Land Tour of Char Dham Yatra

Duration- 12 Nights / 13 Days

Places- Delhi-Haridwar-Barot-Yamunotri-Uttarkashi-Gangotri-Guptkashi-Kedarnath-Badrinath-Rudraprayag-Joshimath-Rishikesh-Haridwar-Delhi

Mode of Transportation- Private vehicle with experienced English-speaking chauffer

Meals- All meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Tour Manager- Available at your service right from your arrival till departure

Tour Guide- Local tour guide will be made available at all the locations

Inclusions- All inclusive except expense of personal nature like laundry, entry fee of camera etcetera

Hotel Category- Category of your choice. At many places only basic accommodations available

Day 1– Arrival Delhi

A very warm welcome to India’s capital city!!! Upon arrival you will be welcomed by your English- speaking tour manager and chauffer. Tour manager will help you with hotel check in and discuss the tour details. Depending upon your flight timings local excursions can be planned for the day.

Night stay- Delhi

Day 2– Delhi to Haridwar (140 miles / 6 hours) (Altitude - 310 meters)

After early breakfast at hotel, we will start our journey to Haridwar. Haridwar is located at the point where the Ganges River emerges from the Himalayas, Haridwar serves as the gateway to the Char Dham of Uttarakhand.

Upon arrival at Haridwar, check-in at your hotel and relax for a while. Later we can opt to explore the ‘Panch Tirth’ or the five pilgrimages located within the periphery of Haridwar. These are Gangadwara (Har Ki Pauri), Kushwart (Ghat), Kankhal, Bilwa Tirtha (Mansa Devi Temple) and Neel Parvat (Chandi Devi).

In the evening, we will attend the Ganga Aarti held at Hari-ki-Pauri Ghat. The name of this famous ghat literally means “Feet of the Lord” (a footprint on a stone wall is said to belong to Lord Vishnu). Legend has it that some amrit (nectar) landed there after falling from a pot carried by the celestial bird, Garuda.

Night stay- Haridwar

Day 3– Haridwar to Barkot (130 miles / 8 hours) (Altitude - 1352 meters)

After early breakfast, we will drive for Barkot via Mussoorie and Lakha Mandal. En-route in Mussoorie, we will stop at Kempty Falls and Shedup Choephelling Temple. Shedup Choephelling is first Tibetan shrine built in India and consecrated by Dalai Lama.

Further ahead we will make next stop at Lakha Mandal Temple. Lakha mandal is the place where Duryodhan pursued Pandavas to stay in the Laksha Graha (house built of wax). Near the temple there is a tunnel used by Pandavas and their mata Kunti to escape from the fire.

Night stay- Barot

Day 4– Barkot to Yamunotri to Barot (25 miles / 2 hours) (Altitude - 3233 meters)

Today we will start very early to Jankichatti, the starting point of our trek to Yamunotri. The trek of 3.75 miles from Jankichatti to Yamunotri can be done either by walk or ride a pony or palanquin.

Upon arrival at Yamunotri, we will take bath in Jamunabai Kund’s warm water and take “Darshan” of “Yamunaji”. Yamunotri is the source of the river Yamuna, the twin sister of Varna, the Lord of Death. Yamuna is also the daughter of Sun. The actual source of the river originates from Champasar Glacier 1 km ahead of the shrine, at an altitude of 4321 meters.

You can cook rice by packing it in a muslin cloth and dipping it in the hot water of the Surya Kund. Pilgrims take this cooked rice home as “Prasad”. Later we pay homage at Divya Shila, which is said to be the source from where Maa Yamuna first sprung.

Later we trek back to Jankichatti and drive back to Barot.

Night stay- Barot

Day 5– Barkot to Uttarkashi (55 miles / 3 hours) (Altitude - 1352 meters)

Post relaxing breakfast at hotel, we will head to Uttarkashi on the way we will stop at Shiv Gufa (Prakateshwar Cave). It is a natural cave formed by limestone, the formation resembles Shivling, thus called a Shiva Gufa.

Later we will continue towards Uttarkashi. Uttarkashi is an ancient land with rich cultural heritage. As the name suggests it is ‘Kashi of the North’ is located on the bank of river Bhagirathi (tributary of river Ganga). Uttarkashi is also known as ‘Saumya Varanasi’, the abode of Lord Shiva in Kaliyuga, and counted as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.

Upon arrival in Uttarkashi, we will take some rest in the hotel before visiting Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Shakti Temple.

