Every year, more than 4 million people set off on a harrowing journey called Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand, which lasts ten days, is quite challenging, yet more and more folks are giving it a shot.
Why? Well, a big shoutout to the many YouTubers and bloggers who tell their stories about it each year.
The Yatra is open 7 months a year, mostly in summer, and goes through lots of beautiful mountains yet tricky roads in Uttarakhand.
So, before you start your Char Dham Yatra, grab a good route map to help you find the best way!
The Char Dham Yatra Route Map below is put together using tips from over 100 travelers who finished their Yatra last year, along with some FAQs about Yatra dates, weather, accommodation etc.
So, check out the Char Dham Yatra Route Map below and don’t hesitate to share your thoughts in the comment section.
1: From where to start the Yatra
CONTENTS
It’s best to start the Yatra from Haridwar, but you’ve got options – you can also start from Dehradun, Rishikesh, or my personal favourite; Delhi; plan for a minimum of 10 days from each of these starting points.
From Delhi, you need to plan a minimum of 11 days. The sequence of this Yatra is:
1. Yamunotri Dham
2. Gangotri Dham
3. Kedarnath Dham, and
4. Badrinath Dham.
A FRIENDLY TIP:
About 60% of travelers don’t visit all 4 Dham in one trip. They usually start with a Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham visit, and then, maybe next year or later, head to Yamunotri & Gangotri.
Thus I have also shared the route map for Kedarnath and Badrinath (also called Do Dham Yatraof Uttarakhand) from Haridwar.
2. Kedarnath route map for 2024
The Kedarnath temple is the most visited temple of the Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra – where everyone wants to pay a visit!
To start this sacred journey, first, reach Sonprayag. Then, take a short 5 km drive to the main trekking point, Gaurikund, in a local Balero taxi (as no other car is allowed on this route).
Now, here comes the spiritual hike – an 18 km trek. And remember, finish this one-side trek before evening as there’s no place to stay in between.
HOW TO REACH SONPRAYAG FROM HARIDWAR?
You can get to Sonprayag from Haridwar by taking a bus or cab for a 235 km drive. It’ll take around 8-9 hours in a car and 10 hours in a bus.
If you’re coming from completing the Yamunotri Dham and Gangotri Dham Yatra, then you need to reach Sonprayag from Uttarkashi, which is a 277 km drive and takes about 9 hours.
Check out Chardham Yatra packages from Haridwar for more information on route maps and cab fares.
HOW MANY DAYS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE KEDARNATH DHAM YATRA?
Two full days and we suggest reaching Sonprayag a day before, resting for the night and then giving 2 complete days, with a 1-night stay at Kedarnath Dham, where you can get a dharmshala or camp from GMVK Camp (Uttarakhand government camps).
2. Badrinath route map for 2024
The Badrinath Dham temple is dedicated to Shri Hari Vishnu, and locals refer to him as Shri Badari Narayana.
This temple is also one of the stops on the Char Dham Yatra of India, which includes 4 Vishnu Temples in India.
Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand, Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, Jagannath Puri, Odisha, and Dwarka Temple, Gujarat.
To reach here from Kedarnath, you need to travel by road from Sonprayag to Badrinath, which is 223 km.
However, since all travelers are usually quite tired from the Kedarnath Yatra, they prefer to spend a night in cities like Pipalkoti or Rudraprayag (previously, Joshimath was also a popular stop).
My personal choice would be Rudraprayag because here you can witness the Sangam (confluence)of two rivers (Alaknanda and Mandakini).Â
Although, these days, Pipalkoti is more popular as it is closer to Badrinath.
There is no trekking involved in Badrinath Dham as you can reach the temple parking via a cab, and after the darshan, either stay in a Dharamshala near Badrinath Temple or head back to Haridwar which is 315 km/ 12-hour drive)
A SUGGESTION:
After visiting the Badrinath Dham Temple, consider staying in cities like Srinagar or Devprayag, and then leave for Haridwar the next day for a more comfortable journey.
Personally, I would opt for Srinagar, a famous city with reasonable accommodation, markets, and peaceful Ganga Ghats.
3. Yamunotri route map for 2024
Yamunotri Dham temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna and is just a few km north of the temple is also the Yamuna Glacier, which is the source of the Yamuna River.
Most travelers who have decided to complete the entire Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand start their journey from Yamunotri Dham.
