Quick answer: From Kolkata, you can take a through train from Howrah to Haridwar, such as the Kumbha Express, Upasana Express or Doon Express (about 25 to 31 hours), or fly direct to Dehradun in roughly 2.5 hours. Then join an 11-day road yatra from Haridwar to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Plan about 13 days door to door by air or 15 days by train.
Updated for the 2027 yatra season (facts checked October 2026)
Few cities have as long a tradition of Himalayan yatra as Kolkata. Bengali families have travelled to Haridwar, Kedarnath and Badrinath for generations, and Howrah still has several through trains to Uttarakhand. Today you can also fly direct to Dehradun. This page compares the options, explains how Puja holidays fit the yatra season, and covers food and weather for families travelling from Bengal.
Trains from Howrah to Haridwar
Kolkata is unusual in having more than one direct train into Uttarakhand. All three below stop at Haridwar.
| Train | Route | Approx. time to Haridwar | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kumbha Express | Howrah to Dehradun via Haridwar | About 25 hours | The quicker of the through trains; popular with yatris |
| Upasana Express | Howrah to Dehradun via Haridwar | About 25 hours | Check running days, which differ from the Kumbha |
| Doon Express | Howrah to Yog Nagari Rishikesh via Haridwar | About 30 to 31 hours | Slower, with many halts; useful when the others are full |
| Howrah Rajdhani (to Delhi) | Howrah to New Delhi | About 17 hours to Delhi | Runs six days a week; join a Delhi start next morning |
Train numbers and timings are revised from time to time, so confirm on the IRCTC app. Reservations open 60 days before the journey date. For travel in May, June or the October Puja season, book on the day booking opens.
Flying from Kolkata
IndiGo has operated direct flights from Kolkata to Dehradun’s Jolly Grant airport. The flight takes roughly two and a half hours, and Haridwar is about an hour’s drive from the airport. If the direct flight is full or expensive, flying to Delhi and taking the Shatabdi to Haridwar the next morning is a good fallback.
How many days from Kolkata?
| Plan | Getting there | Yatra | Getting back | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fly both ways | Same day | 11 days from Haridwar | Day after yatra ends | About 13 days |
| Train both ways | Overnight plus a day (about 25 hours) | 11 days from Haridwar | About 25 hours | About 15 days |
| Train out, fly back | About 25 hours | 11 days from Haridwar | Same day | About 14 days |
Many Kolkata families take the train out and fly back. The train journey is relaxed and lets everyone settle in, while the flight home avoids a second long journey when everyone is tired after the mountains.
Puja holidays and the yatra season
For Bengali families, the Durga Puja holidays have long been the classic time for a Himalayan yatra. October is genuinely one of the best months in Uttarakhand: the monsoon is over, the air is clear and the snow peaks stand out sharply. A few things to keep in mind for 2027:
- Vijayadashami falls on 9 October 2027, so the Puja days are in the first part of October. Trains out of Howrah around those dates fill very fast.
- Kali Puja and Diwali fall on 29 October 2027. The dhams traditionally close around Diwali and Bhai Dooj, so do not plan to arrive at Kedarnath or Badrinath at the very end of October.
- The nights get cold. By mid-October, nights at Kedarnath and Badrinath fall below freezing. Pack proper woollens.
- May and June are the other good window, during school vacations. Avoid July and August, when monsoon landslides are frequent on the Badrinath and Yamunotri roads.
Kapat opening dates for 2027 will be known only in February and March 2027. If you are already thinking of a Puja-holiday yatra, the closing dates matter more, and Badrinath’s is traditionally announced on Vijayadashami itself, so you will know it only in early October. Plan to finish well before Diwali to be safe. See our best time for Char Dham guide and Yatra Calendar 2027.
Food, weather and comfort for Bengali families
Food is vegetarian. This surprises some families from Kolkata. Haridwar and Rishikesh do not allow meat or alcohol within town limits, and the hotels and dhabas along the yatra route serve vegetarian food almost everywhere. Rice, dal, sabzi and roti are easy to find. Families often carry muri, chire, biscuits, and a few home-made sweets that keep well for the first days.
From humidity to dry cold. Kolkata’s air is warm and humid most of the year; the mountains are dry and cold. Drink water regularly even when you do not feel thirsty, use lip balm and moisturiser, and carry thermals, a padded jacket, a monkey cap and gloves. Our packing list has the full checklist.
