Overview
▸ Seek the blessings of Goddess Yamuna at Yamunotri Dham (3,293 m)
▸ Offer prayers at the source of the sacred Ganga at Gangotri (3,048 m)
▸ Trek to the ancient Kedarnath Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas
▸ Receive darshan of Lord Badri Vishal at Badrinath — the most venerated Vishnu shrine in the Himalayas
▸ Visit Devprayag — the grand confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi, where the holy Ganga begins
The Char Dham Yatra is the most sacred pilgrimage in Hinduism — a journey that every devout Hindu aspires to undertake at least once in a lifetime. The four dhams — Yamunotri (source of the Yamuna), Gangotri (source of the Ganga), Kedarnath (seat of Lord Shiva), and Badrinath (abode of Lord Vishnu) — form a spiritual circuit through the high Himalayas of Uttarakhand. Completing the Char Dham is believed to wash away all sins and grant moksha (liberation). This 11-day journey is the most comprehensive, soul-stirring, and spiritually rewarding experience in all of India.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival at Haridwar
Arrive in Haridwar, the Gateway to the Gods. Check into your hotel and attend the mesmerising evening Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri — an experience of bells, lamps, and devotion that sets the perfect spiritual tone for the journey ahead.
Day 2
Haridwar → Barkot (~210 km)
After an early breakfast, drive to Barkot, your base for the Yamunotri Dham. The road winds through the Yamuna river valley, offering stunning mountain scenery. Check into your hotel or dharamshala upon arrival.
Day 3
Barkot → Yamunotri → Barkot
Drive to Janki Chatti and trek 6 km to Yamunotri — the source of the Yamuna and the westernmost of the Char Dhams. Offer prayers at the Yamunotri Temple, cook rice in the Surya Kund hot spring as prasad, and seek the blessings of Goddess Yamuna. Return to Barkot by evening.
Day 4
Barkot → Uttarkashi (~100 km)
Drive to Uttarkashi — the Kashi of the Mountains. Visit the ancient Vishwanath Temple here and rest overnight in preparation for the Gangotri Dham.
Day 5
Uttarkashi → Gangotri → Uttarkashi
Drive to Gangotri, the origin of the Bhagirathi River — which becomes the Ganga downstream. Attend the morning aarti and seek the blessings of Goddess Ganga at the Gangotri Temple, surrounded by towering snow peaks and the roar of the sacred river. Return to Uttarkashi for overnight stay.
Day 6
Uttarkashi → Guptkashi (~220 km)
Drive to Guptkashi, your base for Kedarnath. En route visit Tehri and enjoy the mountain landscape. Upon arrival, visit the Vishwanath Temple and Ardhanarishvara Temple in Guptkashi.
Day 7
Guptkashi → Gaurikund → Kedarnath Trek
Drive to Gaurikund and begin the 16-km trek to Kedarnath, or take a helicopter from Phata. Kedarnath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas and is believed to have been built by the Pandavas. The setting — between snow-clad peaks and glaciers — is extraordinary. Attend the evening aarti and spend the night at Kedarnath.
Day 8
Kedarnath → Gaurikund → Badrinath (~220 km)
After the morning aarti at Kedarnath, descend to Gaurikund and drive to Badrinath via Rudraprayag and Joshimath. Pass through the spectacular Vishnuprayag confluence en route. Check into hotel at Badrinath.
Day 9
Badrinath Darshan
Visit the magnificent Badrinath Temple dedicated to Lord Badrinarayan (Vishnu), one of the 108 Divya Desams. Bathe in the Tapt Kund hot springs before darshan. Visit Brahma Kapal for ancestral rites, the cave of Vyas Gufa, and Mana — the last Indian village before the Tibet border.
Day 10
Badrinath → Rishikesh (~300 km)
Drive back toward Rishikesh, stopping at the sacred Devprayag — the grand confluence where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi merge to form the Ganga. Attend evening prayers in Rishikesh.
Day 11
Rishikesh → Haridwar → Departure
After morning prayers at Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh, drive to Haridwar for departure, carrying the divine blessings of the Char Dham.