The Char Dham Yatra refers to the pilgrimage to the four sacred shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. These shrines are highly revered by Hindus and are located in the Garhwal region of the Himalayas. The legends say that the Char Dham Yatra emerged after the battle of Mahabharata. After murdering their brothers, Pandavas felt guilty and in search of the divine they went to Shiva. Shiva used to reside in Kashi in Banaras those days. When Shiva heard them coming, he hid himself in a place known as Guptkashi. It is the same place just below Kedarnath in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand. Then Pandavas pleased all the Gods and brought the Yamuna and Ganges to the earth to vanish their sins. Later they worshipped Shiva at Kedarnath and then they took the blessing of Lord Vishnu at Badrinath.
The place where they brought Yamuna to the earth is known as Yamunotri and where they brought the Ganges to the earth is referred as Gangotri. Since then it’s believed that completing a pilgrimage circuit of all the above divine holy sites Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath in one journey is referred to as the holy Himalayan Char Dham Yatra. The Char Dham Yatra takes a minimum of 10 days from Haridwar/Rishikesh/Dehradun and a minimum of 12 days from New Delhi.
The word Char Dham can be understood as Char stands for “Four” and Dham stands for “A Holy Pilgrim Place” and altogether it becomes Char Dham and Yatra is referred to as Journey. So there are four holy hindu pilgrimage sites in the lower region of the great Himalayas of the Uttarakhand state of India.
The holy Char Dham Yatra begins in the foothills of mighty Himalayan peaks that are naturally untouched. This sacred journey touches straight to the heart of every pilgrim and makes the soul pure and peaceful. Snow-clad mountains will be a mirror to all your questions about your life and imagination.
This sacred journey can begin from Haridwar/Rishikesh/Dehradun/Delhi and takes you to the four holiest and ancient places of INDIA located in the top-notch remote areas of Uttarakhand. These four places are publically known as Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. These four places are dedicated to the Hindu goddesses and lords, the Yamunotri temple is dedicated to the goddess Yamuna, the Gangotri temple is dedicated to the goddess Ganga, the Kedarnath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and the Badrinath temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
The complete Char Dham Yatra tour takes a minimum of 10 days to complete when you start from Dehradun. This tour duration can be extended to make the tour more comfortable and relaxing. Char Dham Yatra plan can also be customised from the different places like Delhi, Haridwar or Rishikesh.
It's still a dream for so many people to feel the presense, fragrance, and calmness of Kedarnath Dham, which is the source of the universe. But the Char Dham Yatra means to cover a lot along with the divine Kedarnath Dham. The complete Char Dham Tour covers four main temples nestled in the foothills of the northern Himalayas of Uttarakhand. This pilgrimage is a soul-stirring journey which takes pilgrims through the sacred shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, each holding profound spiritual significance in Hinduism.
We have to say this but it makes sense, all the Char Dham Yatra temples are not accessible round the year. All the holy temples are located in the high altitude of northern Himalayas which make them closed for winters due to heavy snowfall. Here are the tentetive opening and closing dates for all the shrines for the year 2025.
Opening: April 30, 2025
Closing: Nov 03, 2025
Opening: April 30, 2025
Closing: Nov 03, 2025
Opening: May 02, 2025
Closing: Nov 08, 2025
Opening: May 02, 2025
Closing: Nov 15, 2025
Best Season: Usually the Char Dham Yatra begins from the mid April and lasts upto October last. So, the Char Dham Yatra has only seven months to play and someyears it has only six. Visitors get only these months to witness the divine temples because temples gets closed whole winters due to heavy snowfall.
Summers: April, May, June are the peak season months. Weather feels pleasant over the Himalayan towns when it's burning in the busty cities. Heading to Himalayan peaks in summers sounds exciting but it gets very crowded and people suffer in jams.
Monsoon: July and August months rain here, weather gets very pleasant, clear and less crowded but involves certain risks of landslides, road blocks, floods, and cloudbursts.
Winters: September and October months can be considered as the ideal time to plan for this holy Himalayan Char Dham Pilgrimage. Sep and Oct months are the start of the winters where September is quite pleasant but October can be quite cold. If you get lucky, a snowfall can also be witnessed at Dhams in the month of October. So if you are not afraid of a bit cold then this is the time for you.
