Uttarakhand, popularly known as Devbhoomi or the “Land of Gods”, is a holy land with an abundance of pilgrimage sites and temples. Spirituality is in its every breath and the entire region vibrates with the music of devotion, chiming of bells, chanting of hymns, and the heartfelt prayers of devotees. Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, are the four holiest pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand, which form the traditional pilgrimage circuit known as “Char Dham Yatra”. Devout pilgrims from all over the world have been visiting these sacred sites for several centuries in search of salvation. Haridwar, “the Gateway to the God”, and Rishikesh, “the Yoga Capital of the World” are the favorite destinations of millions of pilgrims who love beauty and spirituality. Situated in the foothills of the enchanting Himalayas, and dominated by peaks and glaciers, serene valleys, sacred rivers and breathtaking natural beauty, Uttarakhand has been rightly chosen by Gods as their mystical abode.
Here is a comprehensive travel guide for an 11-day spiritual tour to Uttarakhand, which follows the traditional sequence of Char Dham Pilgrimage and covers all major pilgrimage sites of the divine land.
Day 1 : Haridwar
Haridwar is the entry point to the spiritual tour to Uttarakhand. You can reach Haridwar by air, rail or road. Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, located at 35 km from Haridwar, is the nearest airport. Air India, Jet Airways, Spice Jet and Indigo operate daily flights from here to major cities in India. Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi is the nearest international airport. Haridwar railway station has excellent connectivity with major cities in India. From New Delhi, located at a distance of 220 km, Haridwar can be reached by road in less than 6 hours. After arrival in Haridwar, check in at the hotel you have already booked.
Haridwar, which literally means “the Gateway to God”, is regarded as one of the seven most sacred places every Hindu should visit. Kumbha Mela festival, the largest religious gathering in the world, is held here in every twelve years. This holy land is dotted with several famous temples and pilgrimage spots. You must visit Har ki Pauri (“footsteps of the Lord”), which is the most sacred Ghat of Haridwar, and have a holy bath that will rejuvenate your body and soul. Other sacred places include the famous Mansa Devi Temple, Chandi Devi Temple, Daksha Mahadev Temple, Bharat Mahadev Temple, Doodhari Temple, Brahma Kund, etc. The Ganga Aarti ritual in the evening is an important ceremony you should not miss.
Day 2 : Barkot
In the early morning, proceed to Barkot, which is a beautiful location and a popular stopover on the way to Yamunotri. If necessary, you can hire a cab for your entire tour through an approved tour operator in Haridwar. Barkot is located at a distance of 215 km from Haridwar, which requires about 7 hours travel time. However, depending on the road condition and weather, you may reach Barkot only by late afternoon or evening.
On reaching Barkot, check in at the hotel and relax. Before going to sleep, prepare mentally for the next day’s trekking to Yamunotri.
Day 3 : Yamunotri
In the early morning, drive from Barkot to Janki Chatti (35 km), which will take two hours. From Janki Chatti, you have to trek 7 km to reach Yamunotri Temple. The trekking route is steep and narrow. It is one of the toughest treks and is usually crowded with pilgrims and horses. After 3-4 hours trekking, you will reach the temple. Yamunotri, the source of River Yamuna and dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, is located at 3300 m above sea level. It is renowned for a number of hot water springs (Kunds) and glaciers. Surya Kund and Divya Shila are the major attractions.
After a holy dip in the hot spring, perform puja to Divya Shila and have darshan of Yamunaji in the sacred shrine. You can cook rice by packing rice in cloth and dipping in the hot water of the Garam Kund, which can be taken as Prasad. After completing the rituals, trek down to Janki Chatti and return to Barkot. Stay overnight in the hotel.
Day 4 : Uttarkashi
In the morning, proceed to Uttarkashi. Uttarkashi, which literally means, “Kashi of North”, is situated on the banks of River Bhagirathi, at a distance of 100 km from Barkot. En route you can watch several attractions, including Prakateshwar caves dedicated to Lord Shiva.
After reaching Uttarkashi, check in at the hotel and relax. In the evening you can visit the famous Lord Vishwanath Temple. There are several smaller shrines in Uttarkashi dedicated to Bhairav, Parashuram, Dattatreya, Annapurna, Laksheshwar and Ekadashrudra. Stay overnight in the hotel.
Day 5 : Gangotri
Gangotri, the source of River Ganga and dedicated to Goddess Ganga, is the next destination. This 18th century temple built by Gorkha General Amar Singh is situated on the right bank of River Bhagirathi at an elevation of 3200 m above sea level. There is a Shivaling of natural rock submerged in the river, which is believed to be the spot where Ganga came down to earth subsequent to King Bhagiratha’s efforts.
Gangotri is located at a distance of 100 km from Uttarkashi. If you start in the early morning, you can reach there by noon. After taking a holy dip in River Bhagirathi, have darshan in the sacred shrine. Visit Pandava Gufa (Caves) by trekking 1.5 km. It is believed that Pandavas meditated here on their way to Kailash. Relax in the mystic surroundings and return to Uttarkashi in the evening. Stay overnight in the hotel.
Day 6 : Guptakashi
Guptakashi is a place of great religious significance, which has mention in the epic Mahabharata. It is located 225 km away from Uttarkashi, at the confluence of the two holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna.
Proceed to Guptakashi in the early morning and you will reach there by late afternoon. Check in at the hotel and after relaxing for a while, visit the famous Vishwanath Temple, Ardh Narishwar Temple and Manikarnik Kund. Stay overnight in the hotel.
