Char Dham Yatra

Char Dham Yatra at a glance

The Char Dham Yatra is darshan of four Himalayan shrines in Uttarakhand's Garhwal region: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, done west to east. The kapat open in late April or May and close after Diwali, in October or November. By road it usually takes 10 to 12 days from Haridwar or Delhi; by helicopter, about 6 days from Dehradun. Two dhams need a walk (about 5–6 km at Yamunotri, 16–18 km at Kedarnath), with pony, palki and helicopter options. We organise it from Dehradun with registration help, vehicle, stays and satvik meals.

Which Char Dham yatra is right for you?

Start with three questions: how many days you have, whether everyone can manage the walks, and where you will arrive. The road yatras are the classic way and suit most families. The helicopter yatras save days and effort for elderly parents. If you want only Kedarnath and Badrinath, a Do Dham yatra is enough. Every package below has its full day-by-day plan on its own page.

Prices are per person and depend on the season, group size and room sharing; the package page lists what is and is not included. If you are unsure, tell us the ages and health of your group and we will suggest the right yatra.

When does the Char Dham Yatra open in 2027?

The 2027 opening dates are not announced yet (as of 28 October 2026). They are fixed by tradition each year:

• Gangotri and Yamunotri open on Akshaya Tritiya.
• Kedarnath: the date is announced on Mahashivratri at the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath.
• Badrinath: the date is announced on Basant Panchami at the Narendranagar palace in Tehri.

For reference, here is how the 2026 season ran:

Best months: from opening day to June the weather is pleasant but crowds and hotel demand are at their peak. July and August are monsoon months, when landslides can block roads for hours or days. Mid-September to October brings clear skies, lighter crowds and sharp mountain views, and many families with senior citizens prefer it. Nights are cold in every month, so carry warm clothes even in May.

Char Dham route: how to reach from Dehradun, Haridwar and Delhi

The traditional order is Yamunotri → Gangotri → Kedarnath → Badrinath. Most road yatras begin at Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun. Yatris from other cities usually reach Delhi or Haridwar by train, or fly into Dehradun's Jolly Grant airport.

1. To Yamunotri: Dehradun to Barkot via Mussoorie, then road to Janki Chatti. From there it is a walk of about 5–6 km to the temple, or by pony or palki.
2. To Gangotri: Barkot to Uttarkashi (darshan at Kashi Vishwanath temple), then via Harsil to Gangotri. The road reaches the temple on the Bhagirathi.
3. To Kedarnath: Uttarkashi to Guptkashi or Sitapur, then Sonprayag. Shuttle jeeps run from Sonprayag to Gaurikund, and the walk from Gaurikund is about 16–18 km. Helicopters fly from Guptkashi, Phata and Sersi.
4. To Badrinath: back via Rudraprayag (or Ukhimath and Chopta) to Chamoli and Joshimath, then Badrinath. The road reaches the temple; Mana village is about 3 km further.
5. Return: Badrinath to Rudraprayag, Devprayag and Rishikesh, then Haridwar or Dehradun.

Roads after Rishikesh are narrow mountain roads, so a day of 200 km can take 8–10 hours. Plan for at least one buffer day; our road itineraries keep one so that a closed road does not cost you a darshan.

Char Dham registration and documents

Registration with the Uttarakhand government is compulsory and free for every yatri, including children and senior citizens. It is checked on the route and at the dhams.

• Online: the official portal registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app. In 2026, online registration opened on 6 March.
• Offline: government counters in Haridwar, Rishikesh and other points on the route; in 2026 they opened on 17 April.
• Carry: the registration letter or QR code (on phone and on paper), original photo ID such as Aadhaar, and prescriptions for regular medicines.
• Helicopter: a Kedarnath helicopter ticket cannot be booked without the registration number.

Our Char Dham registration guide explains each screen step by step. If you book with us, we help you complete it correctly for the whole family.

Walk, pony, palki or helicopter?

Only two of the four dhams need a walk. Gangotri and Badrinath are reached by road.