THE ROUTE MAP TO YAMUNOTRI DHAM:
To reach the Yamunotri Dham temple, start your journey by reaching Barkot or Hanuman Chatti.
Barkot is 190 km away, and Hanuman Chatti is 240 km from Haridwar, both on the same route.
From Barkot or Hanuman Chatti, make your way to Janki Chatti, the starting point of a 5 km trek to the Yamunotri Dham temple.
In my opinion, the best schedule for the Yamunotri Dham Yatra is to depart around 7-8 am, return to Janki Chatti by 4-5 pm, and then rest for the night in Barkot or wherever you are staying.
4. Gangotri Route map
The Gangotri Dham Temple is devoted to Goddess Ganga. Near the Gangotri Dham Temple, there is a place called Gaumukh, which is the starting point of the Ganga River in India.
The visit to Gangotri Dham Temple doesn’t need any trekking; you can reach the town easily by taking a cab since the temple is right there.
If you’re traveling to Gangotri after visiting Yamunotri Dham, I recommend reaching Uttarkashi, which is an 80 km/3-hour drive from Barkot, by noon.
Take a break for the day there, and on the next day, head to Gangotri Dham Temple, which is 100 km away and also takes about 3 hours by car.
DISTANCE FROM HARIDWAR:
From Haridwar, the Gangotri town is 290 km and 9-hour drive.
5. Kedarnath Badrinath Route map from Haridwar
As mentioned earlier, most tourists opt for the Do Dham Yatra, visiting Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham.Â
And the recommended/ best route to take is:
Haridwar to Sonprayag: 235 km/ 8 hours.
Reach Sonprayag from Haridwar and rest for the night. On the next day, embark on the Kedarnath Dham Yatra trek of 18 km long.Â
By day 3, you’ll return to Sonprayag; rest here for the night and set out for Badrinath via Pipalkoti the following day.
Sonprayag to Pipalkoti: 150 km/ 5-hour journey
Arrive at Pipalkoti on day 4 and spend the night there.Â
On day 5, drive to Badrinath Temple, which is a 75 km/3-hour drive. Return to Pipalkoti or Karnaprayag by evening, Karnaprayag is 120 km/4-hour drive from Badrinath, you can also see the river Sangam here too.
Karnaprayag to Haridwar: 190 km/ 5-hour drive
On day 6, return to Haridwar, and there you have comfortably completed your 6-day Do Dham Yatra.
Alternatively, you can complete this Yatra in 5 days by skipping the overnight stay in Pipalkoti on day 4 and heading directly to Badrinath Temple from Sonprayag.Â
Then, on day 5, journey back to Haridwar from Badrinath, covering a distance of 310 km in a 9-10-hour drive.
FAQ on Char Dham Yatra 2024
1. What is the starting and last date of Char Dham Yatra?
Typically, the Yatra kicks starts by late April or May when the gates of Yamunotri and Gangotri Dham Temples are opened. Subsequently, the gates of Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham Temples were opened within a week.
The final dates are determined based on the Hindu calendar’s Akshay Tritiya, scheduled for May 10, 2024.Â
Hence, the Char Dham Yatra of 2024 will commence from:
ï‚· Yamunotri Dham Temple: 10 May 2024
ï‚· Gangotri Dham Temple: 10 May 2024
ï‚· Kedarnath Dham Temple: 14 May 2024
ï‚· Badrinath Dham Temple: 16 May 2024
2. Is registration necessary for Char Dham Yatra?
You can reach out to any Char Dham Yatra Travel agency will take care of the process on your behalf.
3. Is accommodation readily available at Char Dham Yatra?
Unfortunately, no. Most hotels and dharamshalas are open for only 7-8 months a year during the Yatra, so there aren’t many new hotels opening.
However, there’s a rise in the number of new homestays and guest houses run by locals in cities like Barkot, Uttarkashi, Sitapur, Pipalkoti, etc., to help travellers like you.
Therefore, it’s advisable to conduct some research on accommodation before embarking on the Yatra.
4. When can I see snow at Char Dham Yatra?
The ideal time to witness snow is from September to November.
Sometimes, you can also encounter snow in April and the first week of May during the Kedarnath Dham trek.
- Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Things To Do in Krakow, Poland - April 12, 2024
- Exploring the Hidden Gems of European Ski Resorts - March 28, 2024
- 25 Beautiful Landmarks In Poland For Your Bucket List - March 16, 2024
