Char Dham

Why visit

The circuit covers four shrines across three river valleys in a fixed order — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath — and the trek sections, altitude gaps and registration requirements make the sequencing matter more here than on any other Indian pilgrimage.

• The Yamunotri temple trek from Janki Chatti
• Gangotri temple, near the source of the Bhagirathi
• Kedarnath temple, on foot from Gaurikund or by helicopter
• Badrinath temple and the Tapt Kund hot springs
• Mana village, the last inhabited village before the Tibet border

Places covered

YamunotriGangotriKedarnathBadrinath

Suggested itinerary

1. Day1

   Arrive Haridwar

   Transfer from Dehradun or Haridwar to Barkot.

2. Day2

   Yamunotri

   Drive to Janki Chatti, trek to Yamunotri temple and back, return to Barkot.

3. Day3

   Barkot to Uttarkashi

   Drive along the Bhagirathi valley; evening aarti at Vishwanath Temple.

4. Day4

   Gangotri

   Drive to Gangotri, temple darshan, return to Uttarkashi.

5. Day5

   Uttarkashi to Guptkashi

   Long drive across to the Mandakini valley.

6. Day6

   Guptkashi to Kedarnath

   Drive to Gaurikund or Sonprayag, trek or fly to Kedarnath, overnight near the temple.

7. Day7

   Kedarnath darshan

   Morning darshan, trek down and drive back to Guptkashi.

8. Day8

   Guptkashi to Badrinath

   Drive via Rudraprayag and Joshimath to Badrinath.

9. Day9

   Badrinath

   Temple darshan, Tapt Kund and Mana village.

10. Day10

    Return to Haridwar

    Drive back via Rudraprayag and Rishikesh, depart from Haridwar.