Char Dham Yatra

Day 01: Delhi - Haridwar (224 kms/5-6hrs)

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Haridwar, check in at hotel. Haridwar, lying at the feet of Shiva's hills, i.e., Shivaliks. Suryavanshi prince Bhagirath performed penance here to salvage the souls of his ancestors who had perished due to the curse of sage Kapila. The penance was answered and the river Ganga trickled forth forms Lord Shiva's locks and its bountiful water revived the sixty thousand sons of king Sagara. In the traditional of Bhagirath, devout Hindus stand in the sacred waters here, praying for salvation of their departed elder. It is doorway to the sources of the Ganga and the Yamuna, 3000 to 4500 meters up into the snowy ranges of the central Himalayas. The 'Aarti' worship of the Ganga after sunset and the floating 'dia' (lamp) is a moving ritual. Evening Ghats visit and Aarti Har-Ki-Pauri: the sacred Ghat was constructed by King Vikramaditya in memory of his brother Bhartrihari. It is believed that Bhartihari eventually came to Haridwar to meditate by the banks of the holy Ganga. When he died, his brother constructed the Ghat in his name which later came to be known as Har-Ki-Pauri. This sacred bathing ghat is also known as Brahmakund. The reflection of golden hues of floral diyas in the river Ganga is the most enchanting sight in the twilight during the Ganga Arti Ceremony. It is the most important ghat on the river Ganga, where a holy dip is a must for every devotee. Overnight at hotel.

Day 02: Haridwar - Barkot (220kms/7-8hr)

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Barkot via Dehradun & Mussoorie. Enroute visit Kempty Fall and others later drive straight to your Hotel. Overnight at hotel/Camp.

Day 03: Barkot - Yamunotri - Barkot {36kms drive & 6kms Trek (one side)}

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Jankichatti / Phoolchatti, trek start from here to Yamunotri (6kms). Either by walk or by horse or by Doli. Arr. Yamunotri, One can cook rice by packing it in a cloth and dipping it in the hot water of the hot kund. Pilgrims take this cooked rice home as "Prasad". Here near the temple "Pooja" can be offered to Divya Shila, after taking bath in Jamunabai Kund's warn water and having "Darshan" of pious "Yamunaji" returning to Jankichatti.

Yamunotri Temple: Maharani Gularia of Jaipur built the temple in the 19th Century. It was destroyed twice in the present century and rebuilt again. Surya Kund: There are a Number of thermal springs in the vicinity of the temple, which flows into numerous pools. The most important of these is Surya Kund. Divya Shila: A rock pillar, worshipped before entering the Yamunotri Temple. Later drive back to Barkot. Overnight at hotel/ Camp.

Day 04: Barkot - Uttarkashi (100kms/4hr)

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Uttarkashi. Check in at hotel, Later at evening visit Vishwanath Temple.

Uttarkashi: Situated at the bank of river Bhagirathi. The temple of Lord Vishwanath is located here where a massive iron trident is erected. Overnight at hotel/ Camp.

Day 05: Uttarkashi - Gangotri - Uttarkashi (100kms/3-4 each side)

Breakfast at hotel, proceed to Gangotri (3048 mts), enroute we enjoy picturesque Harsil village, Bhagirathi River and the most magnificent view of the Himalayas. After Gangotri Darshan we return to Uttarkashi. Oernight stay at Uttarkashi.

Gangotri Temple: The temple, constructed by the Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa in the 18th Century, is situated on the right bank of Bhagirathi.

Submerged Shivling: Submerged in the river, this natural rock Shivling is the place where, according to mythology Lord Shiva sat when he received the Ganga in his matted lock. It is visible in winter months when water level decreases.

Kedar Ganga Sangam: Around 100 Yards from the Ganga Temple flows the river Kedar Ganga. Starting from the Kedar Valle, this river meets the Bhagirathi on its left bank. Overnight at hotel/ Camp.

Day 06: Uttarkashi – Guptkashi (220kms/8-9hr)

Early morning after breakfast, drive to Guptkashi. Check in Hotel. Overnight at hotel/ Camp.

Day 07: Guptkashi - Kedarnath (30kms by road & 14kms Trek)

Breakfast at hotel drive to Gaurikund, Trek start from Gaurikund to Kedarnath (3584 mts) on foot or on by pony / Doli. Tour members should carry personal medicines, heavy woolen, toiletries and clothes for an overnight halt at Kedarnath. Check in Hotel. Later visit Kedarnath Temple.

Gaurikund: At a distance of 5kms from Sonprayag and at an altitude of 1982 meters., one can take bath in the hot water pond here and visit the Gauri Temple. This is the place where Goddess Parvathi meditated to attain Lord Shiva. It is the base for a trek to Kedarnath.

Kedarnath: The Kedarnath shrine, one of the 12 jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, is a scenic spot situated, against the backdrop of the majestic Kedarnath range. Kedar is another name of Lord Shiva, the protector and the destroyer. According to legend, the Pandavas after having won over the Kaurava in the Kurukshetra war, felt guilty of having killed their own brothers and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. He eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being followed he dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface. The r! emaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four other places and are worshipped there as his manifestations. The arms appeared at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at Madhmaheshwar and his locks (hair) with head at Kalpeshwar. Kedarnath and the four above-mentioned shrines are treated as Panch Kedar. Overnight at hotel/ Camp.

Day 08: Kedarnath - Rudraprayag (14Kms Down Trek & 75kms/3hr by Road)

Breakfast at hotel, early morning, Temple Darshan trek down to Gaurikund. Later, drive to Rudraprayag via Guptkashi. Check in at hotel at Rudraprayag.

Rudraprayag: It is the confluence of river Mandakini and river Alaknanda. Overnight at hotel/ Camp.

