— यात्रा —

Char Dham Uttarakhand

4 stops · ~12 days · Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand

— यात्रा —

stop 1

Yamunotri

Yamunotri, Uttarakhand

Yamunotri — source-shrine of the Yamuna at 3,293 m. Traditional first stop of the Char Dham. Pilgrims cook rice in cloth bundles in the Surya Kund hot spring and offer it to the goddess.

best time

Start trek at sunrise; 6 km each way from Janki Chatti. Open May to Bhai Dooj only.

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stop 2

Gangotri

Gangotri, Uttarakhand · ~46 km from previous stop

from previous

From Yamunotri, return to Hanuman Chatti and drive east through Uttarkashi — about 230 km across the Banderpunch watershed. Most groups take a full day and overnight at Harsil.

Gangotri — source-shrine of the Ganga at 3,100 m. Bhagiratha's tapas here brought the Ganga from the heavens. The shrine stands on the Bhagirathi river, 19 km downstream of the true source at Gaumukh.

best time

Morning aarti at Bhagirathi ghat. Trek to Gaumukh separately (18 km, needs permit).

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stop 3

Kedarnath Jyotirlinga

Kedarnath, Uttarakhand · ~31 km from previous stop

from previous

From Gangotri, descend through Uttarkashi and Rishikesh — about 290 km south and east to Gaurikund, where the trek begins.

Kedarnath — the Shiva shrine at 3,583 m, highest of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The temple was revived by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. Reached by a 16 km trek from Gaurikund or by helicopter.

best time

Start trek from Gaurikund at 4 am; book helicopter 2+ months out.

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stop 4

Badrinath

Badrinath, Uttarakhand · ~41 km from previous stop

from previous

From Kedarnath, descend to Gaurikund and drive via Rudraprayag and Joshimath — about 225 km north-east across the Alaknanda gorge.

Badrinath — final and most sacred stop of the yatra. Vishnu as Badri Narayan between the Nar-Narayan peaks, at 3,133 m on the Alaknanda. Bathe first in the hot Tapt Kund spring, then take darshan.

best time

Morning darshan preferred; Mana village beyond is worth the 3 km detour.

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may this yatra walk with you.

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