Quick answer: From Haridwar, a Do Dham yatra to Kedarnath and Badrinath takes 6 days and 5 nights by road. You drive up past the Panch Prayag, walk about 16 km from Gaurikund to Kedarnath and stay a night, then cross to Badrinath for Tapt Kund, darshan and Mana village before driving back. The loop is roughly 800 km of mountain road plus the Kedarnath walk.
Updated for the 2027 yatra season (facts checked October 2026)
Haridwar is the traditional gateway for the Himalayan dhams, and the Do Dham is one of the most popular yatras that start here. It is short enough for working families and seniors, yet it brings darshan of a Jyotirlinga and of one of the four great dhams of India. The route follows the Ganga to Devprayag and then the Alaknanda and Mandakini, so the river is your companion almost all the way.
The 6-day Do Dham route from Haridwar, explained
Day 1: Haridwar to Guptkashi (about 205 km). An early start, with a stop at Devprayag, the first of the Panch Prayag, where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda become the Ganga. At Rudraprayag the Mandakini joins and the road turns north to Guptkashi. Seven to eight hours of hill driving; carry travel-sickness tablets if anyone needs them.
Day 2: the walk to Kedarnath. The hardest day of the yatra. Your driver drops you at Sonprayag in the dark; from there it is a local jeep to Gaurikund and then the long climb past Bheembali and Linchauli. Those who prefer not to walk book a pony or palki at the official counter. By evening you are at the dham for aarti.
Day 3: darshan and descent. Join the queue at first light. Bhairavnath, whom tradition regards as the guardian of Kedarnath, has a small shrine on the ridge above the town. The walk down is quicker but tough on the knees; poles help. Night again at Guptkashi.
Day 4: Guptkashi to Badrinath. The road crosses to the Alaknanda valley and passes Chamoli and Jyotirmath, then the narrow last 45 km past Vishnuprayag and Govindghat. In the evening, a bath at Tapt Kund and darshan of Shri Badrinarayan, staying on for the evening aarti.
Day 5: Badrinath, Mana and the drive down. A second darshan if you wish, pind daan at Brahma Kapal for families who have that sankalp, and Mana village with Vyas Gufa, Ganesh Gufa and Bheem Pul, about 3 to 4 km away. Then drive down past Nandprayag and Karnaprayag to Rudraprayag or Srinagar.
Day 6: back to Haridwar. Past Devprayag once more and down to the plains, reaching Haridwar by afternoon or evening. Book onward trains for the evening or the next day.
The Panch Prayag on your way
A Do Dham from Haridwar passes all five sacred confluences of the Alaknanda, which many yatris treat as part of the pilgrimage:
- Devprayag: Alaknanda and Bhagirathi; the Raghunath temple stands above.
- Rudraprayag: Alaknanda and Mandakini; associated with Narad Muni’s worship of Shiva.
- Karnaprayag: Alaknanda and Pindar; linked to Karna of the Mahabharata.
- Nandprayag: Alaknanda and Nandakini.
- Vishnuprayag: Alaknanda and Dhauliganga, near Jyotirmath.
If you would like to stop and offer prayers at each, tell us in advance so we can plan the halts.
Adding more darshan to a Haridwar Do Dham
| Add-on | Extra days | Where it fits | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triyuginarayan temple | Half a day | Near Sonprayag, on Day 3 after descent | Easy; short drive |
| Tungnath (third Kedar), via Chopta | 1 day | Between Kedarnath and Badrinath, via Ukhimath | About 3.5 km steep but paved climb |
| Ukhimath Omkareshwar temple | 1 to 2 hours | On the Chopta road | Easy; winter seat of Kedarnath |
| Hemkund Sahib | 2 days | From Govindghat, below Badrinath | Long, steep trek via Ghangaria |
| Rishikesh Ganga aarti | An evening | Day 6, on the way down | Easy |
Hemkund Sahib and the Valley of Flowers open later than the dhams, usually from late May or June, so check their dates before planning.
Start your yatra well in Haridwar
- Arrive the evening before. The Day 1 drive starts at 5 or 6 am, and the hill driving ban (10 pm to 4 am) means you cannot make up time at night.
