Overview
The Char Dham route is a time-honoured pilgrimage circuit through the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, traditionally followed in the sequence Yamunotri → Gangotri → Kedarnath → Badrinath. This west-to-east direction is considered spiritually correct and also geographically logical — as you complete Yamunotri and Gangotri (both in Uttarkashi district) before moving east to Rudraprayag (Kedarnath) and Chamoli (Badrinath).
Starting and ending at Haridwar, the Char Dham Yatra route by road covers approximately 1,100 km over 10–12 days. Add to this the 16 km Gaurikund–Kedarnath trek (or helicopter) and the 6 km Janki Chatti–Yamunotri trek for the complete journey.
| Leg | Route | Distance | Travel Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | Haridwar → Rishikesh | 25 km | 45 min |
| Leg 1 | Rishikesh → Barkot (Yamunotri base) | 185 km | 6–7 hrs |
| Leg 2 | Janki Chatti → Yamunotri Temple | 6 km trek | 3–4 hrs up |
| Leg 3 | Barkot → Uttarkashi (Gangotri base) | 100 km | 3–4 hrs |
| Leg 4 | Uttarkashi → Gangotri Temple | 100 km | 3 hrs (road) |
| Leg 5 | Gangotri → Guptkashi (Kedarnath base) | 230 km | 7–8 hrs via Tehri |
| Leg 6 | Sonprayag → Gaurikund → Kedarnath | 5 km road + 16 km trek | Trek: 6–8 hrs up |
| Leg 7 | Guptkashi → Joshimath (Badrinath base) | 170 km | 5–6 hrs |
| Leg 8 | Joshimath → Badrinath Temple | 45 km | 1.5 hrs (road) |
| Return | Badrinath → Haridwar via Devprayag | 310 km | 9–10 hrs |
| Total | Full circuit (road + trek) | ~1,100 km road + 22 km trek | 10–12 days |
How to Reach
The Char Dham Yatra route from Haridwar is the standard entry point for the pilgrimage. Here is the complete road route with key waypoints:
Day 1 — Haridwar → Barkot (210 km, ~7 hrs):
Haridwar → Rishikesh (25 km, 45 min) → Narendra Nagar → Chamba → Dharasu → Barkot. The route follows the Bhagirathi river valley from Chamba to Dharasu. Barkot is the closest major town to the Yamunotri trailhead.
Day 2 — Barkot → Janki Chatti → Yamunotri (6 km trek):
Barkot → Hanuman Chatti (25 km) → Janki Chatti (3 km) — Yamunotri trek begins here. The trek climbs through dense oak and rhododendron forest to the temple at 3,291 m. Return same day to Janki Chatti / Barkot.
Day 3 — Barkot → Uttarkashi (100 km, ~3.5 hrs):
Return from Barkot via Dharasu → Uttarkashi. Uttarkashi is the district headquarters and the commercial hub before Gangotri. Good accommodation, ATMs and a morning market.
Day 4 — Uttarkashi → Gangotri (100 km, ~3 hrs):
Uttarkashi → Harsil (76 km) → Gangotri (24 km). The road follows the Bhagirathi river gorge through some of the most dramatic Himalayan scenery on the entire circuit. Gangotri temple (3,048 m) is road-accessible — no trek required.
Day 5 — Gangotri → Guptkashi (230 km, ~8 hrs):
The longest driving day. Gangotri → Uttarkashi → Tehri (180 km) → Srinagar Garhwal → Rudraprayag → Guptkashi (50 km). The Tehri reservoir crossing is a highlight. Guptkashi (1,319 m) is the ideal base for Kedarnath — 37 km from Sonprayag.
Day 6 — Guptkashi → Kedarnath (trek or helicopter):
Guptkashi → Sonprayag (35 km, 1 hr) → Gaurikund by shared jeep (5 km) → Kedarnath trek (16 km, 1,600 m elevation gain, 6–8 hrs). Alternatively, helicopter from Phata / Guptkashi / Sirsi (7–10 min flight).
Day 7 — Kedarnath → Guptkashi (return trek + drive):
Early morning darshan at Kedarnath → descend to Gaurikund (5–6 hrs) → Guptkashi. Rest overnight before the long drive to Joshimath.
