How to Reach Char Dham

How to Reach Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand is among the holiest pilgrimages in India. The journey is said to absolve all sins and grant salvation. The four destinations of the journey in the ‘Dev Bhoomi’ include Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. All the four pilgrimage sites can be visited one by one or a complete tour can be planned. To reach the holy shrines of the Chardham, opt to travel by road or air. Char Dham Tour by road can be completed by vehicles and treks to the respective temples. Owing to its location amid the snow-covered mountains of Uttarakhand, not all routes are navigable by roads. To reach the shrines, there are options of trekking, palki, ponies, and even helicopter rides.

How to reach Badrinath
Air: The Chardham helicopter service includes rides to Badrinath as well, so if you want to avoid a road journey, you can opt for the helicopter service instead.
Rail: The nearest railway stations to Badrinath are Ramnagar, at a distance of 154kms or Kotdwar at 146kms. For better connectivity and convenience, you can head to Badrinath from Haridwar or Rishikesh, which have better rail connectivity. The distance from Haridwar to Badrinath is about 315kms.
Road: Badrinath is easily accessible by road from Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun and other major towns of Uttarakhand. State transport and private buses ply regularly on the route. If you are going to Badrinath after visiting Kedarnath, there are direct bus services from Gaurikund to Badrinath.

How to reach Gangotri
Air: There are special helicopter services to Harsil from Dehradun, after which you will need to undertake a road journey to Gangotri as Harsil lies at a distance of 25kms from Gangotri.
Rail: The nearest railway station is Dehradun, at a distance of 114kms. Dehradun is well connected by rail to major cities in India. Alternatively, you can also travel uptoHaridwar or Rishikesh, which have good rail connectivity, and travel by road to Gangotri.
Road: Buses ply to Gangotri from Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh and other towns in Uttarakhand. If you want to head to Gangotri from Badrinath, there are direct state transport buses on the route. Kedarnath and Gangotri lie at a distance of 25kms, but there are no buses on that route. Taxis are your best bet here.

How to reach Yamunotri
Air: You can head for Yamunotri in special helicopter services that start from Dehradun to Kharsali, which is about 6kmsaway from the temple.
Rail: Nearest railway stations are Dehradun at 172kms and Rishikesh at around 200kms. Alternatively, Haridwar is also a good option. All three cities have excellent connectivity with major Indian towns and cities.
Road: Yamunotri temple has no access to motor able roads; hence the base point is at Hanuman Chatti, at a distance of 14kms. For the adventurous kind, the trek uphill is scenic and challenging. Alternatively, there are ponies, horses and palanquins for the ride to the temple.

How to Reach Kedarnath
By Road: For a road journey your pilgrimage will commence from the holy town of Rishikesh where you will be made to board the bus heading onward towards Gaurikund which is the last motorable road till Kedarnath. There are plenty of options to choose from like AC sleeper, non AC sleeper and Volvo AC etc. Gaurikund is located at a distance of 7 – 7.5 hours from Rishikesh. From Gaurikund you will be required to trek your way upwards till the main Kedarnath dham temple. You can also choose from a range of taxi services which run between Dehradun and Kedarnath.
By Road: For a road journey your pilgrimage will commence from the holy town of Rishikesh where you will be made to board the bus heading onward towards Gaurikund which is the last motorable road till Kedarnath. There are plenty of options to choose from like AC sleeper, non AC sleeper and Volvo AC etc. Gaurikund is located at a distance of 7 – 7.5 hours from Rishikesh. From Gaurikund you will be required to trek your way upwards till the main Kedarnath dham temple. You can also choose from a range of taxi services which run between Dehradun and Kedarnath.
By Air: The closes airport to Kedarnath is situated at Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun and is located at a distance of 239 km from Kedarnath dham. The airport is host to a number of commercial flights running across the major cities in India like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and more. Once you reach Dehradun airport you have the option of booking a bus or hiring a cab heading on towards Gaurikund from here you will be required to trek till the main temple shrine of Kedarnath Dham.