Vishwanath Temple – Vishwanath temple is one of the oldest Shiva temples in Northern India, believed to be built by Parshuram. Akhand Jyoti as well as Akhand Abhishek special aarti in morning
and evening are offered.

Shakti Temple – Shakti temple has a big ‘Trishul’ of about 6 meters in height and a circumference of 90 cms. at bottom. Though there are different views about the making of this, the upper part of it seems to be made up of iron and the lower one is of copper. As per the epics, this Shakti was thrown on the devils by the Goddess Durga (Shakti), hence it gets its name. Since then, this Shakti is erected over here.

Night stay- Uttarkashi

Day 6– Uttarkashi to Gangotri to Uttarkashi (60 miles / 4 hours) (Altitude - 3048 meters)

Today we will make an early start to Gangotri, enjoy a scenic drive that offers stunning views of the snow-capped Himalayas. We will pass through Harsil valley, a serene Himalayan hamlet surrounded by snow-clad mountains, pine forests and apple orchards.

Before reaching Gangotri. we can take a halt at Gangnani for a holy dip in Garam Kund (hot spring) considered to have medicinal values.

On arriving at Shree Gangotri Dham, we will take a holy dip in Bhagirathi River. Perform pooja and darshan at Gangotri Temple, Bhagirath Rock and Bhagirathi River.

According to Hindu legends Ganga is the most sacred of all rivers, descended from heaven to earth at Gangotri, when Lord Shiva released the mighty river from his locks. The river originates at Gaumukh, where it is known as Bhagirathi and after the river Alaknanda merges into it near the town of Devaprayag it acquires the name ‘Ganga’.

After resting for a while in the pleasant surroundings, we will return to Uttarkashi for the night stay

Night stay- Uttarkashi

Day 7– Uttarkashi to Guptkashi (130 miles / 8 hours) (Altitude - 1319 meters)

After an early breakfast at hotel, we will start for yet another beautiful journey to Guptkashi. En route we will get first glimpse of river Mandakini at Tilwara and drive alongside to reach Guptkashi.

The name Guptkashi means “Hidden Benares. Mythologically believed that when the Pandavas were searching for a glimpse of Shiva, Shivji first concealed himself at Guptkashi, and later fled further up to the valley of Kedarnath. It is at Kedarnath that Pandavas finally got their wish fulfilled. There are more tangible connections as well-the Kedarnath pandas (priests) live in Guptkashi during the winter months, and after the Kedarnath temple closes for the winter, the image of Kedarnath passes through Guptkashi on its way to Ukhimath (across the valley), where it stays for the winter.

Upon arrival at Guptkashi, we will visit Kashi Vishwanath temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. And other small temple of deity of Sri Ardhanareeswara – half man and half women form of Lord Shiva. There is also a pond “Manikarnika Kund” with two sprouts on either side namely Ganga and Yamuna meet.

Night stay- Guptkashi

Day 8– Guptkashi to Sonprayag (19 miles / 1 hour) to Kedarnath (Trek / 12.5 miles) (Altitude – 3384 meters)

Early morning after breakfast, we will check out from the hotel and drive to Sonprayag. From Sonprayag till Gaurikund we will take local jeep made for those terrains. And the trek to Kedarnath Temple begings from Gaurikund. The driver of our vehicle will park and wait for our return at Sonprayag.

Gaurikund to Kedarnath trek can be done by walking or we have option to hire a horse or palanquin. This trek is very electrifying with pilgrims chanting "Jai Bholenath." Sometimes the mist would envelop the mountains and slowly lift away, revealing a shiny blinding-white peak that threatens to rupture the skies.

Mandakini, one of the main tributaries of the Ganges originates at Kedarnath and flows through Gaurikund.

After trek we will reach Kedarnath Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, set in a spectacular background of snow-clad peaks and forests. Kedar is another name of Lord Shiva. According to legend, the Pandavas after having won over the Kaurava in the Kurukshetra war felt guilty of having killed their own brothers and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. Lord Shiva eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being followed he dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface.

Have a blissful darshan of Kedarnath and feel spiritually uplifted. We will also take darshan of the samadhi of Jagat Guru Adi Shankaracharya, who built Kedarnath temple over a thousand years ago.

Night stay- Kedarnath

Day 9 – Kedarnath to Sonprayag (Trek / 12.5 miles) to Guptkashi (19 miles / 1 hour) (Altitude –3384 meters)

This day will start very early when we reach the gate of temple by 4:45 am for the 'Abhishek’ to Kedarnath Shiva. Everyone is allowed inside Garbha Griha and touch the idol. The enchanting soft sound of the bells and the priests hymning mantras will rejuvenate soul.

