Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath
The full circuit: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath in one carefully paced itinerary with buffer days for weather.
The Chota Char Dham of Uttarakhand is one of the most revered pilgrimage circuits in the Hindu world. Yamunotri marks the source of the river Yamuna, worshipped at a temple built by the queen of Guler in the 19th century at 3,293 m. Gangotri honours the river Ganga, where King Bhagirath is believed to have prayed to bring her down from heaven to liberate his ancestors. Kedarnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, linked to the Pandavas and revived by Adi Shankaracharya, while Badrinath, the abode of Lord Vishnu, finds mention in the Vedas themselves. Pilgrims have walked this circuit for centuries in the traditional west-to-east order — and this itinerary follows it exactly, carefully paced with buffer days for mountain weather.
Highlight: Mussoorie mountain road, Kempty Falls
Distance covered: 210 km / Time taken: 7-8 hours
Details:
We leave Haridwar after breakfast and climb into the Garhwal hills via Mussoorie, pausing at the famous Kempty Falls. The road then winds along the Yamuna valley to Barkot, our base for Yamunotri, where we check in and rest for the big day ahead.
Highlight: 6 km trek from Janki Chatti, Surya Kund hot springs, Divya Shila
Distance covered: 36 km drive + 6 km trek each way / Time taken: 2 hours drive + 3-4 hours trek each way
Details:
Early morning we drive to Janki Chatti and begin the 6 km trek to Yamunotri — ponies and palkis are available. At the temple we offer prayers at the Divya Shila, cook rice in the natural hot springs of Surya Kund as tradition demands, and return to Barkot by evening.
Highlight: Ancient Vishwanath temple of Uttarkashi
Distance covered: 100 km / Time taken: 3-4 hours
Details:
A relaxed drive along the Bhagirathi river brings us to Uttarkashi, a town famous for its ancient Shiva Vishwanath temple that mirrors the one in Varanasi. We visit the temple in the evening and overnight here.
Highlight: Gangotri temple, Bhagirathi ghats, Gauri Kund
Distance covered: 100 km round trip / Time taken: 3-4 hours drive each way
Details:
We drive to Gangotri through pine forests along the Bhagirathi. After darshan at the 18th-century temple built by Amar Singh Thapa, we take a dip at the ghats and visit the legends of King Bhagirath's rock. We return to Uttarkashi for the night.
Highlight: Long scenic drive crossing the Alaknanda valley
Distance covered: 220 km / Time taken: 8-9 hours
Details:
Today is a long but beautiful drive via Tilwara and the Mandakini valley to Guptkashi, gateway of Kedarnath. We visit the Ardh Narishwar temple and rest early for tomorrow's darshan.
Highlight: 16 km trek to the Jyotirlinga, night near the shrine
Distance covered: 30 km drive + 16 km trek (or helicopter) / Time taken: 2 hours drive + 6-8 hours trek
Details:
We drive to Sonprayag before dawn and trek up the Mandakini valley to Kedarnath. After darshan at the Jyotirlinga and the Bhairavnath temple, we stay the night close to the shrine — a rare and deeply spiritual experience.
Highlight: Morning aarti, descent through the valley
Distance covered: 16 km trek + 30 km drive / Time taken: 6-8 hours trek + 2 hours drive
Details:
We attend the morning aarti, then descend to Gaurikund and drive back to Guptkashi for a well-earned rest at the hotel.
Highlight: Joshimath, evening darshan at Badrinath
Distance covered: 190 km / Time taken: 7-8 hours
Details:
We drive via Chopta and Joshimath to Badrinath, arriving in time for evening darshan and aarti at the Vishnu shrine on the banks of the Alaknanda.
Highlight: Mana village, Vyas Gufa, Bhim Pul
Distance covered: 155 km / Time taken: 6-7 hours
Details:
Morning visit to Mana — India's last village — with Vyas Gufa, Ganesh Gufa and Bhim Pul. We then drive down to Rudraprayag at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Mandakini for the final night of the yatra.
Highlight: Closing drive along the sacred rivers
Distance covered: 160 km / Time taken: 6-7 hours
Details:
After breakfast we return to Haridwar, completing the full Char Dham circuit. We drop you by evening with all four dhams blessed and remembered.
All hotels, MAP meals, Transfers, Coordinator, Permits
Helicopter, Lunch, Pony/palki, Insurance
Members save ₹1,000 – ₹2,000 on this trek — and on every trip they book with Oktrek.
Member price: ₹31,999 (for 1–2 travellers)
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