Chardham Yatra 10N/11D: all four dhams by road from Haridwar

Highlights

• Ganga aarti at Har ki Pauri on arrival
• Yamunotri on foot, pony or palki from Janki Chatti
• Gangotri by road, no trek
• A night at Kedarnath, by trek, pony or helicopter
• Badrinath darshan and Mana village
• Devprayag on the drive back

This is the full Chardham Yatra in the traditional order, at a pace we’d be happy to put our own parents on. The longest drives are split by darshan days, there’s a night at Kedarnath so nobody is coming down the mountain in the dark, and the first night in Haridwar gives you the rest at low altitude that the state’s health advisory asks for. Ten nights is the shortest version we’d recommend by road.

Day-wise itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Haridwar, evening Ganga aarti

Pickup at Haridwar station or Dehradun airport. We check your registration letters and go over the plan with you. In the evening, the Ganga aarti at Har ki Pauri. This night at low altitude is also the rest the state’s health advisory recommends before you go higher.

Day 2: Haridwar to Barkot

An early start through Dehradun and Mussoorie towards the Yamuna valley. It’s a long hill drive, so we stop for breakfast and lunch on the way. Night at Barkot, or closer to Janki Chatti if rooms are available.

Day 3: Yamunotri darshan

Drive to Janki Chatti, where the road ends. From there it’s about 5 km on foot to the temple, or by pony or palki. Pilgrims cook rice in the hot spring at Surya Kund and take it home as prasad. Back down by afternoon and return to Barkot for the night.

Day 4: Barkot to Uttarkashi

A shorter drive to Uttarkashi on the Bhagirathi. Visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple in town in the evening. An easier day after the trek, and useful if anyone needs to rest.

Day 5: Gangotri darshan, back to Uttarkashi

Drive up past Harsil to Gangotri. The road goes right to the temple, so there’s no trek. Take a dip or collect Ganga jal at the ghat, have darshan and lunch, then drive back to Uttarkashi before dark.

Day 6: Uttarkashi to Guptkashi

The longest drive of the yatra, about 275 km via New Tehri and Srinagar Garhwal. Expect most of the day in the car. Night at Guptkashi, Phata or Sitapur, depending on whether you fly or walk to Kedarnath.

Day 7: Up to Kedarnath

If you’re walking or riding: drive to Sonprayag, take the shuttle to Gaurikund and start the 16 to 17 km climb early. If you’re flying: transfer to your helipad for your slot. Evening aarti at Kedarnath and a night near the temple.

Day 8: Morning darshan, down to Guptkashi

Darshan early, before the queue builds. Then walk, ride or fly down. Your car meets you at Sonprayag or the helipad for the drive back to Guptkashi.

Day 9: Guptkashi to Badrinath

Drive via Chopta or Rudraprayag and the Alaknanda valley, past Joshimath, to Badrinath. Check in, then evening darshan and aarti at the temple.

Day 10: Badrinath, Mana village, drive to Rudraprayag

A dip at Tapt Kund and early darshan. Then a short drive to Mana, the last village before the Tibet border, to see Vyas Gufa and Bhim Pul. After lunch, drive about 165 km down to Rudraprayag for the night.

Day 11: Rudraprayag to Haridwar, departure

Drive back via Devprayag, where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi meet and become the Ganga. Drop at Haridwar station or Dehradun airport by evening. Book onward trains or flights for the night of day 11 or the next day.

Pony, palki or helicopter?

Tell us the age and fitness of everyone travelling and we’ll plan each dham separately. Yamunotri is short enough that most people walk or take a pony. Kedarnath is where a helicopter matters. Helicopter seats on IRCTC’s heliyatra site go quickly in peak season, so we need your registration numbers and ID details ready before the booking window opens. If you don’t get seats, we plan a pony or palki with a night at the top instead.

What's included and what isn't

Visa, costs, best time and travel tips: Chardham Yatra Packages.