Char Dham Yatra

चरण-दर-चरण दूरियाँ

1. 1
   Haridwar → Yamunotri—सड़क3,291 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—सड़क3,100 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—सड़क3,583 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 किमीट्रेक3,583 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—सड़क3,100 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).

पहुँचने के तरीके

• 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.

किन बातों का ध्यान रखें

• ⚠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.

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

Char Dham Yatra के लिए सबसे अच्छा समय?

सबसे अच्छा समय मई–जून, सितंबर–अक्टूबर। मार्ग खुला रहता है: अप्रैल–नवंबर।

Char Dham Yatra कैसे तय करें?

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.