Char Dham Yatra Route Map & Itinerary (2026) – Distance, Route, Travel Plan from Delhi, Haridwar & Dehradun

The Char Dham Yatra route that starts from Haridwar, Rishikesh, or Dehradun follows the same route, as all these 3 cities are within a 60 km radius, and from here you will visit the four sacred temples of Uttarakhand in this order:

Yamunotri → Gangotri → Kedarnath → Badrinath.

The entire Char Dham Yatra covers roughly 1,600 km by road, and you need to give a minimum of 9 to 10 days to complete this Yatra comfortably, sometimes 11–12 in peak season (month of May).

The Char Dham Yatra route passes through major hill stations like Barkot, Uttarkashi, Guptkashi, Sonprayag, Joshimath, and Rudraprayag, with scenic mountain roads, river valleys, and many historic & beautiful stops along the way like Harsil Valley, Devprayag, Chopta, etc..

Here is a quick view of which cities you will visit, in this order, from Delhi & Haridwar, and below is a chart tell you the approx. distance between all cities, & travel time.

Delhi → Haridwar → Barkot → Yamunotri → Uttarkashi → Gangotri → Guptkashi → Kedarnath → Joshimath/ Pipalkoti → Badrinath → Rudraprauag → Rishikesh/ Haridwar → Delhi

“Below is a step by step, detailed day wise Char Dham Yatra itinerary, created to assist you in planning a realistic comfortable Yatra.”

Section 2

So now you know why we suggest starting the Yatra with a trip to Yamunotri Dham first. Below, we have first shared a quick table chart to show how you will spend the next 10 days from Haridwar or Dehradun (or 11 days from Delhi) for a Char Dham Yatra, with proper halts and travel time.

The above shared 10-day Char Dham Yatra itinerary can be extended to 11 or sometimes 12 days due to weather conditions. For example, heavy rainfall can cause delays. So, always keep or plan an extra day for a 10-day Char Dham Yatra.

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Below is a more detailed day-wise itinerary of the Char Dham Yatra, where you will find which all major routes, temples, and travel stops you will visit in the Yatra.

✔ Day 1: Delhi → Haridwar → Barkot

The Yatra normally starts from Haridwar, or from Delhi, which is a 4–5 hour drive away. The first trip from Haridwar will be to Yamunotri Dham, for which you will drive 200 km to Barkot by evening and stay here for the night.

✔ Day 2: Yamunotri Visit

Today in the morning, have a light breakfast and leave Barkot for Janki Chatti. From here, you will start the 6 km trek to Yamunotri Dham Temple. You can also opt for horse or palki services available at Janki Chatti. Reach the temple in about 2 hours, and after darshan, return to Janki Chatti and then to Barkot for an overnight stay.

✔ Day 3: Barkot → Uttarkashi

Today in the morning, check out from your Barkot hotel and drive to Uttarkashi, which is an 85 km journey. It is a peaceful town on the banks of the Bhagirathi River. Here, you will also visit the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple and rest at your hotel for the next day’s journey to Gangotri Dham Temple.

✔ Day 4: Gangotri Visit

Today in the morning, after breakfast, drive to Gangotri Dham Temple, which is a 50 km (approx. 90 minutes) drive and the main temple of Goddess Ganga. After darshan, return to Uttarkashi (50 km drive). En route, also visit the beautiful Harsil Valley, and then rest overnight in Uttarkashi.

✔ Day 5: Uttarkashi → Guptkashi

In the morning, check out from the Uttarkashi hotel and proceed towards Guptkashi (a 220 km drive), which offers scenic mountain views and river valleys. This will be a long drive of around 8–9 hours, so rest for the day upon arrival. The next day, you must start early (around 4–5 am) for the Kedarnath Dham Yatra.

✔ Day 6: Guptkashi → Kedarnath Trek

Today in the morning, wake up at 4 am and be ready by 5 am. First, you will reach Sonprayag, which is a 28 km (approx. 45 minutes) drive. From here, you need to take a shared cab for a 6 km trip to Gaurikund, the starting point of the Kedarnath Dham Yatra. You can walk the 16 km trek in 8–10 hours or take services like horse, palki (helicopter services are also available but must be booked in advance). Overnight stay will be near Kedarnath Dham.

✔ Day 7: Kedarnath → Guptkashi

Wake up again at 4 am and attend the morning darshan at Kedarnath Dham. After darshan, visit Bhairav Nath Temple, Bhim Shila & Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi. Later, trek back to Sonprayag and drive to your Guptkashi hotel for an overnight stay.

✔ Day 8: Guptkashi → Badrinath

In the morning, have breakfast and check out from your Guptkashi hotel. Drive to Badrinath via Joshimath. If you reach Badrinath Dham Temple in the evening, attend the darshan. If you arrive late, you can attend the darshan the next morning. We recommend attending the evening aarti if possible. Overnight stay will be in Badrinath.

✔ Day 9: Badrinath → Rudraprayag

Today in the morning, attend the less crowded darshan at Badrinath Dham. Also visit nearby sites like Mana Village, Vyas Gufa (cave), and Vasudhara Falls. Later, begin your return journey towards Rishikesh, with an overnight stay at Rudraprayag, which is a 150 km (approx. 5-hour) drive.

