The Char Dham Yatra—Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath—is the Himalaya’s most storied pilgrimage circuit. For centuries, devotees have climbed through deodar forests and glacier-fed valleys to pay respects at these source temples of India’s great rivers. This 7-day itinerary balances devotion with practicality, using smart staging towns, early starts, and a Kedarnath helicopter option to keep the pace humane.

Expect legendary aartis along the Ganga, apple orchards in Harsil, and the hush of high-altitude stone shrines ringed by snow peaks. You’ll trace confluences like Devprayag and Rudraprayag, cross switchbacks carved into cliffs, and sample wholesome satvik meals in tiny mountain bhojanalayas. It’s both a spiritual route and one of India’s most dramatic road trips.

Practical notes: the Char Dham season typically runs late April/May through Oct/Nov; monsoon (Jul–Aug) brings landslide risks and longer drive times. Biometric/epass registration with Uttarakhand Tourism is mandatory (free) and checked en route; carry ID. Altitude is significant at Kedarnath (~3,583 m) and Badrinath (~3,300 m)—hydrate, pace yourself, and consult a doctor if you have cardiac or respiratory concerns.

Rishikesh

Gateway to Garhwal, Rishikesh blends ashrams and adventure. Yogis chant by dawn; by afternoon, cafes buzz above the Ganga. It’s the perfect launchpad: stock up on essentials, register for the yatra, and ease into the mountains with a soul-steadying aarti.

• Top sights: Triveni Ghat aarti, Ram/Lakshman Jhula promenades, Beatles Ashram murals, riverside ghats.
• Eat & drink: Chotiwala (classic satvik thalis since the 1950s); 60’s Beatles Cafe (Tapovan; river views, veg pastas & pahadi platters); Pumpernickel German Bakery (breads, coffee, cinnamon rolls); Little Buddha Cafe (casual veg fare with a view).
• Stay: Browse riverside and Tapovan stays on Hotels.com Rishikesh or apartments on VRBO Rishikesh.
• Getting in: Fly into Dehradun (DED); search fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Trains from Delhi to Haridwar/Rishikesh take ~4.5–6 hrs; check schedules on Trip.com Trains.

Barkot (Yamunotri Base)

Set above the Yamuna valley, Barkot is your springboard to Yamunotri via Janki Chatti. Expect crisp mornings, cedar scent, and simple, pilgrim-friendly stays.

• Highlights: Scenic drive via Mussoorie and Kempty Falls; day trek to Yamunotri with hot springs at Surya Kund.
• Food: Keep it light—parathas, khichdi, chai—at local bhojanalayas. Many hotels/GMVN canteens serve early breakfasts and packed lunches for the trek.
• Stay: Compare options on Hotels.com Barkot and VRBO Barkot.

Uttarkashi (Gangotri Base)

A river town wrapped around the Bhagirathi, Uttarkashi anchors the Gangotri leg. Stock up, tune into temple bells, and rest well before the high road to Gangotri.

• Highlights: Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Garhwal), day trip to Gangotri via Harsil and Dharali apple orchards.
• Eat: Simple vegetarian thalis at lodge restaurants; look for fresh rotis, seasonal sabzi, and hot jalebis in the bazaar.
• Stay: See Hotels.com Uttarkashi or VRBO Uttarkashi.

Guptkashi (Kedarnath Base)

Guptkashi, with views toward Chaukhamba, is the logistical base for Kedarnath. Helipads at Phata/Sersi/Guptkashi help you save time; otherwise, the trek begins at Gaurikund.

• Highlights: Kedarnath helicopter option (report 1–1.5 hrs prior; weather dependent; typical round trip INR ~7,000–9,500 pp as of 2024–25), shuttle to Gaurikund, thermal soak at Gaurikund (check local advisories).
• Eat: North Indian veg plates, rajma-chawal, and steaming momos in Guptkashi/Sonprayag market; most better hotels have reliable in-house kitchens.
• Stay: Browse Hotels.com Guptkashi and VRBO Guptkashi.