Day 09: Rudraprayag - Badrinath (165kms/7hr)

Drive to Badrinath via Joshimath. Check in Hotel. Later at evening visit Badrinath Temple for Aarti. Overnight stayBadrinath one of the 'Four Dhams' is one of the most celebrated pilgrimage spots of the country and is situated at an elevation of 3,133 meters, guarded on either side by the two mountain ranges known as Nar & Narayan with the towering Neelkanth Peak providing a splendid backdrop. This revered spot was once carpeted with wild berries. Thus the place got the name "Badri van", meaning "forest of berries".

Tapt Kund: Natural thermal springs on the bank of the river Alaknanda, where it is customary to bathe before entering the Badrinath temple. Narad Kund: A recess in the river, near Tapt Kund, forming a pool from where the Badrinath idol was recovered. Brahama Kapal: A flat platform on the bank of river Alaknanda. Hindus perform proppitiating rites for their deceased ancestors.

Charanpaduka: 3kms. away is a beautiful meadow where the footprint of Lord Vishnu is seen on a boulder. Mata Murty Temple: Devoted to the mother of Sri Badrinathji. Other important temples include Sesh Netra Temple, Urvashi Temple and Charanpaduka. Mana Village : Inhabited by an Indo-Mongolian tribe, it is the last Indian village before Tibet.

Vasundhara: As the name suggests, vasundhara is a magnificent water fall. This place is 5 kms. from Badrinath out of which 2 kms. is motorable upto Mana. Bhim Pul : On the other side of Mana village, a massive rock forming a natural bridge, lies over the roaring Saraswati river. It presents a spectacular view of water thundering down through the narrow passage under the rock and is believed to have been placed there by Bhim, the second eldest among the five Pandava brothers.

Vyas Gufa (cave): Near Mana Village, this is a rock-cave where Ved Vyas is believed to have composed the Mahabharata and the pauranic commentaries. Overnight at hotel/ Camp.

Day 10: Badrinath – Joshimath (44kms/ 2hrs approx)

Early morning, pilgrims after having a bath in the Taptkund have the Darshan of Badrivishal. Brahamakapal is significant for Pinddan Shraddh of ancestors (Pitrus). There are other interesting sight seeing spot like Mana, Vyas Gufa, Maatamoorti, Charanpaduka, Bhimkund and the "Mukh" of the Saraswati River. Just within the three kms of Badrinathjee.

Later drive back to Joshimath check in Hotel.

Joshimath is situated on the slopes above the confluence of Alaknanda and Dhauliganga. Of the four 'Maths' established by Adi Shankaracharya, Joshimath is in the Badrinath to Joshimath and installed in the temple for people to worship. There are many temples in the township most important is the temple of Nir Singh in commotion of Lord Vishnu. The left arm of this deity is with time and the popular belief holds that the day the the arm completely withers Badrinath valley will cease to exist and the Gods will transfer the residence into the neighboring Niti Valley at Bhavishya Badri. Overnight at hotel/ Camp.

Day 11: Joshimath – Hemkunt (36kms/ 2hrs approx)

Breakfast at hotel, full day excursion to visit. Drive to till Govindghat. Hemkund is 19 km trek from Govindghat. The trek takes one through pine forests where rhododendron (burans), wild roses, ferns and alpine flowers abound, along the banks of Laxman Ganga River. The first 13km trek from Govindghat takes to you Ghangaria, the base camp for the journey towards Hemkund Sahib through Bhyundar village.  Another 6 km steep trek from Ghangaria leads to Hemkund. The trek is bestowed with several fresh water streams, small glaciers and several varieties of wild flowers including the Brahma Kamal, the state flower of Uttarakhand.

Hemkund (Snow Lake) Sahib, as the name itself suggests, is a high-altitude lake (4329 m) surrounded by seven huge now-covered mountains, which are collectively called Hemkund Parvat. Close to the lake is a sacred Gurudwara that is a pilgrimage centre for Sikhs and Hindus from all over the world. 
It is said that Shri Guru Govind Singh Ji (the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs) meditated on the very banks of this lake where a number of sages and religious teachers from the Hindu mythology, including Rishi Medhasa of the Markandeya Purana and Lakshman, the brother of Lord Ram performed penance. Besides the Gurudwara, you can also see a temple here. The lake is the source of the Laxman Ganga (alternatively called Hem Ganga) stream that merges with the Pushpawati stream flowing from the Valley of Flowers, at Ghangaria. From this point on, the river is called Laxman Ganga.

The lake is about two kilometers in circumference. It has clear, still water mirror images of the Saptashringa peaks (5500 m) that surrounds it. So what’s the best season to visit Hemkund? No doubts: it’s between July and October. During these days, you’ll find the water still, has shards of ice floating in it, glinting in the sun with the rock-strewn banks of the lake covered in moss and the flowers in bright bloom. Evening back to Joshimath. Overnight at hotel.

Day 12: Joshimath - Rishikesh (255kms/8-9hr) 

Early morning, visit Narsingh Temple & Shankracharaya Math.

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Rishikesh; the 'place of sages' is a celebrated spiritual town on the bank of Ganga and is surrounded by Shivalik range of the Himalayas on three sides. It is said that when Raibhya Rishi did hard penances, God appeared by the name of "Hrishikesh " and this area hence firth came to be known as Rishikesh. Temples & Sight Seeing – Laxman Jhulla, Ram Jhulla, Triveni Ghat, Bharat Mandir, Shivananda Ashram, Parmarth Ashram. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 13: Rishikesh – Haridwar – Delhi (220kms/5-6hr)

Breakfast at hotel drive to Delhi, direct transfer to international airport to board flight for your home country.