Day 8 — Guptkashi → Joshimath (170 km, ~5 hrs):
Guptkashi → Rudraprayag → Karnaprayag → Chamoli → Pipalkoti → Joshimath (1,890 m). Joshimath is the last major town before Badrinath and is the winter seat of the Badrinath deity.
Day 9 — Joshimath → Badrinath (45 km, 1.5 hrs):
Joshimath → Govind Ghat → Pandukeshwar → Vishnuprayag → Badrinath (3,133 m). Badrinath temple is road-accessible. The temple faces the majestic Neelkanth peak (6,596 m).
Return — Badrinath → Haridwar (310 km, 9–10 hrs):
Badrinath → Joshimath → Chamoli → Devprayag (where Alaknanda and Bhagirathi merge to form the Ganga) → Rishikesh → Haridwar.
Best Time
Road conditions on the Char Dham Yatra route vary significantly by season:
| Month | Road Condition | Key Route Notes |
|---|---|---|
| May | Good — recently opened after winter | Some snow patches on high sections; check NH-7 near Gangotri |
| June | Good — pre-monsoon roads are best | Ideal driving; watch for pre-monsoon slides near Rudraprayag |
| July–Aug | Risky — frequent closures | Char Dham highway blocked 10–20 days/month on average; keep BRO updates |
| Sep | Excellent | Roads freshly patched after monsoon; smooth driving |
| Oct | Excellent (early) to Difficult (late) | Snow above 3,500 m from mid-October; check Kedarnath access daily |
| Nov | Closing — snow on high routes | Verify closing dates; roads may get snow-blocked after Diwali |
Travel Tips
- Download offline maps: Mobile signal on the Char Dham route is unreliable between Uttarkashi and Gangotri, and on sections of the Rudraprayag–Joshimath highway. Download Google Maps or Maps.me offline before departure.
- Start early each day: Aim to begin driving by 6:00–7:00 AM. Afternoon clouds, mist and sudden rain are common in the mountains — driving in clear morning light is both safer and more scenic.
- Vehicle recommendation: An SUV or Innova handles the mountain roads best. Avoid low-clearance sedans on the Gaurikund approach road. The Kedarnath approach from Sonprayag requires a 4WD shared jeep operated by the local union.
- BRO road updates: Check the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) highway status before entering Uttarkashi → Gangotri section and the Badrinath highway. Rockfall and landslide clearance updates are posted on Twitter/X (@official_BRO).
- Char Dham highway petrol: Fill up your tank in Uttarkashi (before Gangotri), Guptkashi (before Kedarnath approach) and Joshimath (before Badrinath). Petrol pumps after these points are rare or unreliable.
- Sonprayag parking: Private vehicles are NOT allowed beyond Sonprayag toward Gaurikund. Park at Sonprayag and take the local shared jeeps (₹50/person) to Gaurikund.
FAQs
- What is the Char Dham route?
- The Char Dham route is the pilgrimage road circuit through the Garhwal Himalayas, visiting Yamunotri → Gangotri → Kedarnath → Badrinath in west-to-east sequence. Starting from Haridwar, the total route covers ~1,100 km by road plus 22 km of trekking over 10–12 days.
- What is the best route for Char Dham Yatra from Haridwar?
- From Haridwar, the best Char Dham Yatra route is: Haridwar → Barkot (210 km, Day 1) → Yamunotri temple (6 km trek, Day 2) → Uttarkashi (Day 3) → Gangotri (100 km, Day 4) → Guptkashi (230 km, Day 5) → Kedarnath (16 km trek/helicopter, Day 6–7) → Joshimath (Day 8) → Badrinath (45 km, Day 9) → return Haridwar (Day 10–11).
- How many km is the Char Dham Yatra route?
- The Char Dham Yatra route distance from Haridwar and back is approximately 1,100 km by road. This includes all driving legs between dhams and stopovers. Add 22 km of trekking (6 km for Yamunotri + 16 km for Kedarnath). The helicopter option at Kedarnath replaces the 16 km trek.