Quick answer: A Char Dham Yatra from Delhi by road takes about 12 days there and back. You travel about 220 km to Haridwar on the first day, then drive the hill loop of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath before returning to Delhi. Kedarnath needs a walk of about 16 km each way unless you ride or fly. The best months are mid-May to June and mid-September to October.
Updated for the 2027 yatra season (facts checked October 2026)
Delhi is where many north Indian families, and most NRIs, begin the Char Dham Yatra. The capital has the trains, airport and highways, but the dhams lie another 200 to 300 km beyond Haridwar on mountain roads. Here is how the yatra works from Delhi, step by step.
How does a Char Dham Yatra from Delhi work?
There is no railway or flight that goes to the dhams. Every yatra from Delhi has two parts:
- Delhi to Haridwar or Rishikesh, on the plains, by train, car or bus. This takes a morning or an afternoon.
- The mountain circuit, by road in a hired vehicle, visiting the four dhams from west to east: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, then Badrinath. This takes nine or ten days.
On the way back you come down the Alaknanda valley through Devprayag and Rishikesh and drive to Delhi. The railway line from Rishikesh towards Karnaprayag is still under construction, so for the 2027 season you should plan the hill section entirely by road (or by helicopter, which we cover below).
Delhi to Haridwar: train, car or bus?
The first decision is how to cover the plains. Each option suits a different kind of family.
| Option | Leaves from | Time to Haridwar | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12017 Dehradun Shatabdi | New Delhi station, 6:45 am daily | About 5 hours (reaches about 11:35 am) | Families who want a morning arrival and a quiet first evening at Har Ki Pauri |
| 22457 Vande Bharat | Anand Vihar Terminal, 5:50 pm | About 3 hours 20 minutes (reaches about 9:10 pm) | Office-goers who leave after work and start the hills next morning |
| Car or tempo traveller | Your home | About 5 to 6 hours for roughly 220 km via Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and Roorkee | Larger families and seniors; door-to-door with luggage |
| State roadways and Volvo buses | ISBT Kashmere Gate | About 6 to 7 hours | Budget travellers comfortable with bus travel |
Train timings change from time to time, so check the IRCTC app before you book. Since November 2024, Indian Railways opens reservations 60 days ahead, and the Shatabdi fills quickly in May, June and October.
The new Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, inaugurated on 14 April 2026, has cut the drive to Dehradun to around two and a half hours on a good day. A separate spur towards Haridwar via Roorkee has been under construction, so for Haridwar many drivers still use the older highway. On our Delhi yatra, the vehicle and driver come to you, so you do not need to choose a route yourself.
How many days do you need from Delhi?
Plan on 12 days door to door. That includes one day each way between Delhi and the hills, one night at Kedarnath so that you do not climb and descend 32 km in a single day, and a night near Badrinath for an unhurried darshan and a visit to Mana village. This is exactly how our Delhi itinerary is laid out:
| Day | Route | Night stay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delhi to Haridwar; evening Ganga aarti if you wish | Haridwar |
| 2 | Haridwar to Barkot via Dehradun and Mussoorie | Barkot |
| 3 | Janki Chatti, walk to Yamunotri and back | Barkot |
| 4 | Barkot to Uttarkashi; Kashi Vishwanath temple | Uttarkashi |
| 5 | Gangotri darshan and back | Uttarkashi |
| 6 | Uttarkashi to Guptkashi or Sitapur (long drive) | Guptkashi / Sitapur |
| 7 | Sonprayag, Gaurikund, walk up to Kedarnath | Kedarnath |
| 8 | Morning darshan, walk down | Guptkashi / Sitapur |
| 9 | Drive to Joshimath or Badrinath | Joshimath / Badrinath |
| 10 | Tapt Kund snan, Badrinath darshan, Mana village | Joshimath / Badrinath |
| 11 | Drive down via Devprayag | Rishikesh / Haridwar |
| 12 | Drive to Delhi | – |
Shorter 9- or 10-day versions exist, but they drop the Kedarnath night or rely on very long drives. Hill roads close at night and one landslide can cost half a day, so if your leave allows, add a buffer day instead of cutting one.
Practical tips for Delhi yatris
- Book your return late. Day 12 ends with a drive into Delhi traffic. Book onward trains or flights for late evening or the following day.
- Expect a big temperature swing. In late May, Delhi can be above 44°C while nights at Kedarnath are close to freezing. Pack a proper jacket, thermals, cap and gloves anyway. Our Char Dham packing list has the full list.
- NRIs landing at IGI. Do not land at night and start for Haridwar the same morning. Rest a night in Delhi or Haridwar first; jet lag and altitude together are hard on the body.
- Carry originals. The same photo ID used for registration is checked at the dhams and, if you fly, at the helipad.
- Leave early. A 5 to 6 am start beats Delhi traffic and the midday heat.
When should Delhi families plan the 2027 yatra?
The 2027 opening dates have not been announced yet. By tradition, Badrinath’s date is declared on Basant Panchami (11 February 2027) and Kedarnath’s on Mahashivratri (6 March 2027). Gangotri and Yamunotri open around Akshaya Tritiya, which falls in early May 2027 by the panchang. For 2026, the four dhams opened between 19 and 23 April.
