Char Dham Yatra

Trip Overview

The Char Dham Yatra, deeply embedded in the Vaidic Sanātan tradition, is a sacred pilgrimage to the high Himalayan shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, located in the Dev-Bhūmi—the divinely charged Garhwal region of India. Revered since ancient times, this Yatra is not merely a geographical journey but a transformative spiritual path believed to cleanse sins and grant moksha (liberation). The Garhwal Himalayas, described in scriptures as the dwelling place of the gods, crowned by eternal snow and echo with the flow of the sacred Ganga—invoking her purifying grace, as stated in the Rigveda. The Char Dham pilgrimage located in the Uttarakhanda region of India, continues to embody her timeless devotion, offering pilgrims a living connection to the divine and to the eternal continuum of Hindu tradition.

Total Duration

15 Nights / 16 Days

Max Elevation

3,585 meters / 11,760 ft

Grading

Moderate

Trek Start / Ends

New Delhi, India

Suggested Season

Sep – Oct

Accomodation

Comfortable stays in Hotels and Guesthouses

Trip Highlights

Char Dham Darshan (Pilgrimage to the four revered shrines)—Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath—each nestled in the high.
Explore Holy Sites—Rishikesh, Haridwar, Uttarkashi, Guptkashi, Gaumukh (Source of Ganga)
Transformational Healing at Pancha Prayag (holy confluences)—Dev Prayag, Rudra Prayag, Karna Prayag, Nand Prayag, and Vishnu Prayag
Immerse in the Holy Kundas and Mystic Cultural Landscapes—Surya Kund, Tap Kund, Narad Kund, Divya Shila, and Vyas Gufa
Journey Through Garhwal Himalayas

Detail Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival and Hotel Transfer

Arrival at Delhi Airport
Meet Karnali Representative
Hotel Transfer and Check-in
Yatra Briefing and Orientation
Accommodation: Overnight in Delhi

Day 2

Drive from Delhi to Haridwar

• Scenic drive to Haridwar
• Visit Har Ki Pauri, Mansa Devi Temple
• Attend the enchanting Ganga Aarti at dusk
Distance: 206 km
Duration: 5–6 hrs
Accommodation: Overnight in Haridwar

Day 3

Drive from Haridwar to Barkot

• Explore Haridwar in the morning
• Drive to Barkot, nestled along the Yamuna Valley
Distance: 170 km
Duration: 8 hrs
Altitude: 1,220 m
Accommodation: Overnight in Barkot

Day 4

Barkot – Yamunotri Excursion

• Drive to Janaki Chatti via Hanuman Chatti (84 km)
• Trek to Yamunotri (6 km) – First Char Dham Darshan
• Perform Puja at the Yamuna Temple and Explore the sacred Surya Kund
• Return Trek and Drive Back to Barkot
Trek Distance: 12 km (round trip)
Duration: Full day
Altitude: 3,291 m (Yamunotri)
Accommodation: Overnight in Barkot

Day 5

Drive from Barkot to Harshil

• Scenic drive via Uttarkashi
• En-route visit Prakateshwar Cave
• Drive along the Bhagirathi River valley
Distance: 172 km
Duration: 9 hrs
Altitude: 2,620 m
Accommodation: Overnight in Harshil

Day 6

Gangotri Darshan and Trek to Gaumukh

• Drive to Gangotri Temple (Distance: 25 km/1 hr)
• Darshan of Ganga Mata
• Trek to Gaumukh glacier via Chirbasa (source of Ganga)
• Return to Bhoj Basa for overnight rest
Trek Distance: 22 km (Round Trip)
Altitude: 3,850 m (Gaumukh)
Accommodation: Overnight in Bhoj Basa

Day 7

Trek back to Gangotri & Drive to Uttarkashi

• Return Trek to Gangotri (14 km)
• Drive to Uttarkashi
• Visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Iron Trishul
Distance: 100 km
Duration: 4 hrs
Altitude: 1,158 m
Accommodation: Overnight in Uttarkashi

