The Char Dham Yatra visits four sacred shrines high in the Garhwal Himalayas, each dedicated to a different deity and set in its own dramatic landscape. Here's what makes each of the four dhams special.
Traditionally done from west to east - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, then Badrinath - the Char Dham (“four abodes”) is one of Hinduism''s holiest circuits. Each dham has its own deity, its own trek and its own character. Here''s a shrine-by-shrine guide.
1. Yamunotri - source of the Yamuna
The first dham, dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, sits at about 3,290 m. From the roadhead at Janki Chatti it''s a roughly 6 km trek (or pony/palki) to the temple. Pilgrims cook rice and potatoes in the boiling Surya Kund hot spring to offer as prasad, and bathe in the warm Divya Shila waters before darshan.
2. Gangotri - source of the Ganga
Dedicated to Goddess Ganga, Gangotri (about 3,100 m) is the easiest of the four - the temple sits right by the road, so no trek is needed. The setting, where the Bhagirathi river rushes past the white temple, is serene. The actual glacial source, Gaumukh, is a separate 18 km trek for the adventurous.
3. Kedarnath - the abode of Shiva
The most demanding and, for many, the most powerful dham. Dedicated to Lord Shiva (one of the twelve Jyotirlingas), the ancient stone temple stands at about 3,583 m against a wall of snow peaks. Reaching it means a 16–18 km trek from Gaurikund - on foot, by pony/palki, or by helicopter from Phata/Sersi/Guptkashi for those short on time or fitness.
Standing before the Kedarnath temple at dawn, with the Himalayas glowing pink behind it, is a moment pilgrims remember for life.
4. Badrinath - the abode of Vishnu
The final dham, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is the most accessible - the brightly painted temple is right by the road at about 3,133 m, near the last Indian village of Mana. Bathe in the hot Tapt Kund spring before darshan, and don''t miss Mana village, the Saraswati river and Vyas Gufa nearby.
Best time & how long it takes
- Season: the shrines open around late April/May and close near Diwali (Oct/Nov). May–June and September–October are best; July–August (monsoon) is risky for landslides.
- Duration: the full Char Dham by road takes about 10–12 days; Do Dham (Kedarnath + Badrinath) about 6–8; and the helicopter Char Dham roughly 5–6.
- Registration: the Uttarakhand Char Dham registration is compulsory - we handle it for you.
A few tips
- Carry warm layers - it''s cold at all four shrines even in summer.
- Build in acclimatisation and a little fitness for the Yamunotri and Kedarnath treks.
- Ponies, palki and helicopters make the yatra possible for seniors.
Plan your yatra
We run the full Char Dham Yatra, or you can visit the shrines individually - Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Short on time? The Char Dham by helicopter covers all four in a few days.