For Delhi families, school holidays make late May and June the most crowded weeks. Mid-September to October is quieter, with clear mountain views, and suits retired couples well. With Diwali expected on 29 October 2027, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are likely to close around the end of October and Badrinath a little later; the dates are announced during the season. July and August are monsoon months with frequent landslides; we advise senior citizens to avoid them. Our best time for Char Dham guide goes month by month.
One more 2027 point: the Haridwar Kumbh runs from 14 January to 20 April 2027. If your yatra starts in late April, Haridwar should be calmer, but avoid the 14 April Amrit Snan week for a smooth start.
What does a Char Dham Yatra from Delhi cost?
Our Char Dham Yatra from Delhi by road is priced from ₹50,000 per person for 12 days and 11 nights. It includes hotels on twin or triple sharing, pure vegetarian breakfast and dinner, a private vehicle with driver from Delhi and back, fuel, tolls, parking and state permits, help with registration, and phone support from our Dehradun team.
Budget separately for what no road package includes: lunch and snacks, pony, palki or porter at Yamunotri and Kedarnath, the Sonprayag–Gaurikund shuttle jeep, any Kedarnath helicopter ticket, special puja, insurance and GST. Kedarnath helicopter tickets are sold only on IRCTC HeliYatra and need your registration number; see our helicopter booking guide. Our guide to what a Char Dham package includes explains how to compare quotes fairly.
Registration, documents and health checks before leaving Delhi
Registration with the Uttarakhand government is compulsory and free for every yatri, including children. It is done on registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app; in 2026, online registration opened on 6 March and offline counters on 17 April. We help our yatris complete it using each person’s ID. The QR-coded letter is checked on the route. See our Char Dham registration guide.
All four shrines are above 3,000 metres. If anyone in your group is over 50 or has heart, lung, blood pressure or sugar problems, see your doctor in Delhi at least a month ahead and start a daily walk of 30 to 45 minutes. Our senior citizen guide covers this in detail.
How we can help
We are a Dehradun-based yatra organiser, and we know the road from Delhi into the hills well. Our 12-day Char Dham Yatra from Delhi begins with a pickup in Delhi at a point agreed when you book; ask us whether a home, airport or station pickup is possible for your group. If you have only a week, our Do Dham Yatra to Kedarnath and Badrinath starts from Haridwar, a morning’s train ride from Delhi. You can also browse all our Char Dham yatras or read this page in Hindi. To plan your dates, use the enquiry form on this page or call/WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page).
Frequently asked questions
How far is Char Dham from Delhi?
Delhi to Haridwar is about 220 km. From there, the full Char Dham road circuit through Barkot, Uttarkashi, Guptkashi and Badrinath and back to Haridwar is roughly 1,200 to 1,300 km of hill driving, spread over nine or ten days. Kedarnath is the only dham where the road stops well short of the temple: you walk, ride or fly the last 16 km from Gaurikund.
Is there a direct train from Delhi to the Char Dham?
No. Trains from Delhi go as far as Haridwar, Rishikesh (Yog Nagari) and Dehradun. The railway line from Rishikesh into the mountains towards Karnaprayag is still being built and is not open to passengers. From Haridwar or Rishikesh, the yatra continues by road. The 12017 Shatabdi from New Delhi and the 22457 Vande Bharat from Anand Vihar are the fastest trains to Haridwar.
Can we do the Char Dham Yatra from Delhi in 10 days?
It is possible only by dropping the night at Kedarnath, driving very long days or skipping Mana village, and there is no room for a landslide delay. For families with elders, we recommend 12 days from Delhi, which is how our road package runs. If you have only 10 days, consider the Do Dham Yatra to Kedarnath and Badrinath, or fly to Kedarnath by helicopter.
Can I drive my own car from Delhi to the Char Dham?
Yes, many Delhi families do, but the roads beyond Rishikesh are narrow, steep and prone to landslides, and vehicles may not move on mountain routes at night. Every yatri must still be registered. A driver who knows these roads is much safer for most families, which is why our Delhi package includes a private vehicle with an experienced hill driver from start to finish.
What is the price of your Char Dham Yatra from Delhi?
Our 12-day, 11-night Char Dham Yatra from Delhi by road starts from ₹50,000 per person. It covers hotels on sharing basis, vegetarian breakfast and dinner, a private vehicle with driver, fuel, tolls, permits and registration help. Ponies, palkis, the Kedarnath helicopter, the Sonprayag shuttle, lunch, special puja, insurance and GST are extra. Share your dates and group size for an exact quote.
Which is the best month to start from Delhi?
Mid-May to the third week of June and mid-September to October are the best windows. May and June bring Delhi’s school-holiday crowds; September and October are calmer, clearer and better for seniors, though nights are colder. Avoid July and August because of monsoon landslides. The 2027 opening dates will be announced between February and April 2027.
Is the Char Dham Yatra from Delhi safe for senior citizens?
Yes, with planning. Choose a 12-day pace with a night at Kedarnath, get a medical check-up before leaving Delhi, and book a pony, palki or helicopter for Kedarnath if walking 16 km uphill is not realistic. Avoid the monsoon months. Carry regular medicines in hand luggage, and tell the driver at once about any breathlessness or chest discomfort.