Char Dham Yatra

Leg-by-leg distances

1. 1
   Haridwar → Yamunotri—by road3,291 m

   Road to Janki Chatti (nearest motorable point), then a ~6 km trek (or pony/palki) up to the shrine. Yamunotri temple elevation 3,291 m confirmed (Wikipedia; Uttarakhand Tourism). Road distance from Haridwar not sourced to an official figure.

2. 2
   Yamunotri → Gangotri—by road3,100 m

   Both Yamunotri (via Janki Chatti) and Gangotri are reached via Uttarkashi; Gangotri itself is a motorable roadhead town (no trek to the temple). Gangotri elevation ~3,100–3,200 m per official sources (Uttarkashi.nic.in lists 3,140/3,200 m); 3,100 m kept as a credible low-end figure. Inter-shrine road distance not sourced to an official figure (the 129/99 km Uttarkashi splits in earlier prose were unverified).

3. 3
   Gangotri → Kedarnath—by road3,583 m

   Road via Rudraprayag or Ukhimath/Gopeshwar to Gaurikund, the final motorable point for Kedarnath. elevation_m here is the Kedarnath temple destination elevation (3,583 m, Wikipedia; UK gov portal lists 3,580 m). Road distance not sourced to an official figure.

4. 4
   Kedarnath (Gaurikund base) → Kedarnath Temple16 kmtrek3,583 m

   Official Uttarakhand government registration portal and current operators state 16 km uphill from Gaurikund on the post-2013-flood rerouted trail (Wikipedia still cites the older 17 km figure — corrected to 16 km per the official .gov source). Trek 6–8 hours on foot; pony and palki for hire; helicopter from Phata/Sersi (short flights) via licensed operators.

5. 5
   Kedarnath → Badrinath—by road3,100 m

   Road from Kedarnath (via Rudraprayag, or via Ukhimath/Gopeshwar) to Badrinath, which is a motorable roadhead town (no trek required). Badrinath elevation 3,100 m confirmed (Wikipedia). Road distance not sourced to an official figure (the 230/243 km figures in earlier prose were unverified).

How to cover it

• foot

  Yamunotri: ~6 km trek from Janki Chatti. Kedarnath: 16 km trek from Gaurikund (6–8 hours). Both walkable for fit pilgrims. Gangotri and Badrinath need no trek.

• pony

  Ponies for hire on the Yamunotri (~6 km) and Kedarnath (16 km from Gaurikund) treks. Local operators at the trailheads; rates vary seasonally and often exceed government-recommended rates.

• palki

  Palanquin / sedan-chair (palki) service available on both the Yamunotri and Kedarnath treks for those unable to walk, manually carried by porters. Demand can exceed supply; arrange ahead in peak season.

• heli

  Helicopter charters to Kedarnath from Phata and Sersi via licensed operators (short, weather-dependent flights). Not available for Yamunotri, Gangotri, or Badrinath, which are reached by road/trek.

• road

  All four shrines have motorable road access to their roadhead. Gangotri and Badrinath are motorable to the temple town; Yamunotri requires a trek from Janki Chatti and Kedarnath a trek from Gaurikund.

What trips pilgrims up

• ⚠Seasonal Closure

  All four shrines close for winter due to heavy snowfall and reopen in spring. The open window runs roughly late April (Akshaya Tritiya — e.g. 19–23 April in 2026) to mid-November (closing around Diwali/Bhai Dooj, e.g. 10–13 November in 2026). Exact dates follow the Hindu calendar and are announced annually (Badrinath dates set by the BKTC). No access during winter closure.

• ⚠Mandatory Registration / Yatra e-Pass

  Registration (yatra e-pass / parchi) is compulsory for all Char Dham pilgrims (mandated by the Uttarakhand government after the 2013 Kedarnath floods). A QR-coded pass must be shown at each shrine's entry point. Badrinath additionally runs a darshan token system (since 2012) with ID proof mandatory and short allocated darshan slots.

• ⚠Kedarnath Trek Weather & Altitude

  The 16 km Gaurikund–Kedarnath trail (temple at 3,583 m) carries risk of altitude sickness, sudden weather, rockfall and snow/landslide zones early and late in the season. Helicopters are frequently grounded by weather; do not rely on them as a guaranteed return.

• ⚠Yamunotri Trek Condition

  The ~6 km Janki Chatti–Yamunotri trek is steep and turns slippery in rain/snow. Pony/palki demand can far exceed supply, so pre-arrange or expect queues. Early-season (late April–May) patches of snow are possible at higher elevations.

• ⚠No Direct Inter-Shrine Trek Connection

  All shrine-to-shrine links are by road. There is no high-altitude trekking route connecting the four shrines; the full circuit requires vehicle transport (private or bus) between Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.

• ⚠Limited Accommodation & Medical Facilities

  Shrine towns (especially Yamunotri and Kedarnath) have sparse lodging (largely ashrams/guesthouses) and only basic medical facilities; serious emergencies on the Kedarnath route may require helicopter evacuation. Plan buffers and carry essential medication.

• ⚠Pony/Palki Overpricing & Scarcity

  Pony and palki hire rates are often charged well above government-recommended rates, and supply can be insufficient in monsoon. Unfit or elderly pilgrims risk being stranded if no animals are available; confirm rates and availability before committing to a trek leg.

Common questions

When is the best time for the Char Dham Yatra?

The best window is May–June, September–October. The route is open April–November.

How do you cover the Char Dham Yatra?

foot: Yamunotri: ~6 km trek from Janki Chatti. Kedarnath: 16 km trek from Gaurikund (6–8 hours). Both walkable for fit pilgrims. Gangotri and Badrinath need no trek. pony: Ponies for hire on the Yamunotri (~6 km) and Kedarnath (16 km from Gaurikund) treks. Local operators at the trailheads; rates vary seasonally and often exceed government-recommended rates. palki: Palanquin / sedan-chair (palki) service available on both the Yamunotri and Kedarnath treks for those unable to walk, manually carried by porters. Demand can exceed supply; arrange ahead in peak season. heli: Helicopter charters to Kedarnath from Phata and Sersi via licensed operators (short, weather-dependent flights). Not available for Yamunotri, Gangotri, or Badrinath, which are reached by road/trek. road: All four shrines have motorable road access to their roadhead. Gangotri and Badrinath are motorable to the temple town; Yamunotri requires a trek from Janki Chatti and Kedarnath a trek from Gaurikund.