Chardham is famous four most holy pilgrimages of India – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Sri Kedarnath Ji and Sri Badrinath Ji, collectively referred to as the Char Dham ( or four pilgrimage centers) of Hinduism. For centuries, saints and pilgrims, in their search for the divine, have walked these mystical vales known in ancient Hindu scriptures as ‘Kedarkhand’. If the scriptures of Hindu religion are to be believed, the holy centers of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath – collectively called the Chardham (meaning four sacred spots) – are the most sacred of all pilgrimages.

Overview

Itinerary

Day 01: Delhi – Haridwar (210 kms/6hrs)
Arrival Delhi Airport/Railway Station, Meet & Assist further drive to Haridwar. Arrive and check into your Hotel. Visit Har-ki-Pauri for Ganga Aarti in evening. Back to your hotel, Night halt.

Haridwar: Haridwar, lying at the feet of Shiva’s hills, i.e., Shivalik, in the Haridwar district of Uttaranchal Pradesh, is a doorway to Chardham Yatra. The ‘Aarti’ worship of the Ganga after sunset and the floating ‘dia’ (lamp) is a moving ritual. “

Day 02: Haridwar – Barkot (220kms/7hr)
Drive to Barkot via Dehradun & Mussoorie. Enroute visit Kempty Fall and later drive straight to your Hotel for overnight stay.

Day 03: Barkot – Yamunotri – Barkot [36kms drive & 7kms Trek (one side)]
Drive to Hanuman Chatti, from here you have to take local jeeps for Janki chatti (It helps to reduce the trek up to 8 kms). Trek to Yamunotri start from Janki Chatti (6kms). One can walk uphill (6 km) or hire horse or Doli at his own cost. Upon arrival in Yamunotri, One can cook rice by packing it in a cloth and dipping it in the hot water of the hot kund. Pilgrims take this cooked rice home as “Prasad”. Near the temple “Pooja” can be offered to Divya Shila, After taking bath in Jamunabai Kund’s warm water and having “Darshan” of pious “Yamuna ji” returning to Hanuman chatti. Later drive back to Barkot. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Hanuman Chatti: The confluence of Hanuman Ganga & Yamuna River.

Yamunotri Temple: Maharani Gularia of Jaipur built the temple in the 19th Century. It was destroyed twice in the present century and rebuilt again.

Surya Kund: There are a Number of thermal springs in the vicinity of the temple, which flows into numerous pools. The most important of these is Surya Kund.

Divya Shila: A rock pillar, worshipped before entering the Yamunotri Temple.

Day 04: Barkot – Uttarkashi (100kms/4hr)
Drive to Uttarkashi via Barkot. Check in Hotel, Later visit Vishwanath Temple. Night Halt. Uttarkashi: Situated at the bank of river Bhagirathi. The temple of Lord Vishwanath is located here where a massive iron trident is erected. The other important temples situated here are Ekadash Rudra, Bhairav, Gyaneshwar and Goddess Kuteti Devi.

Day 05: Uttarkashi – Gangotri – Uttarkashi (100kms/3hr each side)
We proceed to Gangotri (3048 mts), enroute we enjoy picturesque Harsil village, Bhagirathi River and the most magnificent view of the Himalayas. After Gangotri Darshan we return to Uttarkashi. Overnight stay at Uttarkashi.

Gangotri Temple: The temple, constructed by the Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa in the 18th Century, is situated on the right bank of Bhagirathi.

Submerged Shivling: Submerged in the river, this natural rock Shivling is the place where, according to mythology Lord Shiva sat when he received the Ganga in his matted lock. It is visible in winter months when water level decreases.

Kedar Ganga Sangam: Around 100 Yards from the Ganga Temple flows the river Kedar Ganga. Starting from the Kedar Valley, this river meets the Bhagirathi on its left bank.

Day 06: Uttarkashi – Guptkashi (210 kms/7hr)
Early morning, drive to Guptkashi via Srinagar and Rudraprayag. Check in Hotel, night halt. Day 07: Guptkashi – Kedarnath (45kms by road & 14kms Trek) Morning drive to Gaurikund, Trek start from Gaurikund to Kedarnath (3584 mts.) on foot or by pony / Doli. Tour members should carry personal medicines, heavy woolen, toiletries and clothes for an overnight halt at Kedarnath. Check in Hotel. Later visit Kedarnath Temple. Night halt.

Gaurikund: At a distance of 5kms from Sonprayag and at an altitude of 1982 meters. One can take bath in the hot water pond here and visit the Gauri Temple. This is the place where Goddess Parvathi meditated to attain Lord Shiva. It is the base for a trek to Kedarnath.