Char Dham Yatra Duration: The Char Dham Yatra takes a minimum of ten days if you do it from Haridwar/Rishikesh/Dehradun. People also do it in nine days from Haridwar/Rishikesh/Dehradun but its very hectic plan which leads to reach late at the given destinations. The driver drives the vehicle all day, covering sightseeings, but not having proper rest, which makes it risky as well. Considering safety and comfort, we have excluled this nine days Char Dham tour from our Char Dham Tour's list. Besides this we made more comfortable, peaceful, and relaxing Char Dham Yatra packages by merging nearby beautiful places which really worth a visit. There are only two major points from where you can plan your divine Char Dham expedition.
i) Char Dham Yatra From Haridwar /Rishikesh/Dehradun: A Char Dham Yatra tour takes a minimum of 10 days if you plan to start and end at Haridwar/Rishikesh/Dehradun, but you have to keep your arrival time before noon and departure time in the late evening. This way, you can plan a comfortable 10 Days Char Dham Yatra Itinerary but it will still not include the stays in Haridwar and Rishikesh but a break can be taken while passing them if time permits. To include stays in Haridwar and Rishikesh you will further need to add more nights in your Char Dham expedition, like we have the Char Dham Yatra with Haridwar tour plan. Explore all Char Dham Yatra Packages from Haridwar here.
ii) Char Dham Yatra From Delhi: A Traditional Char Dham Yatra from Delhi tour takes a minimum of 12 days, some people are used to finish it in 11 days as well generally for budget travellers. As written above that the security and safety measures are most considered points while driving on the hills, so we make Char Dham Packages twelve days plus long if planning from Delhi. Explore all Char Dham Yatra Packages from Delhi here.
Where should be your first halt in the Char Dham Expedition? Well, it completely depends on the origin of the tour. We pick the places according to the secquense of the temple visits, legends say that the Yamunotri should be the first Dham followed by Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Let's plan it for ex Dehradun/Haridwar/Rishikesh first, if your train/flight's deboarding time is before noon then you can straight proceed to Barkot for Yamunotri Dham.
If your arrival is late then you can put yourself in Haridwar/Rishikesh for the first night and start for Barkot on the next day. Keep two nights at Barkot for a full day visit to Yamunotri Dham, then you will move to Uttarkashi for two nights and having a full day visit to Gangotri from there. Next you stay at Guptkashi/Phata for one night which is near Kedarnath. The next night you will need at Kedarnath and then coming to Chopta for one night halt. From Chopta we put one night straight at Badrinath. Badrinath darshan and Mana village tour takes time so we put the last night at Rudraprayag to reach before the sunset. Post Rudraprayag night you will come back to Haridwar/Rishikesh /Dehradun and from there, you can take your train/flight back to your place.
Similarly, if planning a Char Dham Expedition from Delhi then you just need to put two nights in the above plan. One night in the start at Haridwar/Rishikesh/Mussoorie and one night in the last at Haridwar/Rishikesh will make this tour super comfortable.
Our Char Dham Packages offer more than just a well-written itinerary. Our Char Dham tours give you countless opportunities to unfold the secrets of the majestic Himalayas and to sober in divine temples. Here are the top tourist attractions we won't let you miss during your Char Dham expedition. All the below Char Dham attractions are being covered in our all Char Dham Yatra packages so just grab a Char Dham package, leave all the worries to us, and witness them in real.
As per the temple visiting sequence in Char Dham Yatra, people do Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and then Badrianth in the last. The most nearest railway stations are Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Dehradun and the only airport is Jolly Grant (DED) airport. You can take a flight to Dehradun or a train to Haridwar/Rishikesh/Dehradun to quickstart your Char Dham Yatra tour. Besides this you can also plan to reach Delhi and we make arrangments from there too but requires two more nights to be added to the tour. Here are the best Char Dham routes which provide magnificent sights along the way, you can follow these route for a complete Char Dham Yatra or you can also plan them individually or in a pair which are also reffred to as Ek Dham Yatra Packages and Do Dham Yatra Packages.
