πΊοΈ Complete Char Dham Route & Itinerary Planner
π§ The Sacred Parikrama Order: West to East
According to Vedic tradition, the sacred circumambulation (Pradakshina) of the Himalayas must always progress in a clockwise direction from West to East. Devotees begin at Yamunotri (the westernmost river sanctuary), proceed to Gangotri (source of Mother Ganga), climb up to Kedarnath (the highest shrine of Lord Shiva), and culminate at Badrinath (the ultimate Vaishnavite sanctum of Lord Badri Vishal).
This clockwise order also matches climatic and elevation acclimatization: Yamunotri (3,291 m) → Gangotri (3,100 m) → Kedarnath (3,584 m) → Badrinath (3,133 m), allowing your body to gradually adapt to thin Himalayan air before attempting the steep ascent to Kedarnath.
π Classic 10-Day Road Itinerary (Haridwar to Haridwar)
| Day | Route & Destination | Distance / Time | Key Highlights & Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 01 | Haridwar / Rishikesh → Barkot | ~215 km (7-8 hrs) | Scenic drive past Mussoorie bypass or Chamba. Relax in Barkot; prepare trek daypack. |
| Day 02 | Barkot → Janki Chatti → Yamunotri → Barkot | 45 km drive + 12 km trek | Early morning 6 km climb to Yamunotri. Surya Kund dip, darshan, return to Barkot for night stay. |
| Day 03 | Barkot → Uttarkashi | ~80 km (3-4 hrs) | Drive along Dharasu Bend. Visit historic Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Shakti Temple in Uttarkashi. |
| Day 04 | Uttarkashi → Gangotri → Uttarkashi / Harsil | ~100 km (3-4 hrs each way) | Drive through stunning Harsil pine valley. Holy bath in Bhagirathi, Gangotri darshan; overnight in Uttarkashi or Harsil. |
| Day 05 | Uttarkashi → Guptkashi / Sitapur | ~220 km (8-9 hrs) | Cross over to the Mandakini river valley via Tehri or Ghuttu bypass. Overnight near Sonprayag. |
| Day 06 | Sonprayag → Gaurikund → Kedarnath | 5 km drive + 16 km trek | Start trek at 5:00 AM from Gaurikund. Arrive in Kedarnath by afternoon. Attend the mesmerizing evening Sandhya Aarti. Overnight at Kedarnath. |
| Day 07 | Kedarnath → Gaurikund → Guptkashi / Chopta | 16 km trek down + 30 km drive | Morning abhishek darshan at 5:00 AM. Visit Bhairavnath temple. Trek down to Gaurikund; overnight stay in Guptkashi or scenic Chopta. |
| Day 08 | Guptkashi / Chopta → Badrinath | ~160 km (6-7 hrs) | Drive via Mandal valley or Karnaprayag along the Alaknanda river through Joshimath. Holy bath in Tapt Kund; evening darshan in Badrinath. |
| Day 09 | Badrinath → Mana Village → Rudraprayag / Srinagar | ~160 km (6-7 hrs) | Morning Maha Abhishek. Excursion to Mana Village (Vyas Gufa, Bhim Pul, Saraswati river). Begin return drive along the river confluences. Overnight in Rudraprayag. |
| Day 10 | Rudraprayag / Srinagar → Rishikesh → Haridwar | ~165 km (5-6 hrs) | Stop at sacred Devprayag (confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda forming the holy Ganga). Drop at Haridwar railway station or Dehradun airport. |
π Helicopter Yatra Options
For elderly family members, travelers short on time, or pilgrims seeking to avoid long physical treks, two helicopter modalities exist:
Full 4-Dham by Heli (Dehradun)
Operates out of Sahastradhara Helipad in Dehradun. Completes all four Dhams in 5 Days / 4 Nights with VIP darshan passes, high-end hotel stays, and priority ground transport included.
Kedarnath Shuttle Only
Operates daily from valley helipads at Guptkashi, Phata, and Sirsi directly to Kedarnath helipad. Flight takes just 7 minutes. Must be booked via official heliyatra.irctc.co.in.
Do-Dham Heli (Kedar & Badri)
Popular 2-day or same-day charter option covering Kedarnath and Badrinath from Dehradun, bypassing the extensive 5-day driving circuit.
π Mandatory Biometric Registration (Tourist Care Uttarakhand)
The Government of Uttarakhand has made **Biometric Yatra Registration compulsory** for every single pilgrim visiting the Char Dham. Vehicles without a valid green trip card will be halted at transit checkpoints.
- Official Portal: Register for free at
registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.inor via the mobile app Tourist Care Uttarakhand. - WhatsApp Registration: Send "Yatra" to the official government WhatsApp number
+91 8394833833to complete automated registration within 3 minutes. - Offline Counters: In-person registration counters are stationed at Haridwar Railway Station, Rishikesh Bus Stand, and Dobata (Barkot), but queues can stretch for hours during peak season. Always register online prior to departure.
- Required Documents: Valid photo identity card (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, or Passport), active mobile phone number, and vehicle registration number (if self-driving).
βοΈ Opening & Closing Season Dates
The high Himalayan shrines remain accessible for roughly six months each year (May to November):
- Yamunotri: Opens on Akshaya Tritiya (early May); closes on Bhai Dooj (Nov).
- Gangotri: Opens on Akshaya Tritiya (early May); closes on Govardhan Puja (Nov).
- Kedarnath: Opens on Akshaya Tritiya week; closes on Bhai Dooj morning (Nov).
- Badrinath: Opens on Akshaya Tritiya week; closes in mid-November (decided on Vijaya Dashami).