Kedarnath: The Kedarnath shrine, one of the 12 jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, is a scenic spot situated, against the backdrop of the majestic Kedarnath range. Kedar is another name of Lord Shiva, the protector and the destroyer. According to legend, the Pandavas after having won over the Kaurava in the Kurukshetra war, felt guilty of having killed their own brothers and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. He eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being followed he dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four other places and are worshipped there as his manifestations. The arms appeared at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at Madhmaheshwar and his locks (hair) with head at Kalpeshwar. Kedarnath and the four above mentioned shrines are treated as Panch Kedar.

Day 08: Kedarnath – Guptkashi (14Kms Down Trek & 45kms/ 2hr by Road)
Early morning, after Temple Darshan trek down to Gaurikund. Later, drive to Guptkashi. Check in Hotel at Guptkashi. Night Halt.

Day 09: Guptkashi – Badrinath (200 kms / 8hr)
Drive to Badrinath via Joshimath. Check in Hotel. Later at evening visit Badrinath Temple for Aarti. Overnight stay.

Badrinath: one of the ‘Four Dhams’ and one of the most celebrated pilgrimage spots of the country and is situated at an elevation of 3,133 meters, guarded on either side by the two mountain ranges known as Nar & Narayan with the towering Neelkanth Peak providing a splendid backdrop. This revered spot was once carpeted with wild berries. Thus the place got the name “Badri van”, meaning “forest of berries”.

Tapt Kund: Natural thermal springs on the bank of the river Alaknanda, where it is customary to bathe before entering the Badrinath temple.

Narad Kund: A recess in the river, near Tapt Kund, forming a pool from where the Badrinath idol was recovered.

Brahama Kapal: A flat platform on the bank of river Alaknanda. Hindus perform propitiating rites for their deceased ancestors.

Sheshnetra : 1.5kms. away is a boulder having an impression of the legendary serpent, better known as the Sheshnag’s eye.

Charanpaduka: 3kms. away is a beautiful meadow where the footprint of Lord Vishnu is seen on a boulder.

Mata Murty Temple: Devoted to the mother of Sri Badrinath ji. Other important temples include Sesh Netra Temple, Urvashi Temple and Charanpaduka.

Mana Village: Inhabited by an Indo-Mongolian tribe, it is the last Indian village before Tibet.

Vasundhara: As the name suggests, vasundhara is a magnificent water fall. This place is 5 kms. from Badrinath out of which 2 kms. is motorable upto Mana.

Bhim Pul: On the other side of Mana village, a massive rock forming a natural bridge, lies over the roaring Saraswati river. It presents a spectacular view of water thundering down through the narrow passage under the rock and is believed to have been placed there by Bhim, the second eldest among the five Pandava brothers.

Vyas Gufa (cave : Near Mana Village, this is a rock-cave where Ved Vyas is believed to have composed the Mahabharata and the pauranic commentaries.

Day 10: Badrinath – Rudraprayag/ Srinagar (7hr)
Early morning, pilgrims after having a bath in the Tapt kund have the Darshan of Badri vishal. Brahama kapal is significant for Pinddan Shraddh of ancestors (Pitrus). There are other interesting sightseeing spot like Mana, Vyas Gufa, Maatamoorti, Charanpaduka, Bhim kund and the “Mukh” of the Saraswati River. Just within the three kms of Badrinath ji. Later drive back to Rudrapryag. Check in Hotel. Overnight stay at Rudrapryag.

Joshimath: is situated on the slopes above the confluence of Alaknanda and Dhauli Ganga. Of the four ‘Maths’ established by Adi Sankarcharya, Joshimath is in the Badrinath to Joshimath and installed in the temple for people to worship. There are many temples in the township most important is the temple of Nir Singh in commotion of Lord Vishnu. The left arm of this deity is with time and the popular belief holds that the Day the arm completely withers Badrinath valley will cease to exist and the Gods will transfer the residence into the neighboring Niti Valley at Bhavishya Badri. Joshimath is connected by regular bus service to Rishikesh, Haridwar, Badrinath and many other centres in the region.

Day 11: Srinagar – Devprayag-Rishikesh (120Kms).
Early morning, visit Narsingh Temple & Sankarcharya Math. Later, Drive back to Rishikesh. Check in Hotel. Overnight stay.

Rishikesh: the ‘place of sages’ is a celebrated spiritual town on the bank of Ganga and is surrounded by Shivalik range of the Himalayas on three sides. It is said that when Raibhya Rishi did hard penances, God appeared by the name of “HRishikesh” and this area hence firth came to be known as Rishikesh.

Temples & Sight Seeing: Laxman Jhula, Ram Jhula, Triveni Ghat, Bharat Mandir, Shivananda Ashram, Parmarth Ashram.

Day 12: Rishikesh – Hardwar – Delhi (230kms/7hr)
Drive back to Delhi. On Arr. Delhi, transfer to Railway Station / Airport. Tour Terminate.