i) Char Dham Route From Dehradun: Dehradun >> Mussoorie(Small Cabs Only)/Vikas Nagar >> Lakha Mandal >> Barkot >> Janki Chatti(07 km trek) >> Yamunotri Dham(07 km trek) >> Janki Chatti >> Barkot >> Uttarkashi >> Harshil >> Gangotri Dham >> Harshil >> Uttarkashi >> Tehri >> Srinagar >> Dhari Devi >> Rudraprayag >> Agastmuni >> Guptkashi >> Phata >> Sersi >> Rampur >> Sitapur >> Sonprayag >> Gaurikund(21 km trek) >> Kedarnath Dham(21 km trek) >> Gaurikund >> Sonprayag >> Guptkashi >> Ukhimath >> Chopta >> Gopeshwar >> Joshimath >> Badrinath >> Joshimath >> Karnprayag >> Rudraprayag >> Devprayag >> Rishikesh >> Dehradun
i) Char Dham Route From Delhi: Delhi >> Haridwar/Rishikesh >> Mussoorie(Small Cabs Only)/Vikas Nagar >> Lakha Mandal >> Barkot >> Janki Chatti(07 km trek) >> Yamunotri Dham(07 km trek) >> Janki Chatti >> Barkot >> Uttarkashi >> Harshil >> Gangotri Dham >> Harshil >> Uttarkashi >> Tehri >> Srinagar >> Dhari Devi >> Rudraprayag >> Agastmuni >> Guptkashi >> Phata >> Sersi >> Rampur >> Sitapur >> Sonprayag >> Gaurikund(21 km trek) >> Kedarnath Dham(21 km trek) >> Gaurikund >> Sonprayag >> Guptkashi >> Ukhimath >> Chopta >> Gopeshwar >> Joshimath >> Badrinath >> Joshimath >> Karnprayag >> Rudraprayag >> Devprayag >> Rishikesh/Haridwar >> Delhi
Packing for the Char Dham Yatra requires careful planning due to the challenging weather and terrain. Essentials include warm clothing such as thermals, sweaters, and jackets, as temperatures can drop significantly, especially at night. Layering is key to adjusting to changing weather. Comfortable and sturdy trekking shoes are crucial for the rocky, steep paths, along with extra socks to keep feet warm and dry.
Rain gear, including waterproof jackets and umbrellas, is essential, as unexpected rain is common. Basic medications, first aid, and any personal medicines are a must, as pharmacies are scarce. Since high-altitude travel can cause health issues, pack items like energy bars, hydration salts, and a portable oxygen canister. Other essentials include a durable backpack, water bottle, flashlight, personal hygiene items, sunscreen, and sunglasses to protect against the sun’s intensity. Keeping a lightweight power bank is also wise, as charging options can be limited. Lastly, carry personal ID, cash, and copies of necessary travel permits.
You may not need to carry all of the above, check out this detailed Essential Char Dham Yatra Packing Guide according to the seasons.
The Great Char Dham Yatra is a spiritual journey that takes you through the revered shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, nestled in the majestic Himalayas of Uttarakhand. For centuries, saints and pilgrims, in their search for the divine, have walked these mystical values known in ancient Hindu scriptures which are written as ‘Kedarkhand’. Devbhumi Tourism welcomes all pilgrims on this sacred Himalayan journey which is called the Char Dham Yatra. Check out the below updated Holy Himalayan Char Dham Yatra Packages merged with beautiful nearby destinations which you might not want to miss. Discover the below Char Dham Yatra details customised according to pilgrims who want to start their journey either from Delhi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, or from Dehradun.
Char Dham Yatra is not a leisure tour, it's a pilgrimage penance filled with extreme adventures which you might be afraid of. Climbing those mighty Himalayan peaks and nature trails with thousands of pilgrims will lead you to the abode of the Himalayan Gods. Considering the challenges in this spiritual Himalayan pilgrimage circuit, we keep posting important facts, articles, and updates about the Himalayan Char Dham Yatra plans. Learn how to overcome big challenges through these useful Char Dham Yatra blogs.
A valid Char Dham Yatra Registration is mandatory to embark on this spiritual oddyssey. Learn how to get a valid Char Dham Yatra registration yourself with this remarkable guide for Yatra registration.
Char Dham Yatra Registation Process
One who does this quadrilateral pilgrimage circuit with complete faith gets a place in heaven, it's said like that. As curious as it is, it also involves many considerations about a well-planned Himalayan Char Dham Yatra.
Introducing The Char Dham Yatra
There are really important things which you must be aware of before heading into this auspicious journey. These important points are made to ensure the safety and convenience of all the pilgrims.
Do & Don't Do While Char Dham Yatra
Subhash Nagar, Jwalapur, Haridwar, Uttarakhand - 249407