Joshimath (Badrinath Base)

Joshimath is the staging ground for Badrinath and Auli. Morning light paints the Alaknanda valley gold here, and road conditions onward are closely monitored—start early.

• Highlights: Shankaracharya Math, views toward Nanda Devi, day trip to Badrinath and Mana (India’s “last village”).
• Eat: The Tattva (rooftop vibes, North Indian and Himalayan staples); local Tibetan stalls for momos and thukpa; simple satvik canteens near the bus stand.
• Stay: Check Hotels.com Joshimath and VRBO Joshimath.

Day 1: Arrive Dehradun — Rishikesh

Morning: Fly into Dehradun (Jolly Grant Airport). Search fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Transfer 45–60 minutes to Rishikesh by taxi. Check into a riverside hotel via Hotels.com.

Afternoon: Complete Char Dham registration at a city counter (carry passport/ID). Stroll Ram/Lakshman Jhula; sip coffee and share a cinnamon roll at Pumpernickel German Bakery. Pick up altitude meds/snacks/water.

Evening: Attend the Triveni Ghat or Parmarth Niketan aarti—diyas drifting on the Ganga are unforgettable. Dinner at Chotiwala (classic satvik thali; ask for ghee-light options) or The Sitting Elephant (Ganga-facing Indian plates). Early night.

Day 2: Rishikesh to Barkot (via Mussoorie) — Stage for Yamunotri

Morning: Breakfast at 60’s Beatles Cafe (pahadi breakfast platter, masala chai). Depart by 7:00 a.m. for Barkot via Mussoorie/Kempty Falls. Drive time: 6–7.5 hrs (170–190 km), mountain roads with photo stops. Private SUV with driver typically INR 4,500–6,000/day inclusive of driver allowance (fuel/tolls extra).

Afternoon: Arrive Barkot. Check in (see Hotels.com Barkot). Light lunch at your lodge canteen—keep meals simple before altitude. Collect poncho, walking stick, and glucose for tomorrow’s trek.

Evening: Sunset walk through pine-scented lanes. Early dinner (dal–rice, veg curry) and turn in by 9 p.m. for a pre-dawn start.

Day 3: Yamunotri Darshan — Drive to Uttarkashi

Morning: Depart 5:00 a.m. to Janki Chatti (45 km; ~1.5–2 hrs). Trek 5–6 km (moderate; 2–3 hrs one-way) to Yamunotri. Options: pony (~INR 2,500–4,000), palanquin (~INR 8,000–12,000), or porter/pithu (~INR 1,500–2,500). Darshan at Yamunotri Temple; dip feet near Surya Kund hot springs and try prasad cooked in the kund.

Afternoon: Descend to Janki Chatti (1.5–2 hrs). Late lunch at a simple dhaba (fresh rotis, alu–jeera). Drive onward to Uttarkashi (82 km; ~3–4 hrs) to save tomorrow’s time.

Evening: Check into Uttarkashi (see Hotels.com Uttarkashi). Stroll the riverside. Dinner at your lodge restaurant—ask for hot soup and light satvik fare. Sleep early.

Day 4: Gangotri Day Trip — Return to Uttarkashi

Morning: Leave by 5:30–6:00 a.m. for Gangotri (100 km; ~3–4 hrs). The drive via Harsil valley is one of the Himalaya’s most beautiful—apple orchards, deodar forests, turquoise Bhagirathi. Darshan at Gangotri Temple; visit Surya Kund and the holy rock of Bhagirath Shila.

Afternoon: Simple lunch at GMVN canteen or a clean dhaba (rajma-chawal is a favorite). Return to Uttarkashi with a tea stop in Dharali/Harsil. Consider a brief visit to Uttarkashi’s Kashi Vishwanath Temple on the way back.

Evening: Early dinner and gear check. Tomorrow is a long transfer day; pack snacks, ORS, and a warm layer in your daypack.

