Char Dham Yatra 2023: Itinerary And Travel Arrangements In Detail

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Upon the towering mountain ranges, amidst the luminous snow-capped peaks, inside the cold comfort of Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand, you will come across two holiest of places for visiting which you need to be really fortunate-the Badrinath And Kedarnath Temple in the Char Dham Series.

Coupled with Gangotri and Yamunotri, the two shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath form a Char dham series which is visited by lakhs of devotees, who return back fulfilled and graced by the Lords after the visit. While it requires extraordinary luck and spiritual eligibility to have an opportunity to visit all four Dhams, at least visiting one of them surely promises you his blessings and final liberation. Here is some travel related information to quench your curiosity.

1. While Badrinath is a truly paradisical spot, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Kedarnath is revered as the most important Jyotirlinga temple of all the 12 in total. Kedar Nath and Badri Nath packaged tour is popularly referred to as Do Dham yatra. These are the most difficult terrains to manoeuvre your way through. Be equipped with knowledge about these two places so that you ensure safety and comfort for yourself all the way through.

2. Situated at high altitudes in the Himalayas, the holy destinations of Kedarnath and Badrinath receive cold weather throughout the year. While the winters are freezing cold, the time between July and August is marked by heavy rains and roadblocks.

3. Badrinath and Kedarnath open and close at different times annually. Badrinath closes 10 days after the celebration of Dussehra whereas Kedarnath closes the next day after Diwali annually. But they open around the same time, by the first week of May.

4. Summer is the time to visit both the destinations as the temples open around this time from a 6-month long hibernation. With a temperature of 17°C, the May-June is an ideal time to travel to Badrinath and Kedarnath. Otherwise, just before the winter onsets, during September and October, you can plan your pilgrimage.

5. You have to take different road routes to reach the Haridwar railway station and the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. They are the nearest in proximity to Badrinath and Kedarnath.

6. Situated inside the Chamoli district, Badrinath is well connected by road to areas like Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Pauri and Rudraprayag compared to Kedarnath, which is so difficult to traverse due to the lack of connectivity with roadway networks and difficulty in navigating through the terrains.

7. The route to Kedarnath begins at Rishikesh and goes in the same road that takes you towards Badrinath and at Rudraprayag, it forks out. This road leads you up to Gaurikund which can be reached through buses and jeeps and this takes 12 hours of journey from the point of Rishikesh to Gaurikund. You should trek through a 14 km stretch of meadows and the expansive loveliness of Himachal to reach the holy destination of Kedarnath.

8. It pays to listen to the advice of local guides who will guide you about the dangerous shortcuts and paths leading to dead ends that you should avoid.

9. Given the unpredictable conditions in Uttaranchal, it is best to consider the Helicopter services to make your trip through char dham temples. Helicopter services from helipads can be booked in Guptkashi, Sirsi and Phata. You can also book online through Aryan, Pawan Hans and Arrow Aircraft. As Gaurikund is the last point beyond which vehicles can not tread, it makes sense to hire mules, Palkis from here to reach Kedarnath. Gauri kund is 235 km away from Hrishikesh.

10. Unpredictable weather and environment work against your travel plans, if you are going all alone or without taking help from a reputed travel agency which actually helps you decide every aspect of the trip, and just about everything that you need for a wholesome travel experience.

11. Carry Adequate Number of Woollen Clothes, to avoid hypothermic episodes.

12. As you trek upwards, towards the temples, the altitude increases and also there is a challenge that the narrow and zig zag roads pose. You can feel headache, short of breath, weak. lightheaded and dizzy. Carry medicines before hand to combat AMS and other health conditions that may flare up at this time. There are no hospitals whose services you can avail on your way to the holy temples. Keep a well stacked medical kit along with a first aid kit as well to be on the safer side.

13. Carry Packaged Drinking Water and Dry Foods. Even staying hungry can cause AMS.

14. Get ready Physically and Mentally before you begin your tour by Jogging, brisk walking and breathing exercises. . You can also try Yoga and meditation, as these will calm you as well as sharpen your focus. This applies for every body.

15. You can also get a medical fitness certificate from Gupt Kashi or Sonprayag which they ask for while going on the Kedarnath pilgrimage.

16. Always Carry Enough Cash as hotels and restaurants do not allow digital transaction.

17. You need a minimum of 7-8 days for Kedarnath & Badrinath Yatra from Delhi, and 5-6 days from Haridwar.

Itinerary For Kedarnath And Badrinath Tour From Delhi

Day 1: Delhi to Haridwar
Day 2: Haridwar to Guptkashi
Day 3: Guptkashi - Kedarnath - Guptkashi
Day 4: Guptkashi to Badrinath
Day 5: Badrinath to Rudraprayag
Day 6: Rudraprayag to Rishikesh
Day 7: Rishikesh to Delhi

Itinerary From Haridwar To Badrinath And Kedarnath

This is just a suggested itinerary. You need to contact the concerned agency to get this information Customized as per your needs in greater detail. You also get a chance to explore Guptkashi, Rudraprayag, Haridwar, and Rishikesh along with the Do Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand. It takes about 5 nights and 6 days, for a round trip to Badrinath Kedarnath from Haridwar.

Day 1: Arrive at Haridwar - Guptkashi (206km/ 8 hours)-
Firstly, arrive at Haridwar and then to Guptkashi. Check-in at a hotel and then get yourself medically checked, get back to the hotel and stay overnight.

Day 2 : Guptkashi - Gaurikund - Kedarnath (17km trek)+

Day 3: Kedarnath - Gaurikund - Guptkashi (17 Km trek, Drive 35 Km)+

Day 4: Guptkashi - Joshimath - Badrinath (190km/8 hours journey) +

Day 5: Badrinath- Joshimath- Rudraprayag (165km/ 5 to 6 hours' drive) +

Day 6: Rudraprayag- Rishikesh- Haridwar (160km/ 5 to 6 hours' drive)

Always Book Your Hotels Stays in Advance. Your travel agency can help you here.

Disclaimer: The information is based on assumptions and information available on the internet and the accuracy or reliability is not guaranteed. Boldsky does not confirm any inputs or information related to the article and our only purpose is to deliver information. Kindly consult the concerned expert before practising or implementing any information and assumption.