Char Dham Yatra: Route, Registration and Itinerary

The Char Dham Yatra is the pilgrimage to four Himalayan shrines in Uttarakhand: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. The usual order runs west to east, from Yamunotri to Badrinath, and a road trip covering all four takes around 10 to 12 days from Haridwar or Rishikesh. Every pilgrim must register online with the Uttarakhand government before setting out. The 2026 season opened on 19 April and the shrines close for winter between 10 and 16 November.

What is the Char Dham Yatra?

The four shrines sit in the Garhwal Himalaya. Yamunotri is dedicated to the goddess Yamuna and Gangotri to the goddess Ganga. Kedarnath is a temple of Shiva and the highest of the 12 Jyotirlingas, at about 3,583 m. Badrinath is a temple of Vishnu on the Alaknanda river.

Pilgrims often call this circuit the Chota Char Dham, to separate it from the all-India Char Dham of Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Rameswaram. On this site, Char Dham means the Uttarakhand circuit.

Some people do only two dhams, Kedarnath and Badrinath, which is called the Do Dham yatra. The registration rules are the same.

Char Dham Yatra registration

Registration is compulsory for every pilgrim. The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board runs it on registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in and on the Tourist Care Uttarakhand mobile app for Android and iOS. The Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee’s own site repeats the same instruction.

How it works, per the portal:

1. Create an account with your mobile number.
2. Add pilgrim details for yourself, your family or your group. Tour operators can also register their clients.
3. Choose the dhams and dates you plan to visit.
4. Download the Yatra Registration Letter. It carries a QR code that is checked at the dhams.

The portal also lists physical registration points and registration check points along the route, a WhatsApp registration guide, vehicle registration, health registration and a link for helicopter services. The toll-free helpline is 1364.

Register before you book anything you cannot cancel. On busy days the authorities can limit numbers, and your registered date is what is checked.

Char Dham Yatra 2026 opening and closing dates

Dham	Opened in 2026	Closing date announced	Winter seat
Yamunotri	19 April	11 November	Kharsali
Gangotri	19 April	10 November	Mukhba
Kedarnath	22 April	11 November	Omkareshwar temple, Ukhimath
Badrinath	23 April	16 November	Pandukeshwar and Jyotirmath

The opening dates are listed on the Uttarakhand government’s Digital Uttarakhand portal. The closing dates were announced by the temple committees and priests on Vijayadashami in October 2026 and reported by news outlets. Closing times are fixed by muhurat, so check again shortly before you travel.

After the doors close, the deities are carried to their winter seats, where pilgrims can have darshan through the winter.

The route

Most groups start from Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun and follow this order:

1. Yamunotri: Drive to Barkot and on to Janki Chatti, where the road ends. The Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee puts the walk to the temple at about 5 to 6 km. Ponies, palanquins and kandis (baskets carried by porters) are available.
2. Gangotri: Drive via Uttarkashi to Gangotri. The temple is a short walk from the road.
3. Kedarnath: Drive to the Guptkashi, Phata or Sonprayag area, then to Gaurikund. From Gaurikund it is a 16 km trek, which the state portal says takes 6 to 10 hours one way. Mules and palanquins are available.
4. Badrinath: Drive via Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag and Jyotirmath to Badrinath. The temple is in the town, near the Tapt Kund hot springs.

The roads follow river valleys, so you will pass the prayags, the river confluences, including Devprayag, where the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda meet to form the Ganga.

Sample 10-day Char Dham itinerary

This is a common outline from Haridwar or Rishikesh. Drive times depend on traffic, weather and road works, so build in a buffer day.

Day	Plan
1	Haridwar or Rishikesh to Barkot
2	Barkot to Janki Chatti, walk to Yamunotri and back, return to Barkot
3	Barkot to Uttarkashi
4	Uttarkashi to Gangotri for darshan, back to Uttarkashi
5	Uttarkashi to Guptkashi or Sitapur area
6	Gaurikund to Kedarnath on foot, night at Kedarnath
7	Darshan, walk down, night at Guptkashi
8	Guptkashi to Badrinath
9	Badrinath darshan, drive towards Rudraprayag or Srinagar
10	Return to Rishikesh or Haridwar

Add a spare day after Kedarnath. Weather and the length of the trek are the two things most likely to throw the plan off. If you have more time, side trips to Tungnath from Chopta or to Mana village beyond Badrinath fit into this route.

