Chardham Yatra Planning Guide

The Chardham Yatra is one of India's most significant pilgrimage circuits, covering four Himalayan shrines in Uttarakhand — but it's also a demanding journey across mountain roads and high altitude, so planning it well matters more than most trips.

The Four Shrines

The circuit covers Yamunotri and Gangotri, at the source regions of the Yamuna and Ganga rivers; Kedarnath, a Jyotirlinga shrine to Shiva reached by trek or helicopter; and Badrinath, a shrine to Vishnu. Many travellers don't attempt all four in one trip — shorter combinations like Gangotri-Yamunotri only, or Kedarnath-Badrinath only, are common, as is a Kedarnath-only helicopter yatra for those wanting to skip the trek entirely.

When the Shrines Are Open

The Chardham shrines are only open from around May to early November — opening and closing dates are announced yearly and vary slightly by shrine, since they close for winter once heavy snow sets in. May–June and September–October are generally considered the most comfortable windows, avoiding both the peak monsoon (July–August) and the coldest late-season weeks.

How Many Days to Plan For

A focused Kedarnath-Badrinath or Gangotri-Yamunotri yatra runs around 4–5 nights. The complete four-shrine circuit from Haridwar needs about 9 nights, extending to around 10–11 nights if you're starting from Delhi. A helicopter yatra to Kedarnath alone can be done in as little as 2 nights — a real option if a full trek isn't feasible for your group.

Getting There

Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport for the full circuit, with Haridwar and Rishikesh as the common starting points by road or rail from Delhi. Kedarnath itself is reached either by a trek from Gaurikund or by helicopter from designated helipads.