Char Dham refers to the four highly sacred sites located in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. These four sacred sites settled at high altitude are Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath Dham and Badrinath Dham. All of these temples are located in different districts of Uttarakhand, yet connected by a pilgrimage circuit of Char Dham.
Each temple is dedicated to different deities and holds immense spiritual significance. Considering the religious value of Char Dham Yatra, devotees from corners of India come to Uttarakhand and embark on the challenging yet peace-giving Yatra.
This was the brief about Char Dham Yatra, let us move further and know everything else including the route and travel tips, the Location of the temples, the best time to visit, altitude sickness, transportation options, and challenges about Char Dham Yatra.
Significance of the holy Chardham Yatra
Chardham in Uttarakhand are the holiest pilgrimage Yatra for Hindu devotees. It is said that if you want to attain Moksha then you must visit the holy Chardham once in a lifetime.
The sacred Chardham have deep spiritual significance for devotees. Devotees visit these holy Dhams for divine grace, spiritual purification and Moksha. The journey to Chardham also signifies attaining detachment from the worldly affairs and seeking inner peace, self-discovery and divine connection.
Opening and Closing Dates of Chardham 2026
Here are the opening and closing dates for the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand for 2026, based on the typical schedule observed for these pilgrimage sites:
| Temples | Opening Date 2026 | Closing Date 2026 |
| Yamunotri Dham | 19th April 2026 Akshaya Tritiya | 11th November 2026 |
| Gangotri Dham | 19th April 2026 Akshaya Tritiya | 10th November 2026 |
| Kedarnath Dham | 22nd April 2026 (Tentative) | 11th November 2026 |
| Badrinath Dham | 24th April 2026 (Tentative) | 13th November 2026 |
The Four Dham Temples
Yamunotri Dham
Location:
Yamunotri Dham is situated in the western part of Uttarakhand near the town of Kharsali.
Road Route:
The distance of Yamunotri from Haridwar is about 226 Km and there are two routes to reach. One route to Yamunotri passes via Rishikesh and New Tehri, and the other route passes via Dehradun and Mussoorie. Moving further, the Barkot known as the basecamp of Yamunotri is at 46 Km distance from the Yamunotri temple.
Deity:
Yamunotri Dham enshrines the Goddess Yamuna, who flows in the form of a river. The Yamuna River originates from the Bandarpunch Glacier near the Yamunotri Dham.
Temple Highlights:
- Yamunotri Temple symbolizes the origin of Yamuna River, which is considered sacred in Hinduism. The temple is highlighted with the bright yellow and red color and looks like an epitome of positivity.
- Before visiting the time, pilgrims take a holy dip in the Surya Kund, which is a hot spring.
Trekking:
- To reach the doorstep of Yamunotri temple, you need to trek 6 km from Jankichatti to the temple.
Yamunotri Dham Timings:
| Yamunotri Dham | Details |
| Temple Opening | 6:00 am |
| Mangal Aarti | 6:30 to 7:30 am |
| Morning Darshan | 7:30 to 12:00 pm |
| Darshan Break | 12:00 to 2:00pm |
| Evening Darshan | 2:00 to 8:00pm |
| Shayan Aarti | 6:30 to 7:30pm |
| Temple Closes | 8:00 pm |
Gangotri
Location:
- Gangotri Dham is settled beside the Bhagirathi river in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The distance from Uttarkashi to Gangotri temple is about 98 Km, which you can cover by taxi in 3 to 4 hours.
Deity:
- Gangotri Temple enshrines the Goddess Ganga, who is known as the most pious river in India.
Temple Highlights:
- Gangotri Temple signifies the origin of the Ganga river and is located near the Gaumukh. The temple is highlighted with the white marble stone, and its exterior looks white and ethereal.
Trekking:
- To reach the origin of the Ganga River, Gaumukh, you need to trek 19 km from Tapovan. However, you do not need to trek to reach the Gangotri Temple.
Gangotri Dham Timings:
| Gangotri Dham | Details |
| Temple Opening | 4:00 am |
| Mangal Aarti | 6:00 |
| Morning Darshan | 6:15 am to 2:00 pm |
| Darshan Break | 2:00 pm to 3:00pm |
| Evening Darshan | 3:00 pm to 9:30pm |
| Shayan Aarti | 7:30 pm to 8:30pm |
| Temple Closes | 9:30 pm |
Kedarnath
Location:
- Kedarnath Dham is situated in the Rudraprayag district at the foothills of the Kedarnath Range. The distance from Guptkashi to Kedarnath Temple is about 48 Km.