Day 7 : Kedarnath
Kedarnath Temple is situated at 3584 m above sea level in a breathtaking location surrounded by snow- capped peaks of Himalayas. It is one of the twelve Jyothirlingas of Lord Shiva. This sacred shrine, built by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century, is located near an earlier temple, which is believed to be built by Pandavas.
In the early morning, drive from Guptakashi to Gaurikund, which is at a distance of 30 km. The 16 km trekking to Kedarnath Temple begins from Gaurikund. This is a new route and lengthy. The old route was washed away in the recent floods in 2013. It is a tough trekking route you can conquer by foot, Doli or Horse. You will reach Kedarnath by evening. No hotel accommodation is available near Kedarnath Temple. The only staying option is the tented accommodation provided by the Uttarakhand government. You can find a large number of devotees for darshan. It is such a mystical and enchanting place that you will hesitate to return from there. After having the darshan, stay overnight in the tented accommodation.
Another option is to go to Kedarnath by helicopter from Fata Helipad near Gaurikund, in which case you can complete the Darshan and return in the afternoon. However, in the helicopter journey you will miss the thrill of trekking and the vibrations of spirituality.
Day 8 : Rudraprayag
After having morning darshan in the Kedarnath temple, trek down to Gaurikund. From Gaurikund, proceed to Rudraprayag, which is a small town of great religious significance located at the confluence of River Alaknanda and River Mandakini, at a distance of 80 km from Gaurikund. It is a perfect stopover on the way to Badrinath. Check in the hotel at Rudraprayag and stay overnight.
Day 9 : Badrinath
In the early morning, proceed to Badrinath, which is at a distance of 160 km from Rudraprayag. Badrinath is located at 3133 m above sea level, and is enclosed by two mountain ranges Nar and Narayan in the wonderful backdrop of Neelkantha peak. It is regarded as the holiest of all the four temples in the Char Dham pilgrimage. Situated on the banks of River Alaknanda, it was once covered with ‘badris’ (wild berries) and was known as Badri Van. Lord Vishnu is the presiding deity. Other deities include Lakshmi, Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and Garuda. Tapt Kund is a natural hot spring, where one should take bath before entering the Badrinath Temple. Other sacred places include Narad Kund, Mata Murty Temple, Mana Village, Bhim Pul, Charan Paduka, Vyas Gufa (Caves), Brahma Kapal, Shesh Netra, etc.
On reaching Badrinath by afternoon, check in the hotel and relax for a while. Later, take a dip in the Tapt Kund and have the holy darshan in the Badrinath shrine. Visit other temples and sacred places with a heart full of devotion and prayers. Stay overnight in the hotel.
Day 10 : Srinagar
In the morning take a holy dip in Tapt Kund and have darshan in the Badrinath temple before starting the return journey. Proceed towards Srinagar Garhwal, which is at about 190 km from Badrinath, via Joshimath. For the pilgrims undertaking Uttarakhand tour, Srinagar is the perfect place for relaxing a night during a long journey between Badrinath and Rishikesh. You will reach Srinagar by late evening. Check in the hotel and stay overnight.
Day 11 : Rishikesh
In the early morning take bath and have darshan at Shankarmath Temple and Kamaleshwar Mahadev Temple in Srinagar. Then proceed to Rishikesh, the final destination of this spiritual tour. Rishikesh, renowned as the “Yoga capital of the world” is located on the banks of River Ganga at a distance of 108 km from Srinagar. This holy town is internationally famous for yoga and meditation.
After reaching Rishikesh, check in at the hotel and relax for a while. You can spend the day by visiting temples and sacred places. Triveni Ghat, Shivanand Ashram, Ram Jhulla, Laxman Jhulla, Bharath Temple, Shatrughnan Temple, Vashisht Gufa (caves), etc., are some popular places you must visit in Rishikesh. Don’t miss the evening Aarati in Triveni Ghat, which is a colorful ceremony of glowing lamps. Stay overnight in the hotel.
Day 12 : End of the Tour
The tour ends now. You can proceed to Haridwar railway station (25 km) or Jolly Grant airport Dehradun (15 km) for your onward journey.
When to Visit
Due to fatal landslides and extreme weather conditions, the spiritual tour to Uttarakhand, especially the Char Dham Yatra, is allowed only from May to November every year. May and June are the peak time. It is advised to avoid monsoon season, from July to September.
How to Plan Your Tour
You can plan your tour through an approved tour operator who will take care of everything including accommodation, transportation, etc., so that you can enjoy the trip without any stress.
Alternatively, instead of depending on a tour operator, you can plan and manage everything by yourself. You must book hotel rooms in advance, as per your choice, to avoid the last-minute crisis. You can drive your own vehicle or hire a vehicle from your home town or from Haridwar.
Important Tips
1. The journey involves difficult trekking through rugged terrains and high mountains. So, before undertaking the journey, make sure that you are physically and mentally fit. 2. Carry warm clothes, sweaters, caps, muffler, rain coats, blankets, sleeping bags, water-proof shoes, torch, etc. 3. Ladies are advised to wear salwar kameez or pants instead of saris.4. Carry First Aid box and personal medical kit.5. Carry dry fruits, biscuits, chocolates, tinned foods and water bottles.6. Travel in group with your friends or relatives. They will be helpful in difficult situations.
