CharDham Yatra Routes
Uttarakhand is the land of tourism and spirituality in the northern part of India. The major spiritual attraction is the sacred journey to the four religious abodes - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. The pilgrimage is also known as Chota Char Dham, to differentiate from the bigger Char Dham Yatra to Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand in the North, Dwarakadeesh Temple, Gujarat in the East, Ramanathaswamy Temple, Tamil Nadu in the South and Jagannath Temple, Orissa in the West. Apart from the Char Dham shrines, Uttarakhand is also the home of several temples in Rishikesh and Haridwar. Therefore, Uttarakhand is also called Dev Bhoomi.
The complete itinerary for Char Dham Yatra is -
Day 1 - Haridwar → Barkot (192 km)
Day 2 - Barkot → Janki Chatti (45 km) → Yamunotri Temple (7 km trekking) and back to Barkot.
Day 3 - Barkot → Uttarkashi (82 km)
Day 4 - Uttarkashi → Harshil (75 km) → Gangotri Temple (24 km) and back to Uttarkashi.
Day 5 - Uttarkashi → Rudraprayag (172 km)
Day 6 - Rudraprayag → Gaurikund (72 km) → Kedarnath Temple (15 km trekking) and back to Rudraprayag
Day 7 - Rudraprayg → Joshimath (114 km) → Badrinath Temple (39 km) and back to Rudraprayag.
Day 8 - Rudraprayag → Dehradun (175 km) or Rishikesh (138 km) or Haridwar (157 km)
Day 9 - Departure
Places to visit in Yamunotri
1. Yamunotri Temple
2. Surya Kund
3. Divya Shila
4. Janki Chatti
5. Kharsali
6. Shani Dev Temple
7. Hanuman Chatti
Places to visit in Gangotri
1. Gangotri Temple
2. Kashi Vishwanath Temple
3. Mukhba
4. Shakti Temple
5. Bharon Ghati
6. Neylong Valley
7. Submerged Shivling
8. Harshil
9. Pandav Gufa
10. Bhagirath Shila
11. Uttarkashi
Places to visit in Kedarnath
1. Kedarnath Temple
2. Gandhi Sarovar
3. Sonprayag
4. Vasuki Tal Lake
5. Gaurikund
6. Bhairav Temple
7. Triyugi Narayan Temple
8. Rudra Cave Kedarnath
Places to visit in Badrinath
1. Badrinath Temple
2. Yogdhyam Badri Temple
3. Tapta Kund Badri
4. Mana Village
5. Neelkantha Peak
6. Narad Kund
7. Bheem Pul
8. Vyas Cave
9. Sesh Netra
10. Brahma Kapal
11. Panch Dhara and Panch Shila
12. Vasudhara Falls
13. Alakpuri Glacier
14. Surya Kund
Char Dham Pilgrimage by Helicopter
The journey to Char Dham by helicopter begins from Dehradun.
Day 1 - Sahastradhara Helipad, Dehradun → Kharsali Helipad → Yamunotri (5.3 km by trekking) → Kharsali (overnight stay)
Day 2 - Kharsali Helipad → Harshil Civil Helipad → Gangotri (23 km) → Harshil (overnight stay)
Day 3 - Harshil Civil Helipad → Phata Helipad → Gaurikund (20 km) → Kedarnath Temple (15 km by trekking) → Guptkashi (overnight stay)
Day 4 - Phata Helipad → Badrinath Helipad → Badrinath Temple (1 km by trekking) → Badrinath Town (overnight stay)
Day 5 - Badrinath Helipad → Sahastradhara Helipad, Dehradun.
Tips for Char Dham Yatra
1. Indulge in advance planning for the trip, for early booking of transportation and accommodation.
2. Create a checklist for things to pack.
3. Carry comfortable clothes and shoes appropriate for long walking distances.
4. Get assured about health conditions, considering the various high altitudes of the Char Dham.
5. Stay updated with the weather conditions.
6. Get knowledge about the local traditions and customs.
7. Be mindful of the environment and avoid dropping litters anywhere.
8. Carry enough cash, medicines (if any), and other essential items.
9. Take note of emergency contents in case of any unplanned situations.
10. Avoid putting stress on health with an over-stuffed itinerary. Make sure to have enough time to cover the pilgrim sites comfortably.
Things to carry
• Comfortable and extra set of clothes
• Umbrella and raincoat
• Medications and first aid kit
• Water
• Dry food
• Travel documents
• Identity proofs
• Sun protection items
• Cash
Modes to travel
• Personal vehicle
• Cab
• Bus
• Helicopter
Dress to wear
• Comfortable and warm clothes
• Comfortable footwear
• Raincoat
• Decent and body-covering clothes
Food to eat
• Vegetarian dishes like rice, chapatti, vegetables, lentils
• Water, tea, coffee, electrolyte drinks
