How many days does the Char Dham Yatra take?

A full circuit covering all four shrines from Rishikesh/Haridwar typically runs around 9-12 days, depending on road conditions, your pace, and whether you trek or take faster options like the Kedarnath helicopter. We build the exact itinerary around your dates.

When does the Char Dham Yatra open and close each year?

Opening and closing dates are fixed by the respective temple boards each year, broadly falling in the May-June to September-October window. They are not the same every year — confirm the current dates on your quote before booking flights.

Do I have to trek to Kedarnath?

No. Alongside the trek, there are pony/palki options for those who cannot walk the full distance, and a helicopter service from designated helipads for a faster route, weather permitting. We help you choose based on your fitness, budget and dates.

Is the Char Dham Yatra physically demanding?

Yes, more so than most other pilgrimages in India. It involves mountain roads, altitude, cold, and — unless you take the helicopter — a genuine trek at Kedarnath. It is not comparable to a city temple visit.

Can I combine the Char Dham Yatra with Rishikesh or Haridwar sightseeing?

Yes, most trips already use Rishikesh or Haridwar as the gateway, and it is easy to add a day or two there for the Ganga Aarti, yoga or rafting before or after the yatra.

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PilgrimageChar Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand

Char Dham Yatra tour

Private vehicle and driver for the whole circuit
Help arranging Kedarnath trek, pony or helicopter options
Reply within four hours, 9am-9pm IST
No payment to start planning

Best season: May-June, once the winter snow h
Price: Quoted per person
Route: Char Dham Yatra

Reviewed by Experience My India Editorial Team · Updated 1 Sept 2026

The Char Dham Yatra is a pilgrimage circuit to four Himalayan shrines in Uttarakhand — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath — usually undertaken as one continuous trip by road from the Rishikesh/Haridwar gateway.
The season runs roughly May-June and September-October, either side of the monsoon and winter closures, with exact opening and closing dates fixed each year by the respective temple boards.
Altitude and cold — Kedarnath and Badrinath sit at significant elevation; warm layers are needed even in the travel season, and altitude can affect some travellers.
Footwear and dress — sturdy walking shoes for the Kedarnath approach if trekking, and modest dress at all four shrines; shoes come off before entering each temple.

The Char Dham Yatra is a pilgrimage circuit to four Himalayan shrines in Uttarakhand — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath — usually undertaken as one continuous trip by road from the Rishikesh/Haridwar gateway. The season runs roughly May-June and September-October, either side of the monsoon and winter closures, with exact opening and closing dates fixed each year by the respective temple boards. Kedarnath, the most physically demanding of the four, can be reached on foot, by pony or by helicopter, and Experience My India arranges the vehicle, driver and local support for the whole route as a private trip rather than a fixed group departure.

What is the Char Dham Yatra?

The Char Dham ("four abodes") Yatra is one of Hinduism's most revered pilgrimage circuits, taking in four shrines set high in the Garhwal Himalaya of Uttarakhand: Yamunotri and Gangotri, at the source regions of the Yamuna and Ganges rivers, and Kedarnath and Badrinath, dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu respectively. Pilgrims traditionally travel the circuit in a fixed order, and most trips are based out of Rishikesh or Haridwar, the two towns on the Ganga that act as the gateway to the mountains.

The Rishikesh area is also the Yoga Capital of the World and a base for its own Ganga Aarti and adventure trips — worth knowing if you are combining a Char Dham journey with time in Rishikesh itself, whether before or after the yatra.

Kedarnath: trek, pony or helicopter

Kedarnath is the stage most people ask about. The temple sits well above the road-head, and pilgrims reach it on foot along a paved mountain trail, by pony or palki (a carried chair) for those who cannot walk the distance, or by helicopter from designated helipads for a faster, costlier route. Each option has its own booking system, capacity limits and weather dependency — helicopter services in particular are frequently affected by cloud and wind and can be delayed or cancelled at short notice.

We do not quote a price for any of these here; the trekking, pony and helicopter options each carry their own current fees and booking rules, which we confirm with you once we know your dates and preference.

Arrive in Rishikesh or Haridwar
Most trips begin here, arranging permits, transport and last checks on road conditions before heading into the hills.
Yamunotri
Usually the first shrine on the traditional circuit, reached by road followed by a walk or pony ride to the temple.
Gangotri
The source region of the Ganges, reached by road; a further trek to the Gaumukh glacier is possible for those with time and fitness.
Kedarnath
The most demanding stop. After the road ends, the shrine is reached by a multi-hour trek, by pony, or by helicopter — each booked through its own official process, and we help you weigh the options against your fitness and dates.
Badrinath
The final shrine on the traditional order, reached by road, with the Alaknanda river and the Neelkanth peak as its backdrop.
Return to Rishikesh/Haridwar
The circuit closes back at the gateway towns, from where onward travel is arranged.

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5/53 days ago
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Char Dham Yatra tour

Private vehicle and driver for the whole circuit
Help arranging Kedarnath trek, pony or helicopter options
Reply within four hours, 9am-9pm IST
No payment to start planning

The Char Dham Yatra is a pilgrimage circuit to four Himalayan shrines in Uttarakhand — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath — usually undertaken as one continuous trip by road from the Rishikesh/Haridwar gateway.
The season runs roughly May-June and September-October, either side of the monsoon and winter closures, with exact opening and closing dates fixed each year by the respective temple boards.
Altitude and cold — Kedarnath and Badrinath sit at significant elevation; warm layers are needed even in the travel season, and altitude can affect some travellers.
Footwear and dress — sturdy walking shoes for the Kedarnath approach if trekking, and modest dress at all four shrines; shoes come off before entering each temple.