Uttarakhand is a place that houses a wide variety of tourist destinations, ranging from natural beauty, wildlife, spirituality, rivers, and lakes, among others. Needless to mention, Uttarakhand is also known as Dev Bhoomi, due to its four highly revered shrines, which form the Chota Chardham Yatra circuit. The shrines of the Char Dham Yatra include - Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath. All these four temples carry mythological back stories and pilgrims from across the country set out on this sacred sojourn every year. However, reaching these shrines is not that simple. The journey usually encompasses long trekking trails. Tourists or devotees can only travel by any means of transport up to a certain distance, and the rest of the distance is covered by walking.
Usually, the Char Dham Yatra begins from Haridwar, Rishikesh, or Dehradun. The nearest airport as well as railway station is at Dehradun. People coming from farther states begin the Char Dham Yatra from Delhi. Delhi has major connectivity to almost all the cities in India. Therefore, it is convenient to reach Delhi by flight or train and then move further to Dehradun or Haridwar for the onward journey.
11 Nights and 12 Days Char Dham Tour from Delhi
If you are coming from far-away cities or a in a large group, it is better to book a Char Dham tour package for the ease of the pilgrimage. Tour operators assist in booking the train and flight tickets to reach Delhi and Haridwar. From Haridwar, the tour operators arrange for the lodges and hotels, wherever you end up staying overnight, according to the itinerary. If you opt for helicopter services, then you will also receive proper guidance to reach the helipads and plan the yatra accordingly.
The trek to Yamunotri begins from the town of Janki Chatti and stretches over 6 kilometres through scenic trails, gushing waterfalls and snow-covered peaks. A highlight of the pilgrimage is Surya Kund a hot spring where devotees cook rice and potatoes as a ritual offering to the goddess.
Day 1: Depart from Delhi and drive to Haridwar; attend evening Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri. Day 2: Drive from Haridwar to Barkot via Mussoorie; overnight stay in Barkot. Day 3: Travel to Yamunotri and afterwards head back to Barkot to spend the night. Day 4: Drive from Barkot to Uttarkashi; explore Vishwanath Temple. Day 5: Visit Gangotri and return to Uttarkashi for an overnight stay. Day 6: Drive from Uttarkashi to Guptkashi via scenic mountain routes. Day 7: Drive to Gaurikund and trek to Kedarnath; overnight stay in Kedarnath. Day 8: Darshan at Kedarnath Temple and trek back to Gaurikund; return to Guptkashi. Day 9: Drive from Guptkashi to Badrinath via Joshimath; visit Badrinath Temple. Day 10: Local sightseeing in Badrinath and drive to Rudraprayag. Day 11: Drive from Rudraprayag to Rishikesh; visit Ram Jhula and evening Ganga Aarti. Day 12: Return drive from Rishikesh to Delhi; end of Yatra.
12 days is a long time, and planning a proper itinerary is crucial, so that you do not overburden yourself. Although the pilgrimage to Char Dham Yatra is spiritually refreshing. But the exhaustion caused by walking for prolonged hours cannot be overlooked. It is important to take proper rest and complete the journey in short phases if you are not used to so much physical exertion. Therefore, book a Char Dham tour package from reliable tour operators and plan the pilgrimage circuit strategically for the best experience.