Char Dham Yatra Guide: Route, Registration & Days

The Char Dham Yatra covers four Himalayan shrines in Uttarakhand, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, usually visited in that order from Haridwar. Most pilgrims need about 10 to 12 days by road, must register for free on the Uttarakhand government portal before setting out, and do best travelling in May–June or from mid-September to October. This Char Dham Yatra guide walks you through the route, registration, Kedarnath options and the practical details that make the journey easier, especially for elders.

Char Dham Yatra quick facts

What	Details
The four dhams	Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath (Garhwal, Uttarakhand)
Usual start point	Haridwar (or Rishikesh / Dehradun), reached from Delhi by road or train
Traditional order	West to east: Yamunotri → Gangotri → Kedarnath → Badrinath
Temple season	Roughly late April to late October / November; exact dates are announced every year
Best windows	May–June and mid-September to October
Registration	Mandatory and free, on the official Uttarakhand portal, app, WhatsApp or offline counters
Walking involved	About 6 km to Yamunotri from Janki Chatti; about 16 km to Kedarnath from Gaurikund (ponies, palkis and helicopters available)
Highest dham	Kedarnath, about 3,583 m
Typical duration	10–12 days by road from Haridwar, plus a buffer day

When is the Char Dham Yatra open?

The temples open in spring and close for winter, and the dates change every year because they follow the Hindu calendar. Opening dates are announced in advance, and the closing dates are usually declared around Vijayadashami (Dussehra). In 2026, Yamunotri and Gangotri opened on 19 April, Kedarnath on 22 April and Badrinath on 23 April. For reference, in 2025 Gangotri closed on 22 October, Yamunotri and Kedarnath on 23 October (Kedarnath traditionally closes on Bhai Dooj), and Badrinath on 25 November.

During winter the deities are worshipped at their winter seats, for example at Mukhwa for Gangotri and Kharsali for Yamunotri, so the shrines themselves are not accessible.

The best time to go

May to June: pleasant days and all four temples open, but this is also the busiest stretch, with long queues and full hotels. Book early.
July and August (monsoon): heavy rain brings landslides and road blocks on the Garhwal highways. We generally advise against these months, especially for senior groups.
Mid-September to October: clear skies, thinner crowds and crisp views of the peaks. Nights get cold, so pack warm layers.

This is why our own Char Dham departures are planned for May–June and September–October.

Char Dham Yatra registration: the official process

Registration is compulsory for every pilgrim, including children, and it is free. Your registration is checked at points along the route using the QR code on your yatra letter, app or wristband, so do not leave it for the last day.

Online: register on the official Uttarakhand Tourism registration portal. Create an account with your mobile number, verify it with an OTP, add each traveller, choose your dhams and dates, and download the yatra registration letter.
App: the state’s Tourist Care Uttarakhand app does the same job on your phone.
WhatsApp and phone: the tourism department runs a WhatsApp registration service and a toll-free helpline (1364). Check the portal for the current numbers before you use them.
Offline: registration counters are set up in places like Haridwar and Rishikesh during the season, useful for elders who are not comfortable with apps.

Keep a photo ID (Aadhaar or another government ID), a mobile number and an emergency contact ready for each person. Carry printed and digital copies of the yatra letter for the whole trip. Rules can be tweaked from season to season, so always check the portal’s latest notices before travelling.

How to reach Haridwar from Delhi and other cities

Haridwar is the traditional gateway. From Delhi it is a comfortable road journey of roughly 5 to 7 hours depending on traffic, and several daily trains connect Delhi and many other cities to Haridwar. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant at Dehradun, about an hour’s drive from Rishikesh, which works well if you are flying in from Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata or elsewhere. We can arrange pick-up from Delhi, the Haridwar railway station or Dehradun airport.

Char Dham route from Haridwar, day by day

The yatra runs west to east, which keeps the driving logical and ends at Badrinath, the most road-accessible of the four. A typical road itinerary looks like this:

Haridwar → Barkot: drive into the Yamuna valley and rest.
Yamunotri darshan: drive to Janki Chatti and walk about 6 km to the temple (ponies and palkis available), then return to Barkot.
Barkot → Uttarkashi: a scenic drive; visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple in the evening.
Gangotri darshan: day trip by road from Uttarkashi to Gangotri and back. No trek needed.
Uttarkashi → Guptkashi / Sonprayag: the longest drive of the yatra, so start early.
Kedarnath: shuttle from Sonprayag to Gaurikund and walk about 16 km up, or fly from a helipad near Guptkashi. Stay overnight near the temple if you can.
Kedarnath → Guptkashi / Sonprayag: after morning darshan, walk or ride down.
Guptkashi → Badrinath: drive via the Alaknanda valley.
Badrinath darshan and Mana village, then start the return.
Return towards Rishikesh / Haridwar, passing Devprayag, where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet to form the Ganga.

