Overview
The Char Dham map shows four sacred temples distributed across the high-altitude Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, ranging from 3,048 m (Gangotri) to 3,583 m (Kedarnath). On a map, the four dhams form a rough east–west arc spanning approximately 160 km from Yamunotri in the west to Badrinath in the east.
All four dhams sit in the headwater zones of major Himalayan rivers — Yamunotri at the source of the Yamuna, Gangotri near the Gaumukh glacier (source of the Ganga), Kedarnath on the Mandakini headwaters and Badrinath on the Alaknanda river.
| Dham | GPS Coordinates | Altitude | District | River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamunotri | 30.9765°N, 78.4575°E | 3,291 m | Uttarkashi | Yamuna (source) |
| Gangotri | 30.9937°N, 78.9393°E | 3,048 m | Uttarkashi | Bhagirathi/Ganga |
| Kedarnath | 30.7352°N, 79.0669°E | 3,583 m | Rudraprayag | Mandakini |
| Badrinath | 30.7433°N, 79.4931°E | 3,133 m | Chamoli | Alaknanda |
The Char Dham map route by road does not form a straight line — it dips south after Gangotri (via Tehri dam and Rudraprayag) before climbing north again to Kedarnath, then continues northeast along the Alaknanda valley to Badrinath. This S-curve is due to the deep Himalayan gorges that prevent a more direct mountain road.
How to Reach
Understanding the Char Dham map helps plan the route logically. Key road junctions to locate on any map:
- Haridwar (gateway) — NH-58 / NH-334 junction at the base of the Himalayan foothills
- Rishikesh (25 km from Haridwar) — the road splits here toward Tehri/Barkot (northwest) or Devprayag/Rudraprayag (northeast)
- Dharasu (130 km from Rishikesh) — T-junction where the road splits left to Barkot/Yamunotri and right to Uttarkashi/Gangotri
- Uttarkashi — district HQ, base for Gangotri; also where NH-108 goes south to Tehri
- Rudraprayag — confluence of Mandakini and Alaknanda; NH-7 continues north to Kedarnath side, NH-58 east to Badrinath
- Joshimath — last major town before Badrinath, also winter base of Badri deity
Distances between Char Dhams (road km):
| From | To | Road Distance | Drive Time | Route via |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haridwar | Yamunotri (Janki Chatti) | 210 km | 7–8 hrs | Rishikesh → Chamba → Barkot |
| Yamunotri base | Gangotri | 160 km | 5–6 hrs | Barkot → Dharasu → Uttarkashi → Gangotri |
| Gangotri | Kedarnath (Guptkashi) | 230 km | 7–8 hrs | Uttarkashi → Tehri → Srinagar → Rudraprayag → Guptkashi |
| Kedarnath base | Badrinath | 220 km | 6–7 hrs | Guptkashi → Rudraprayag → Chamoli → Joshimath → Badrinath |
| Badrinath | Haridwar (return) | 310 km | 9–10 hrs | Joshimath → Chamoli → Devprayag → Rishikesh → Haridwar |
Best Time
From a Char Dham map and route accessibility perspective:
- May–June: All roads open post-winter. The Gangotri highway (NH-108) may have early-season debris; the Badrinath highway is usually clear by the temple opening date.
- July–August: Monsoon causes frequent rockfalls and road blockages on the NH-94 between Rudraprayag and Joshimath (Badrinath highway) and on the Gangotri road. Real-time BRO updates essential.
- September–October: Best road conditions of the year. Clear visibility for aerial views; all four dhams accessible without route uncertainty.
Travel Tips
- Use Google Maps offline: Download the Uttarakhand region offline in Google Maps before departure. Areas between Uttarkashi and Gangotri, and the Kedarnath side roads, have no signal.
- Key checkpoints on the map: Sonprayag (last point before Gaurikund — private vehicles not allowed beyond), Phata/Sirsi/Guptkashi (helicopter boarding points for Kedarnath), and Badrinath check-dam (pilgrim ID check point).
- Helicopter visible on map: Kedarnath helicopter operates between Phata helipad (30.4948°N, 79.0156°E) and Kedarnath helipad (30.7358°N, 79.0671°E) — just minutes apart by air but 16 km trek or 2 hours by mule on foot.
- Panch Prayag on the return route: On the return map leg (Badrinath → Haridwar), all five Panch Prayag (river confluences) are on the route — Vishnuprayag, Nandaprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag and Devprayag. Factor in 30-minute stops at each if interested.
FAQs
- Where are the Char Dhams located on a map?
- On the Char Dham map, the four shrines are in Uttarakhand's Garhwal division: Yamunotri (30.98°N, 78.46°E, Uttarkashi district), Gangotri (30.99°N, 78.94°E, Uttarkashi), Kedarnath (30.74°N, 79.07°E, Rudraprayag) and Badrinath (30.74°N, 79.49°E, Chamoli). They form a west-to-east arc across the high Himalayas.
- Which is the best time to visit as per the map route?
- September–October is best for driving the Char Dham map route — post-monsoon roads are clear and well-maintained, all four dhams are accessible and Himalayan visibility is at its finest. May–June is also good (opening season) but roads may be busier.
- How far are the Char Dhams from each other?
- On the Char Dham Yatra map: Yamunotri to Gangotri is ~160 km by road. Gangotri to Kedarnath base (Guptkashi) is ~230 km. Kedarnath to Badrinath is ~220 km. The full circuit from Haridwar and back covers approximately 1,100 km by road.