Altitude. Kolkata is almost at sea level, and Kedarnath is about 3,583 metres. Elderly parents should have a medical check-up before booking, and anyone with heart, lung or blood pressure problems should consider a pony, palki or helicopter for Kedarnath. Our senior citizen guide explains what to watch for.
Language. Hindi is spoken throughout the route. Most Kolkata families manage comfortably; our team briefs in Hindi and English.
The yatra itself
From Haridwar, the road yatra goes west to east in the traditional order: Barkot for Yamunotri, Uttarkashi for Gangotri, Guptkashi and a night at Kedarnath, then Badrinath and Mana village, before returning via Devprayag and Rishikesh. Yamunotri needs a walk of about 6 km each way and Kedarnath about 16 km each way from Gaurikund; ponies, palkis and porters are available at both, and Kedarnath also has helicopter shuttles booked through IRCTC HeliYatra. Registration with the Uttarakhand government is compulsory and free; we help you complete it. Read our registration guide.
What it costs
On price: our 11-day yatra from Haridwar is from ₹50,000 per person. That pays for rooms on sharing basis, breakfast and dinner, the vehicle and driver, permits, registration help, and a pickup in Haridwar at a point and time agreed when you book. The Howrah train or the flight is yours to book. On the route, keep cash for lunches, ponies or palkis, the Sonprayag shuttle jeep and any puja; helicopter tickets, insurance and GST are also extra.
How we can help
Whether you arrive on the Kumbha Express at dawn or on an afternoon flight, our Haridwar departure takes care of the mountain section; ask us whether a pickup from Jolly Grant airport is possible for your group. For most Kolkata families the best fit is our 11-day Char Dham Yatra from Haridwar; for a shorter Puja-holiday yatra, the 6-day Do Dham to Kedarnath and Badrinath fits well. If you come via Delhi on the Rajdhani, see our Delhi departure. Browse all Char Dham yatras. To plan your dates, use the enquiry form on this page or call/WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page).
Frequently asked questions
Which train from Kolkata is best for the Char Dham Yatra?
The Kumbha Express and Upasana Express run from Howrah to Dehradun via Haridwar in about 25 hours to Haridwar, and are the quickest through trains. The Doon Express to Yog Nagari Rishikesh also stops at Haridwar but takes about 30 to 31 hours. The Howrah Rajdhani to New Delhi takes about 17 hours if you prefer to start from Delhi.
Is there a direct flight from Kolkata to Dehradun?
IndiGo has flown Kolkata to Jolly Grant non-stop, about two and a half hours. From the airport, Haridwar is about an hour by road. If that flight is sold out, fly to Delhi and catch the morning Shatabdi to Haridwar the next day, or join our Delhi departure. Recheck schedules each season.
How many days does the Char Dham take from Kolkata?
It depends mostly on the journey to Haridwar. Flying both ways, about 13 days; by train both ways, about 15, because each direction takes roughly 25 hours. A popular middle path is the Kumbha or Upasana Express out and a flight home, around 14 days. Keep a spare day if your return booking is fixed.
Can we do the Char Dham Yatra during Durga Puja holidays?
Yes, and October is one of the best months for weather and views. In 2027 Vijayadashami falls on 9 October, so Howrah trains around those dates fill quickly; book the day reservations open, 60 days ahead. Diwali is on 29 October 2027 and the dhams close soon after, so finish your darshan before the last week of October.
Will non-vegetarian food be available on the yatra?
No. Haridwar and Rishikesh do not allow meat or alcohol within town limits, and food along the Char Dham route is almost entirely vegetarian. Rice, dal, sabzi, roti and curd are easy to find. Many Bengali families carry muri, chire, biscuits and home-made sweets for snacks.
When should we book train tickets from Howrah?
Indian Railways opens reservations 60 days before the date of journey. For the Kumbha or Upasana Express in May, June or the Puja season, book on the opening day. Fix your yatra dates with us first, so that your arrival in Haridwar matches Day 1 of the itinerary.
Is the Char Dham Yatra suitable for elderly parents from Kolkata?
It is, if the plan is built around them. A check-up with their doctor comes first. Then pick dates outside the monsoon, keep a night at Kedarnath in the plan, and arrange a pony, palki or helicopter instead of the 16 km walk if needed. October nights fall below freezing, so pack proper woollens along with all regular medicines.