chatti and drive back to Barkot for dinner and overnight stay.

Yamunotri Trek: 6 km one way | Altitude: 3,293 m | Best start time: 6:00–7:00 AM | Pony available at Janki Chatti

A shorter, more relaxed drive today. After breakfast, check out from Barkot and head toward Uttarkashi — a significant pilgrimage town on the banks of the Bhagirathi river. The drive takes about 3–4 hours.

On arrival, check in to your hotel. In the evening, visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple — one of the most important Shiva shrines in Garhwal, similar in sanctity to its namesake in Varanasi. The Shakti temple adjacent to it is also worth visiting. Uttarkashi market is compact and has basic shops for warm clothes, prasad, and supplies for the days ahead.

Leave early — around 5:00 AM. The drive to Gangotri follows the Bhagirathi river upstream through the stunning Harsil valley. Stop at Gangnani on the way, where there is a hot spring (Tapt Kund) — a good warm-up before Gangotri.

Gangotri temple (altitude 3,048 m) sits beside the Bhagirathi river, which is how the Ganga is known at its origin. Take a dip in the sacred river before entering the temple for darshan. The atmosphere here — cold air, roaring river, and the white temple against the backdrop of high peaks — is one of the most vivid impressions of the entire yatra. Drive back to Uttarkashi in the afternoon for dinner and overnight stay.

The longest driving day of the yatra. After breakfast, check out and head toward Guptkashi via Lambgaon and Moolgarh. The route crosses the Bhagirathi–Mandakini watershed and passes through Tilwara, where you get a first view of the Mandakini river. This is your transition from the Gangotri circuit to the Kedarnath circuit.

On arrival at Guptkashi, visit the Ardhanarishwar temple in the evening if time permits. Guptkashi is mythologically significant — this is where Lord Shiva first hid from the Pandavas before fleeing to Kedarnath. Many operators now book the night stay at Sitapur instead of Guptkashi town, as Sitapur is closer to Sonprayag and saves time on Day 6.

2026 RULE: Mobile phones, cameras & video recording are COMPLETELY BANNED inside Kedarnath temple premises. Deposit your phone outside before entering. Legal action for violations. — BKTC, April 2026

The most physically demanding day. Wake at 4:00–4:30 AM. Drive to Sonprayag, then take a local shared jeep to Gaurikund (5 km — private vehicles are banned beyond Sonprayag). The Kedarnath trek starts at Gaurikund (1,980 m) and covers 16 km one way to the temple at 3,583 m. This is the government-approved rebuilt route post the 2013 disaster.

The climb takes 6–8 hours on foot. Pony, Doli, and helicopter options are available for those who need them. On reaching Kedarnath, complete the darshan. The evening Aarti at the temple is deeply moving. Overnight stay at Kedarnath or return to Sitapur depending on your preference and package type.

Trek: Gaurikund → Kedarnath | 16 km one way | Altitude gain: ~1,600 m | Start by 5:00 AM | Pony available at Gaurikund | Helicopter: book via heliyatra.irctc.co.in (extra cost)

Wake early for the morning Aarti and first darshan at Kedarnath — the temple is at its calmest before 7 AM. Then begin the 16 km descent to Gaurikund. The downhill trek is easier on the lungs but harder on the knees — take it slow and steady. From Gaurikund, drive back to Sitapur/Guptkashi.

En route, those interested can stop at Ukhimath, the winter seat of the Kedarnath idol. Check in to your hotel, eat well, and rest — you have earned it. Tomorrow is a long scenic drive to Badrinath.

After breakfast, drive toward Badrinath following the Mandakini and then the Alaknanda river valley. The route passes through Karnaprayag, Nandprayag, Chamoli, and Joshimath before ascending to Badrinath at 3,133 m. The Joshimath stretch can be slow during peak season due to traffic management and ongoing road works.

On arrival at Badrinath, check in and head to the Tapt Kund — the natural hot spring on the Alaknanda's banks — for a ritual bath before darshan at the Badrinath temple. The evening aarti (around 8 PM) is one of the most spiritually intense moments of the entire Chardham journey.

If time allows, visit Mana village (3 km from the temple, last inhabited Indian village before the China border), Bhim Pul, Vyas Gufa, and the 'mukh' (origin) of the Saraswati river.

Go for early morning darshan at Badrinath (5:30–6:00 AM — the queue is shortest then). After breakfast, drive back toward the plains via Joshimath.

Make a stop at the Narsingh temple in Joshimath — this is where the Badrinath idol is brought every November when the shrine closes for winter. The famous Kalpavriksha tree, believed to be thousands of years old, is also inside the Narsingh temple compound.

If time and energy allow, the Auli ropeway (3 km from Joshimath) offers panoramic views of Nanda Devi and the Himalayan range — optional, approximately ₹700 per person, payable locally. Continue to Rudraprayag or Srinagar (Garhwal) for the overnight stay.

The final morning. After breakfast and hotel checkout, drive to Haridwar via Rishikesh. A brief stop at Devprayag — where Bhagirathi and Alaknanda merge to form the Ganga — and the Dhari Devi temple is usually included.

In Rishikesh, pilgrims typically visit Parmarth Niketan, Triveni Ghat, or Ram Jhula before the last leg to Haridwar.

You arrive at Haridwar with the yatra complete. If your timing allows, the Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri in the evening is a beautiful and fitting close to this journey.