- Take sankalp at the Ganga. A short puja on the ghat, naming both dhams, is how many families formally begin. The Ganga aarti guide lists evening timings.
- Register online, not at the counter. Haridwar’s offline registration centre (at Rishikul Ground in 2026) suspended registrations on afternoons of heavy rush in May 2026. Register both dhams on registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app in advance. See our registration guide.
- Kumbh 2027. The Haridwar Kumbh runs from 14 January to 20 April 2027. Its last Amrit Snan on 14 April falls just before the dhams usually open, so trains and hotels in Haridwar will be full in mid-April. Plan the start date with this in mind.
When to go and what to expect
In 2026 Kedarnath opened on 22 April and Badrinath on 23 April; they are scheduled to close on 11 November and 16 November respectively. For 2027, Badrinath’s opening date will be fixed on Basant Panchami (11 February) and Kedarnath’s on Mahashivratri (6 March). May and June are crowded but pleasant; July and August bring monsoon slides between Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Badrinath; September to early November is clear and quieter. At both dhams, nights are cold in every month.
What costs extra on a road Do Dham
Package prices usually cover rooms, breakfast and dinner, the vehicle and registration help. Expect to pay separately for the shared jeep from Sonprayag to Gaurikund, pony, palki or pithu (at rates fixed by the Rudraprayag district administration), any helicopter seat, lunches, special pujas and dakshina. Our guide to Kedarnath pony, palki and pithu rates explains how the official rate boards work.
How we can help
Our Do Dham yatra by road from Haridwar is exactly the 6-day plan above, from ₹35,000 per person, with a private vehicle, a night at both dhams and vegetarian breakfast and dinner. If you would rather focus on Kedarnath and Tungnath, see our Kedarnath Tungnath yatra (5 days). Families with the time and sankalp for all four dhams can choose the Char Dham yatra from Haridwar (11 days, from ₹50,000 per person). Compare options on our Char Dham packages page or read the Hindi Char Dham page. Use the enquiry form on this page or call/WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page).
Frequently asked questions
How many days is the Do Dham yatra from Haridwar?
Six days and five nights by road is the standard plan: Haridwar to Guptkashi, the Kedarnath walk with a night at the dham, return to Guptkashi, the drive to Badrinath, Badrinath and Mana, and the return to Haridwar. Add a day for Tungnath or as a buffer for weather in late June or September.
How far is Badrinath from Kedarnath by road?
About 200 to 230 km depending on the route, usually 8 to 10 hours. The road goes from the Guptkashi side either through Ukhimath, Chopta and Gopeshwar, or back via Rudraprayag, and then up the Alaknanda through Chamoli and Jyotirmath. Starting early is important because the last 45 km beyond Jyotirmath is narrow and slow.
Can we do Do Dham from Haridwar in 4 or 5 days?
Five days is possible if you skip the night at Kedarnath and walk up and down the same day, but that is very tiring and leaves no buffer. Four days by road is not realistic. If time is that short, a helicopter Do Dham from Dehradun, an hour from Haridwar, is the better option.
What is Brahma Kapal at Badrinath?
Brahma Kapal is a flat rock on the bank of the Alaknanda, a short walk from the Badrinath temple, where families perform shraddh and pind daan for their ancestors. Many believe pind daan here brings lasting peace to the pitrs. Local pandas conduct the rites; agree the dakshina before you begin.
Is the Do Dham route from Haridwar safe in the monsoon?
July and August see frequent landslides on the Rudraprayag–Sonprayag and Chamoli–Badrinath roads, and the Kedarnath trail is sometimes halted. The yatra continues, but delays of hours or a day are common. We do not recommend these months for seniors. If you go, keep two buffer days.
Do we need to register for both Kedarnath and Badrinath?
Yes. Registration is compulsory and free for every yatri and every dham. Select both Kedarnath and Badrinath on the Uttarakhand Tourism portal or app. Carry the same original ID used for registration; the QR letter is checked at Sonprayag and on the Badrinath road.
What extra costs should we budget for?
Beyond the package, budget for the shared jeep from Sonprayag to Gaurikund, pony, palki or pithu if used, any helicopter seat, lunches and snacks, special pujas and dakshina at both temples, and tips. Pony and palki rates are fixed by the district administration and displayed at the counters.