Our Char Dham itinerary follows this same Haridwar → Barkot → Uttarkashi → Guptkashi → Badrinath → Haridwar loop, and the exact number of days flexes with your travel mode and rest days.

How many days do you need?

10–12 days: the comfortable road plan from Haridwar, with sensible driving hours each day.
Add 1–2 buffer days: landslides, rain and traffic can hold you up. A buffer day keeps the plan calm instead of rushed.
Do Dham (Kedarnath and Badrinath only): about 5–7 days for those short on time.
Helicopter-assisted: using a helicopter for Kedarnath can save a day, but it depends on availability and weather.

Kedarnath: helicopter, pony, palki or on foot

Kedarnath is the most demanding part of the yatra. You have four ways up:

On foot: about 16 km each way from Gaurikund on a paved but steep path. Fit walkers usually take most of a day to go up.
Pony (ghoda): the most common assisted option. Hire only through authorised counters and confirm the rate before you start.
Palki (doli) or kandi (pithu): carried by porters, suited to elders and anyone who cannot ride a pony.
Helicopter: shuttle flights run from helipads around Guptkashi, Phata and Sersi. Official tickets are sold only on the IRCTC HeliYatra website, and you need a valid Char Dham registration before you can book. Bookings open in phases, sell out quickly, and flights are often cancelled for weather, so always have a backup plan. Beware of fake helicopter booking websites and social media ads.

Char Dham Yatra for senior citizens: practical tips

Get a health check first. Kedarnath sits at about 3,583 m, and the state runs health screening points along the route. Anyone with heart, lung or blood-pressure conditions should see a doctor before travelling and carry their medicines and prescriptions.
Choose shorter driving days. Mountain roads are tiring. Six or seven hours in a vehicle is plenty for most elders.
Book assistance for Kedarnath and Yamunotri in advance. Palkis or helicopters take the strain out of the two walking stretches.
Stay close to the temples. Picking hotels at Barkot, Uttarkashi, Guptkashi and Badrinath cuts early-morning drives.
Dress in layers. Even in May, early mornings at Kedarnath and Badrinath are cold. Carry a warm jacket, cap, gloves and a rain cover.
Keep a buffer day. Rest days are not wasted; they are what make the yatra enjoyable.
Respect temple rules. Phones and photography are restricted inside temple premises; follow the notices at each dham.

What affects the cost of a Char Dham Yatra

There is no single price, because every group travels differently. The main factors are:

Number of days and whether you add buffer or rest days
Vehicle type: sedan, SUV, tempo traveller or bus, based on group size
Hotel category at each halt, and whether you want to stay overnight at Kedarnath
Helicopter, pony or palki for Kedarnath and Yamunotri
Travel month: peak May–June costs more than September–October
Your starting city and pick-up point

We share a written quote that lists exactly what is included and what is not, so there are no surprises on the road.

Plan your Char Dham Yatra with Mountain’s Greet

We plan Char Dham trips for families, pilgrimage groups, senior citizens and friends travelling together, from a couple of people to large groups that need a tempo traveller or bus. Trips usually start in Haridwar, and we can pick you up from Delhi or Dehradun if that suits you better. We help with registration, suggest realistic daily drives, and plan the Kedarnath day around the option that suits each member of your group.

Tell us your dates, group size and any health needs through our Char Dham Yatra enquiry form, or message us on WhatsApp and we will build a plan around you. You can also read more about how we travel.

FAQs

Is registration mandatory for the Char Dham Yatra?

Yes. Every pilgrim must register with the Uttarakhand government, and registration is free. You can register online on the official portal, through the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app, via WhatsApp, or at offline counters in places like Haridwar and Rishikesh.

What is the correct order to visit the Char Dham?

The traditional order is west to east: Yamunotri, then Gangotri, then Kedarnath, and finally Badrinath. It is also the most practical route by road from Haridwar.

How many days does the Char Dham Yatra take?

Most road trips from Haridwar take 10 to 12 days, and we recommend adding a buffer day for weather. Helicopter options for Kedarnath can shorten this slightly.

How do I book a helicopter for Kedarnath?

Official Kedarnath helicopter tickets are sold only on the IRCTC HeliYatra website, and you need a valid Char Dham registration first. Seats are limited and flights depend on the weather, so keep a pony or palki as a backup.

Can senior citizens do the Char Dham Yatra?

Yes, with sensible planning. Get a medical check-up before you go, keep driving days short, book a palki or helicopter for Kedarnath and Yamunotri, carry warm layers and add a rest day.

When is the best time for the Char Dham Yatra?

May to June and mid-September to October are the best windows. Avoid July and August if you can, because monsoon landslides often block roads.