Enjoy breathtaking magical sunrise over the Himalayas. After darshan and puja we will start the return trek from Kedarnath to Sonprayag. The vehicle waits for us in Sonprayag Car Parking to take us back to Guptkashi for night stay.

Night stay- Guptkashi

Day 10– Guptkashi to Badrinath (125 miles / 8 hour) (Altitude – 3133 meters)

Post early breakfast at hotel we will depart for our last Dham “Badrinath”. Badrinath lies on the shores of Alaknanda River. This town is also known for its stunning beauty, pleasant weather, thick forest cover as well as the beautiful views of snow-clad mountains along the holy river.

Upon arrival at Badrinath, we will check in and quickly make way to Badrinath Temple after taking a dip in curative water of the Tapt Kund. We will pay homage to Badrivishal after entering the colourful & imposing entrance gate popularly known as Singhdwar. The sanctum also houses images of the god of wealth – Kubera, sage Narada, Uddhava, Nar and Narayan. 

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple of Shri Badrinath Ji is 15 meters in height, built in the form of a cone with a small cupola of a gilt bull and spire.

Night stay- Badrinath

Day 11– Badrinath to Rudraprayag (100 miles / 7 hour) (Altitude – 895 meters)

Very early we will take darshan of Badrinath Ji and later head for our next pilgrimage destination “Rudraprayag”. Rudraprayag is a small pilgrim town on the holy confluence of river Alaknanda and Mandakini.

After breakfast in hotel, we will proceed to Rudraprayag after local sightseeing in vicinity of Badrinath and visiting Joshimath enroute. The first stop will be Mana Village, the last Indian village near Indo- Tibetan border. Located close by is Bhim Pul a massive rock forming a natural bridge, lies over the roaring Saraswati River. It presents a spectacular view of water thundering down through the narrow passage under the rock and is believed to have been placed there by Bhim. Next, we will visit Vyas Gufa, a rock-cave where Ved Vyas is believed to have composed the Mahabharata and the pauranic commentaries.

Later we will drive to Joshimath, the winter seat of Lord Badrinath. Joshimath is a sacred place dedicated to Lord Narasimha, worshipped for killing the monster Hiranyakashipu. Joshimath is situated on the slopes above the confluence of the rivers Alaknanda and Dhauliganga. Of the four ‘Maths’ established by Adi Shankaracharya, Joshimath is the winter seat of Badrinath. The idol is brought down to Joshimath and installed in the temple for people to worship. There are many other temples in the township. The most important is the temple of Nir Singh with the idol of Lord Vishnu. The left arm of this deity is getting destroyed with time and the popular belief holds that the day the arm completely withers Badrinath valley will cease to exist, and the Gods will transfer the residence into the neighboring Niti Valley at Bhavishya Badri.

Night stay- Rudraprayag

Day 12– Rudraprayag to Haridwar (100 miles / 5 hour)

After relaxing breakfast at hotel, we will start for Haridwar via Rishikesh. On reaching Rishikesh, we visit Prati Badri Kedarnath Temple – a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lakshman Mandir – place where Lakshman meditated to attain enlightenment, and Lakshman Jhulla – a famous hanging bridge across the river Ganges.

Rishikesh ‘place of sages’ is a celebrated spiritual town on the bank of Ganga and is surrounded by the Shivalik range of the Himalayas on three sides. It is believed that when Raibhya Rishi did hard penances, God appeared by the name of “Hrishikesh” and this area hence forth came to be known as Rishikesh. Apart from spirituality this place is now also known as “Yoga capital of World” and is very sought after place for white river rafting.

Night stay- Haridwar

Day 13– Haridwar to Delhi (150 miles / 5 hour)

After relaxing breakfast at hotel, we will start for Delhi. The Char Dham Yatra comes to an end with the fond memories and blessings of the almighty.

Night stay- Delhi (depending upon your onward journey)

Note: This is just a time bound sample itinerary indicative of how and what all could be explored. We can customise the tour as per your requirements. Set your expectations and we will offer memorable experience. Please reach out to us for personalised holiday experience.

All Meals- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation for 12 Nights / 13 Days

All mode of domestic transportation

All the entry tickets

English speaking tour guide at all the locations

Chardham Yatra Registration

International flight

Travel insurance

Any service / activity not mentioned in Itinerary

Expense of personal nature like laundry, entry tickets for camera etcetera

Optional activities

Puja arrangements