Kedarnath and Yamunotri treks

Kedarnath is the hardest part of the yatra. The Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee describes it as a 16 km trek from Gaurikund. The state portal says the trail is paved but steep in sections. Start early, carry rain gear and warm layers even in summer, and drink water regularly. At around 3,583 m, people who come straight up from the plains can feel the altitude.

Yamunotri is shorter at about 5 to 6 km but also steep. For both treks, ponies and palanquins are an option for those who cannot walk the distance. Agree the price at the official counters.

Char Dham Yatra by helicopter

Helicopter services run to Kedarnath from helipads in the valley, and charter operators offer Do Dham and Char Dham packages from Dehradun, according to the Digital Uttarakhand portal. The registration portal links to helicopter booking from its menu.

Be wary of websites and social media pages selling helicopter tickets. Book only through the link on the official registration portal, and never pay a stranger through a messaging app. You still need your yatra registration if you fly.

Char Dham Yatra packages

Many travel agencies sell packages, including packages from Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai. Packages from distant cities usually mean a train or flight to Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun, followed by the road route above.

When comparing packages, check:

• whether yatra registration is done for you, and in your name
• the number of nights and where each night is spent
• whether the Kedarnath trek, ponies or helicopter tickets are included or extra
• the vehicle type and whether one driver covers the whole route
• the cancellation policy for road closures caused by weather

Best time to go

The yatra runs from late April or early May to October or November. May and June are the busiest months. July and August bring the monsoon, with a higher risk of landslides and road closures. September and October usually bring clearer skies, colder nights and fewer pilgrims, with the closing dates in November.

For the hill towns on the way, see our guides to Almora and Ranikhet.

What to pack

• registration letter, printed and on your phone
• photo ID for every member of the group
• rain jacket, warm layers, a cap and gloves
• trekking shoes with good grip
• personal medicines and a basic first aid kit
• cash, since network and card machines can fail in the hills

Badrinath and nearby places

Badrinath is the last stop on the circuit. We have a separate Badrinath trip guide with more on the town and Mana village. If you want a shorter walk, the hike to Tungnath temple from Chopta is a popular addition between Kedarnath and Badrinath.

Char Dham Yatra FAQs

Is registration compulsory for the Char Dham Yatra?

Yes. Every pilgrim must register on registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app and carry the registration letter.

Is there a fee for Char Dham Yatra registration?

Registration on the official portal is free. Agents may charge for doing it for you.

How many days do I need for the Char Dham Yatra?

Around 10 to 12 days by road from Haridwar or Rishikesh for all four dhams, with one spare day.

What is the right order of the four dhams?

The traditional order is Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, moving west to east.

When do the dhams close in 2026?

Gangotri on 10 November, Yamunotri and Kedarnath on 11 November and Badrinath on 16 November, as announced by the temple committees.

Can I do the Char Dham Yatra by helicopter?

Yes, charter operators run helicopter packages from Dehradun. Book only through the official links and register for the yatra as well.

Official resources: Uttarakhand Tourist Care registration portal; Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee; Digital Uttarakhand: Char Dham Yatra.

Photo credits

Featured image: Naresh Balakrishnan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; What is the Char Dham Yatra?: Anurag.vq / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; The route: Akshat bhattacharjee / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; The route: Arupamdas / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Sample 10-day Char Dham itinerary: Photos Worldwide / Wikimedia Commons, CC0; Kedarnath and Yamunotri treks: Gul-Wiki / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Kedarnath and Yamunotri treks: Photos Worldwide / Wikimedia Commons, CC0; Char Dham Yatra packages: Nehasnaps0306 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; What to pack: Vishwanath Negi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; Badrinath and nearby places: Shobhit Gosain / Wikimedia Commons, CC0.