Day 8

Drive from Uttarkashi to Gupta Kashi

• Drive via Tehri Dam and Mandakini Valley
• En-route glimpse of the confluence at Dev Prayag
Distance: 225 km
Duration: 9 hrs
Altitude: 1,319 m
Accommodation: Overnight in Gupta Kashi

Day 9

Heli Flight to Kedarnath

• Helicopter flight to Kedarnath (subject to weather)
• Evening Aarti and Darshan at the Kedarnath Jyotirlinga
Flight Time: 10–15 mins
Altitude: 3,583 m
Accommodation: Overnight in Kedarnath

Day 10

Return to Gupta Kashi & Drive to Rudra Prayag/Pipalkoti

• Morning Darshan at Kedarnath
• Fly back to Gupta Kashi
• Drive to Rudra Prayag (where Alaknanda meets Mandakini)/Pipalkoti
Distance: 157 km
Duration: 6–7 hrs
Altitude: 895 m (Rudra Prayag)
Accommodation: Overnight stay in Rudra Prayag or Pipalkoti

Day 11

Drive to Badrinath

• Drive to Badrinath, en-route visit Karna Prayag and Nand Prayag
• Darshan at Badrinath Temple and Tap Kund, Narad Kund
• Explore Mana Village, Vyas Gufa, and Saraswati River
Distance: 72 km
Duration: 4 hrs
Altitude: 3,133 m
Accommodation: Overnight in Badrinath

Day 12

Badrinath to Dev Prayag

• Drive to Dev Prayag, confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi
• Experience the merging of spiritual currents
Distance: 222 km
Duration: 9 hrs
Accommodation: Overnight in Dev Prayag/Srinagar

Day 13

Drive to Rishikesh

• Scenic drive along the Ganga
• Attend Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat
• Optional white-water rafting in the Ganges
Distance: 74 km
Duration: 2 hrs
Altitude: 372 m
Accommodation: Overnight in Rishikesh

Day 14

Explore Rishikesh

• Visit Parmarth Niketan, Ram Jhula, Beatles Ashram
• Leisure time or meditation by the Ganges
Accommodation: Overnight in Rishikesh

Day 15

Return to Delhi

• Drive to Delhi
• Optional visit to Akshardham Temple
Distance: 245 km
Duration: 6–7 hrs
Accommodation: Overnight in Delhi

Day 16

Departure & Yatra Concludes

• Transfer to Delhi Airport for Onward Flight
• Conclude spiritually Char Dham Journey

Tour Cost

• Package Price: 2599 USD per person (twin-sharing basis)
• Single Supplementary: 599 USD (for single occupancy accommodation)

The cost includes:

Airport pick-up/drop-off and all ground transfers via private tourist buses
Hotel accommodation with pure vegetarian meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Domestic flights
Professional English- and Hindi-speaking Karnali tour leader and support crew
Guided sightseeing, Darshan Assistance, and Spiritual Briefings
Duffel Bag for Travel
First Aid Medical Kit

The cost does not include:

International flight fares
Indian Visa processing
Personal expenses (e.g., bottled drinks, laundry, telephone, Internet)
Temple Dakshina, Puja, and personal darshan costs
Travel and Medical Insurance
Any unforeseen costs not listed above

Request Detail Itinerary

Resources

Download Preparation Guide
Recommended Readings

Recommended Readings

01.

India THE ROUGH GUIDE by David Abram, Devdan Sen, Harriet Sharkey and Gareth John Williams

03.

Footprint India by Matt Barret & Annie Dare

02.

India: A Travel Survival Kit
by Lonely Planet

Trip Extension

Brindavan and Mathura Pilgrimage

Visit the sacred birthplace of Lord Krishna in Mathura.
Explore the iconic Banke Bihari and ISKCON Temples in Brindavan.
Witness the enchanting evening aarti at the Yamuna River ghat.
Immerse in devotional music, rituals, and cultural festivities.
Discover local markets and traditional crafts reflecting Vrindavan’s heritage.

Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakut, and Ayodhya Darshan Pilgrimage

Experience the spiritual aura of Varanasi’s ghat and Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Witness the holy confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj.
Explore Chitrakut, the legendary site of Lord Rama’s exile.
Visit Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, and its historic temples.