Deity:
- Kedarnath Dham is dedicated to Lord Shiva. In the sanctum Sanctorum, the Lord Shiva is in the form of Jyotirlinga.
Temple Highlights:
- Kedarnath Temple is the most popular among 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. It holds great historical significance linked with the Mahabharata Era. Besides this, the temple is surrounded by breathtaking snow-capped mountains around the temple.
Trekking:
- The pilgrims need to trek 16 km from Gaurikund to reach the doorstep of Kedarnath Dham.
Kedarnath Dham Timings
| Kedarnath Dham | Details |
| Temple Opens | 4:00 am |
| Morning Maha Abhishek Aarti | 4:00 am to 7:00am |
| Morning Darshan | 7:00 am to 3:00 pm |
| Temple Close | 3:00 pm to 5:00pm |
| Evening Darshan | 5:00 pm to 9:00pm |
| Evening Shayan Aarti | 6:00 pm to 7:30pm |
| Temple Closes | 9:00pm |
Badrinath
Location:
- Badrinath Dham is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, amid the Nar and Narayan Parvat. Joshimath, the basecamp of Badrinath Dham is only 40 km distant from Badrinath Temple.
Deity:
- Badrinath Temple enshrines the Lord Vishnu in the form of Badrivishal.
Temple Highlights:
- Badrinath Temple is among the main Char Dham temples of India. It lies on the banks of the Alaknanda River and showcases the beautiful temple architecture of the Garhwal Region. Besides this, the Badrinath Dham seeks its historical connection with a tale of Lord Vishnu and Devi Laxmi.
Trekking:
- The temple is easily accessible by road, so you do not need to trek to reach Badrinath Dham.
Additional Attractions:
- Outside the Badrinath temple, there is a Tapt Kund, which is considered holy and so people bathe before proceeding to the temple. It is also said that taking a holy dip in the Tapt Kund cleanses the body from all diseases.
Badrinath Dham Timings:
| Badrinath Dham | Details |
| Temple Opens | 4:30 am |
| Morning Maha Abhishek and Abhishek Pooja | 4:30 am to 6:30am |
| Morning Darshan | 7:00 am to 1:00 pm |
| Temple Close | 1:00 pm to 4:00pm |
| Evening Darshan | 4:00 pm to 9:00pm |
| Evening Shayan Aarti | 8:30 pm to 9:00pm |
| Temple Closes | 9:00pm |
Best Time to Visit Char Dham
The ideal time to visit Char Dham Yatra is May to October. Because the temples open for only six months from Akshaya Tritiya in May to the Bhai Dooj after Diwali, hence you should plan your Char Dham Yatra from May to October. The reason behind closure of Char Dham temples for six months is the extreme cold climate of Uttarakhand in winters. All the Char Dham temples get covered with snow in the months of December and January.
Besides this, if you want to travel in clear weather, then you should go to Char Dham Yatra in the summer and the autumn. We mean to say, it’s not that much recommended to visit high altitude in the monsoon season, especially for the senior citizens.
How to Reach Chardham by Air, Train and Road
Chardham in Uttarakhand have good road connectivity. Earlier due to underdeveloped mountain terrains, it was very difficult to complete Chardham Yatra but now with developed road infrastructure the Chardham are accessible to devotees. Here is a detailed overview of how to reach Chardham by Air, Train and Road-
| Travel Mode | Details | Key Points |
| Air | Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun | You can opt for Helicopter Services to reach Chardham from Dehradun |
| Train | Haridwar and Rishikesh Railway Station | No direct train to Char Dham temples. From the station, you have to take a private vehicle or cabs, buses etc. to reach Chardham. |
| Road | You will get well-developed highway network from Dehradun, Haridwar, and Rishikesh to Char Dham base towns | Base Towns to reach Badrinath Dham are – Barkot (Yamunotri), Uttarkashi (Gangotri), Guptkashi/Sonprayag (Kedarnath), Joshimath (Badrinath) |
The Char Dham Yatra starts from Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun. You can come to any of these cities by train, bus, or rental car.
From these cities to Char Dham, there are only two modes of travel, which are roadway and air. The details of reaching Char Dham by road and helicopter are mentioned below.