✔ Day 10: Rudraprayag → Haridwar/Dehradun or Delhi

After breakfast, leave Rudraprayag and visit the confluence view at Devprayag, where the Alaknanda River meets the Bhagirathi River. With this, your 10-day Char Dham Yatra from Haridwar is complete. From here, you can either travel to Haridwar or Dehradun (155–175 km, approx. 5 hours) or continue to Delhi (380 km, approx. 9–10 hours).

Sometimes, a 10–12 day journey is not possible for many travellers, so we also suggest some faster options. Here are some alternative Char Dham Yatra itineraries that include shorter road trips and helicopter tours, and are also a bit less expensive (excluding the helicopter Yatra).

5 Days Char Dham Yatra by Helicopter

8 Days Char Dham Yatra (Short Road Trip Plan)

6 Days Kedarnath Badrinath Dham Yatra (Do Dham Plan)

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When it comes to travel options for the Char Dham Yatra, you can plan a budget trip using a shared bus or a tempo traveller (17–20 seater).

If you are looking for a private transportation option, you can book a cab from Haridwar with a driver, such as a sedan, Ertiga, Crysta, or even a Fortuner.

Below, we have shared a comparison chart to help you understand the best options for Char Dham Yatra transportation based on your budget.

Taxis and private tempo travellers are in high demand, and you can choose the right vehicle based on your group size. For 1–3 people, a sedan is suitable; for 3–7 people, an SUV like Ertiga or Crysta is a better option; and for groups of 8–20 people, a tempo traveller is the best choice.

Additionally, for helicopter tours, packages start at around ₹110,000 per person for a 5-day trip. These tours typically begin from Dehradun and include a cab with driver, hotel stay, and two meals per day.

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Section 4

The Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand is not open throughout the year, as during winter these temples are covered with thick snow. So, you only have around 7 months in the summer season to plan your Yatra.

Usually, the Yatra starts in April and lasts until November. The exact dates are decided based on Akshaya Tritiya (opening date) and Vijaya Dashami (closing date).

Choosing the right date and time is very important for a safe and comfortable Yatra, as weather conditions in the Uttarakhand Himalayas can change very quickly.

Below are some points to help you plan the best time for your Yatra:

✔ Summer Season (May – June)

✔ Best time to visit
✔ Pleasant weather with clear roads
✔ Ideal for families and senior citizens

This is the peak season for the Char Dham Yatra, as roads are mostly clear of landslides and the weather is pleasant. However, do note that this is the most crowded time, and prices for transportation and accommodation increase by 10–25%.

✔ Monsoon Season (July – August)

✔ Travel is possible but not recommended
✔ High risk of landslides & road blockages
✔ Frequent delays due to weather conditions

During the monsoon months, transportation and hotel prices drop. However, there are heavy rains, chances of landslides, and travel becomes risky. A 10-day Yatra can easily extend to 12–13 days due to delays.

✔ Post-Monsoon / Autumn (September – October)

✔ Best alternative time to visit
✔ Fewer crowds and clear mountain views
✔ Comfortable but slightly cold weather

These months are among the best for a peaceful and less crowded Char Dham Yatra. Roads are relatively safer, the scenery is beautiful after the monsoon rains, and the weather starts getting cooler.

✔ Winter (November – April)

✔ Temples remain closed due to heavy snowfall
✔ Yatra is not available
✔ Deities are shifted to winter seats

During winter, all four Char Dham temples are closed due to heavy snowfall, making travel impossible in the region.

Below is a list of cities where you will stop and rest before continuing your temple visits. Most of your hotel stays will be in these cities, so it is important to remember their names:

✔ Barkot

The first city where you will stay for 1–2 nights, and it serves as the starting point for your Yamunotri Dham Yatra. Most travelers stay here (or Janki Chatti) before and after the Yamunotri trek due to the good hotel options available.

✔ Uttarkashi

The second city is Uttarkashi, a key stop for the Gangotri Yatra. It is a large town with good hotel options and is located near the Bhagirathi River. You will stay here before and after completing your Gangotri Dham Yatra.

✔ Guptkashi

The third and most important city is Guptkashi, which serves as a halt before the Kedarnath Dham Yatra. It is well connected to Uttarkashi and Haridwar, and is preferred for overnight stays before and after completing the Kedarnath trek, along with Sitapur.

✔ Sonprayag / Gaurikund

The fourth stop is Sonprayag, which is the last point where private cars and taxis can go. From here, you can begin your Kedarnath Dham Yatra, which is about 22 km. Out of this, around 6 km can be covered by shared cab up to Gaurikund. Some travelers also choose to stay here.

✔ Joshimath

Joshimath is a major stop before Badrinath and also a historic city. Here, you can visit the Shri Narsingh Temple, established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. Though many travelers do not stay here, as Badrinath town now offers good hotel options, along with Pipalkoti.

✔ Rudraprayag / Devprayag

Rudraprayag and Devprayag are important towns where you can witness the sacred Prayag (river confluences). The Alaknanda River meets the Mandakini at Rudraprayag and joins the Bhagirathi at Devprayag, where the holy Ganga is formed.

👉 These stops play a important role in planning your accommodation, breaks, and overall journey comfort.

Section 5

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