Day 5: Uttarkashi to Guptkashi — Long Mountain Transfer

Morning: Depart by 6:00 a.m. for Guptkashi (220–250 km; ~8–10 hrs depending on traffic/road works). The route traces confluences: Devprayag (Bhagirathi + Alaknanda = Ganga), Rudraprayag, and Karnaprayag—each worth a quick photo stop.

Afternoon: Lunch at a clean highway restaurant around Srinagar (Garhwal) or Rudraprayag—go for dal-tadka, veg pulao, and curd. Continue to Guptkashi/Sitapur; confirm tomorrow’s helicopter slot or plan for the Gaurikund trek logistics.

Evening: Check into Guptkashi (see Hotels.com Guptkashi). Dinner at your hotel (ask for hot ginger-lemon-honey) and lights out. Pack rain shell and warm cap for Kedarnath—weather changes quickly.

Day 6: Kedarnath Darshan — Drive to Joshimath

Morning: If flying: report to Phata/Sersi/Guptkashi helipad 60–90 mins before slot; the hop to Kedarnath is ~7–10 minutes one-way. Expect queue time in the temple complex; plan 3–5 hrs total including buffers. If trekking: shuttle to Gaurikund, then 16–18 km trek (many pilgrims split this with an overnight—if you trek both ways same day, start pre-dawn and consider pony/palanquin).

Afternoon: After darshan, visit Bhairavnath Temple (short uphill walk if time permits) and view the Mandakini valley. Fly/descend back to base by early afternoon. Depart for Joshimath (~5–6 hrs via Rudraprayag–Karnaprayag–Chamoli). Keep snacks and water handy.

Evening: Check into Joshimath (see Hotels.com Joshimath). Dinner at The Tattva (North Indian and Himalayan dishes; warm dining room). Early to bed for a pre-dawn Badrinath run.

Day 7: Badrinath Darshan — Return toward Dehradun

Morning: Depart 4:30–5:00 a.m. for Badrinath (45 km; ~1.5–2 hrs). Darshan at Badrinath Temple; offer prayers at the Tapt Kund (hot springs; observe current safety notices). If time allows, a quick detour to Mana village for views of the Saraswati River and “Bheem Pul.”

Afternoon: Drive back to Joshimath by late morning, then continue toward Rishikesh/Dehradun (~8–9 hrs; mountain traffic varies). For tighter schedules, consider arranging a helicopter shuttle from Badrinath/Joshimath to Dehradun (charter services operate seasonally; weather dependent). Aim for a late-afternoon/evening departure from Dehradun—search flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Evening: If staying the night near Rishikesh/Haridwar instead of flying today, treat yourself to a farewell Ganga-side dinner—Little Buddha Cafe in Rishikesh or Hoshiyar Puri in Haridwar (crispy pooris, kadhi, lassi)—and depart the following day.

Practical Tips, Costs, and Seasonal Advice

• Best season: May–June and Sep–Oct. Monsoon (Jul–Aug) brings rain/landslides; winters see temple closures.
• Transport budget: Private SUV with driver for 7 days typically INR 35,000–55,000 plus tolls/parking; confirm inclusions (fuel/driver stay). Always start before dawn on long legs.
• Kedarnath helicopter: Round-trip fares commonly INR 7,000–9,500 per person as of 2024–25; timings are weather/ATC dependent—build buffers.
• Health & altitude: Stay hydrated, avoid alcohol, and eat light. Carry a basic kit (Diamox if prescribed, ORS, paracetamol, bandages). Seniors may prefer pony/palanquin on Yamunotri/Kedarnath routes.
• Registration & checks: Keep epass printout/digital copy and ID handy—there are multiple checkpoints.
• Food: Expect predominantly vegetarian satvik fare. Safe bets: hotel canteens, GMVN eateries, busy highway dhabas. Carry nuts, dates, and chocolates for quick energy.

With dawn starts, strategic overnights, and a helicopter assist to Kedarnath, this 7-day Char Dham Yatra captures all four dhams without rushing the reverence. Expect mountain drama, old-world hospitality, and ritual moments you’ll remember long after the road unwinds.