Char Dham Yatra Transportation Details
The most important fact is that Kedarnath and Yamunotri Dham temples are not connected with motorable roads up to the last mile. Hence the pilgrims need to trek about 6 Km to Yamunotri Temple and a 16 km trek to Kedarnath Temple. The trek to Yamunotri Dham starts from Jankichatti, and the trek to Kedarnath Dham starts from Gaurikund.
However, if you have any physical condition and you cannot trek to the temples, then you can seek help from a Pony or a Palki service provider. Besides this, if you choose the Helicopter mode to reach Char Dham, then you have to trek the least.
Check out:
Chardham Yatra by Helicopter and Helipad Information
Chardham Yatra by helicopter is the quickest and easiest way to get the divine Darshan. It is for those travellers who have limited time or have mobility issues. The price of Helicopter Yatra for Char Dhams is a bit costly but you will get mesmerizing aerial views of majestic Himalayan ranges and the four holy Dhams. You can book Namaste India Trips’ Chardham Helicopter Trip packages to ensure a smooth and safe journey across the Himalayan Mountains. Here is a detailed overview of prominent helipads for Chardham Yatra-
| Dham | Departure Helipad | Reporting and Departure Time | Note |
| Yamunotri | Sahastradhara (Dehradun) → Kharsali | Report: 06:00 AM; Depart: 07:00–07:30 AM | 30 minutes to reach Kharsali. |
| Gangotri | Kharsali → Harsil Helipad | Around 07:30–08:00 AM | Reach Gangotri Dham by road from Harsil. |
| Kedarnath | Harsil / Guptkashi → Kedarnath | Flights operate 06:00 AM–01:00 PM, weather permitting | The travel duration will be 8-15 minutes depending on the helipad and weather. |
| Badrinath | Guptkashi / Gauchar → Badrinath | 08:00 AM–11:00 AM, service for 3 hours daily | You will get return flights till midday. |
Accommodation and Facilities
Lodging
There are enough Basic hotels, guesthouses, and Dharamshalas at all four locations of Char Dham, which offer the accommodation and stay options at a genuine cost.
Besides this, the base camp of each Char Dham site has better and more facilities of stay. Usually people going to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath, and Kedarnath Dham take a night stay in Barkot, Uttarkashi, Joshimath, and Guptkashi sequentially.
Campsites
Moreover, the campsites around the Char Dham Sites offer a unique experience of staying under the open sky and surrounded by snow-capped Himalayas. So, if you are fond of adventures, then you must experience camping in the high altitude. The campsites around Kedarnath Dham and Yamunotri Dham are more famous among tourists.
Dining
There are various restaurants on the route to Char Dham and nearby Temples, which serve North Indian food at affordable prices. Due to being a religious site, only vegetarian food is served by the restaurants. However, you will get a variety of vegetarian dishes, including desserts and beverages.
Note: You should not bring intoxicants in the Char Dham Yatra. As it’s a religious site, it’s required to maintain the decorum.
Challenges and Safety Tips
Altitude Sickness
You must be aware of altitude sickness in the Char Dham Yatra. To avoid this condition, you should keep monitoring your body and if you feel symptoms like dizziness, breathlessness, and nausea, then immediately consult with a doctor.
Weather
The mountains’ climate is quite sensitive and so there are quick shifts in weather. Therefore, you must check the weather forecast before visiting the temples. Moreover, if you visit the Char Dham in monsoon, then carry rain gear in your waterproof bag.
Health
For a smooth Char Dham Yatra experience, you should carry basic medical supplies in a first aid kit. Besides this, keep drinking water after a certain interval and whenever you feel exhausted, take a break. Along with hydration, it’s necessary to be energized and so you should carry light snacks in your bag.
Local Guides
If you want to experience a safe journey to the Char Dham, you should consider hiring local guides for the mentorship during the Tour. Besides this, you can enroll yourself in the tour packages organized by verified tour operators. The local guides have in-depth knowledge of local routes and the ways to tackle any emergency. So, their support makes your journey stress-free and smooth.
Conclusion
Char Dham Yatra extends a wonderful opportunity to experience divine energy, connect with nature, and find inner peace. It’s a journey, which will reward you with spiritual energies, charismatic views of the Himalayas and mental strength.
With a perfect blend of adventure, spirituality, and natural beauty, this pilgrimage is a deeply transformative journey for devotees. Therefore, everyone should commence on Char Dham Yatra at least once in their lifetime.
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