• Walk: a fit adult takes 2–3 hours up to Yamunotri and most of a day (about 6–8 hours) up to Kedarnath. Start early.
• Pony or khachchar: hire only at registered counters and keep the receipt.
• Palki (dandi-kandi) and pithu: useful for elderly yatris; also only from authorised counters.
• Helicopter to Kedarnath: sold only on IRCTC HeliYatra (heliyatra.irctc.co.in). Never pay any other website or WhatsApp number. Read our Kedarnath helicopter booking guide before you try.
• Full helicopter yatra: our Char Dham Yatra by Helicopter from Dehradun covers all four dhams in 6 days with no long walks.

Senior citizens, health and darshan tips

• Get a medical check-up before the yatra, especially if you are over 55 or have heart disease, asthma, diabetes or high blood pressure. Health screening points are set up on the route.
• Do not go from the plains to Kedarnath (about 3,583 m) in one day. A night at Guptkashi or Sonprayag helps the body adjust.
• Headache, vomiting or breathlessness at height must not be ignored. Rest, tell the team and go down if it does not ease.
• In 2026, phones and cameras were not allowed inside the temple premises. Keep your phone with your group or in the cloakroom and give your full attention to darshan.
• Carry your gotra and family names for sankalp. Many families do pind daan at Brahma Kapal in Badrinath.

Our Char Dham guide for senior citizens and packing list cover this in more detail.

What we arrange on a Char Dham yatra

We are based in Dehradun and follow road and weather updates every day of the season. Depending on the package, we arrange registration help, a private vehicle with a driver experienced on hill roads, hotel stays near each dham, satvik vegetarian breakfast and dinner, guidance on pony and palki counters, and timing advice for helicopter booking. We keep a buffer in road itineraries and change the plan quickly if a road closes, so the sankalp of darshan is completed safely.

Frequently asked questions

How many days are needed for the Char Dham Yatra?

By road, plan about 10 to 12 days. Our Char Dham yatra from Haridwar is 11 days and 10 nights, and from Delhi it is 12 days and 11 nights. By helicopter from Dehradun, all four dhams take 6 days and 5 nights. Keep one or two extra days in your travel plans in case of rain or road closures, especially in July and August.

When will the Char Dham Yatra 2027 start?

The 2027 dates have not been announced as of October 2026. Gangotri and Yamunotri traditionally open on Akshaya Tritiya, the Kedarnath date is announced on Mahashivratri and the Badrinath date on Basant Panchami. In 2026 the yatra opened on 19 April. We update our pages as soon as the official dates are declared.

Is registration compulsory for the Char Dham Yatra?

Yes. Every yatri, including children and senior citizens, must register with the Uttarakhand government. It is free on the official portal registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app, and offline counters open in Haridwar and Rishikesh during the season. The registration letter or QR code is checked on the route, so carry it on your phone and on paper.

Which is the best time for Char Dham Yatra with elderly parents?

Mid-September to October is usually the most comfortable time for elderly parents. The monsoon is over, crowds are lighter and the skies are clear. May and June also have good weather but are very crowded. Avoid July and August if you can, because landslides can block roads. Pack warm clothes for every month, as nights at the dhams are cold.

Can the Char Dham Yatra be done without trekking?

Yes. Gangotri and Badrinath are reached by road. For Yamunotri and Kedarnath you can use a pony, palki or pithu from authorised counters, and Kedarnath also has a helicopter service booked only on IRCTC HeliYatra. Our helicopter Char Dham yatra from Dehradun avoids the long walks entirely, which suits senior citizens and anyone with knee or heart concerns.

What is the difference between Char Dham and Do Dham yatra?

Char Dham covers all four shrines: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Do Dham covers only Kedarnath and Badrinath, the Shiva and Vishnu dhams. Do Dham takes less time, about 6 days by road from Haridwar or 4 days by helicopter from Dehradun, so it suits families with limited leave or yatris returning for darshan a second time.

Are mobile phones allowed in the Char Dham temples?

In the 2026 season, phones and cameras were not allowed inside the temple premises at the dhams. Yatris were asked to keep phones outside or in cloakrooms. The rule for 2027 will be confirmed by the temple committees, but plan to deposit your phone before darshan and keep your registration printout as a backup.

Tell us your dates, starting city and the ages of your group through the enquiry form on this page, or call/WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page). This guide is also available in Hindi: चार धाम यात्रा हिंदी में.