Char Dham Yatra (12 Days - Ex Delhi)
DAY 01 : DELHI – HARIDWAR (240 KMS. 6 HRS)
Today morning pickup from airport/ railway station and drive to Haridwar. Arrive in 6 - 7 hrs drive & check in to the hotel. In the evening visit Har Ki Pauri & participate in Ganga aarti. Dinner & overnight.
DAY 02 : HARIDWAR – MUSSOORIE – KEMPTY FALLS - BARKOT (7 - 8 Hrs)
Today morning drive to Barkot. En route visit Kempty fall & Lakha Mandal. Arrive Barkot, beautiful small town on Yamunotri road and check into the luxury camp resort/hotel. Dinner & overnight.
Day 03: GANGANI/BARKOT – YAMUNOTRI – GANGANI (35 Kms + 7 kms trek – one side)
Today morning drive to Janki Chatti and trek to Yamunotri (Horse/Doli available at your own cost). After darshan return to Camp Nirvana /hotel for dinner & overnight.
Hanuman Chatti - The confluence of Hanuman Ganga & Yamuna River .
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.
DAY 04 : BARKOT - UTTARKASHI (100KMS/4HR)
Drive to Uttarkashi on arrival Check in the Hotel, Later visit Vishwanath Temple. Night stay in Uttarakashi.
Uttarkashi: Situated at the bank of river Bhagirathi. The temple of Lord Vishwanath is located here where a massive iron trident is erected. The other important temples situated here are Annapurna Devi Temple , Ekadash Rudra, Bhairav, Gyaneshwar and Goddess Kuteti Devi.
DAY 05 : UTTARKASHI - GANGOTRI - UTTARKASHI (100KMS/3HR EACH SIDE)
Today we 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. overnight 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 Valley , this river meets the Bhagirathi on its left bank.
DAY 06 : UTTARKASHI - GUPTKASHI (235KMS/9HR) OR RUDRAPRAYAG
Early morning, drive to Guptkashi/Rudraprayag. On Arrival Check in Hotel, night halt.
DAY 07 : GUPTKASHI - SRI KEDARNATH JI (38 kms + 14 kms trek)
Today morning drive to Gaurikundand from here trek starts for Kedarnath ji (3584 mts). Arrive Kedarnath ji in the afternoon. Later visit Kedarnath Temple. Dinner & overnight.
SRI KEDARNATH JI DARSHAN BY HELICOPTER - From Guptkashi to Kedarnath and from Phata (14 kms from Guptkashi) regular helicopter services are available for Kedarnath and if you fly same Day from Guptkashi to Kedarnath and back then you will save one Day. Overnight stay in Kedarnath is also possible.
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 remaining 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 abovementioned shrines are treated as Panch Kedar.
DAY 08 : KEDARNATH JI – GUPTKASHI
Early morning Temple darshan and then trek down to Gaurikund and board your car for Guptkashi. Dinner & overnight at hotel.
DAY 09 : GUPTKASHI - BADRINATH (205 KMS/9HR)
Drive to Badrinath via Joshimath. Check in Hotel. Later at evening visit Badrinath Temple for Aarti. Overnight stay. Badrinath 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.
Sheshnetra - 1.5kms. away is a boulder having an impression of the legendary serpent, better known as the Sheshnag`s eye.
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.
DAY 10 : BADRINATH – JOSHIMATH -RUDRAPRAYAG (160KMS/6-7HR)
Early morning, pilgrims after having a bath in the Taptkund have the Darshan of Badrivishal. Brahamakamal is significant for Pinddan Shraddh of ancestors (Pitrus). There are other interesting sightseeing 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 Rudraprayag via 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.
DAY 11 : RUDRAPRAYAG - RISHIKESH (150KMS/ 5-6 HR)
In the morning drive back to Rishikesh and check in the Hotel. Later visit local sightseeing of Rishikesh. Overnight stay.
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, Ashram, Parmarth Ashram.
DAY 12 : RISHIKESH – DELHI (270 KMS, 6-7 HRS)
In the morning, go for the sightseeing tour of Rishikesh. Later drive to Delhi and on Delhi arrival tour ends.