Char Dham Yatra Travel Guide

The Char Dham, literally the four abodes, are four Himalayan shrines in Uttarakhand: Kedarnath and Badrinath, both dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu respectively and reached at considerable altitude, and Gangotri and Yamunotri, near the traditional sources of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers. Together they form one of Hinduism's most demanding and revered pilgrimage circuits, and the end point of what many travellers consider India's spiritual Himalaya.

The Char Dham open only roughly May to October or November, on dates fixed each year by the temple authorities, and close for winter once snow makes the high routes impassable. Travelling outside this window is not possible; confirm the season's exact opening and closing dates on your quote, as they shift year to year.

The full four-shrine circuit takes about ten to twelve days from Delhi, given the driving distances and altitude between stops. The routes involve real trekking sections at altitude, so acclimatisation, fitness and a realistic pace matter more here than almost anywhere else in this guide; some travellers choose a helicopter option for the more demanding legs, such as Kedarnath, where the terrain and time allow it.