The Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand is the pilgrimage circuit that visits the four sacred Himalayan abodes — Yamunotri (source of the Yamuna), Gangotri (source of the Ganga), Kedarnath (Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva) and Badrinath (a Divya Desam of Lord Vishnu). Together they form the spiritual spine of northern India's Sanatana Dharma. The temples open with Akshaya Tritiya (~late April) and close around Diwali (~late October), giving devotees roughly six months a year to complete the circuit. HinduTone's Char Dham hub covers the full yatra cycle: 2026 opening and closing dates (Yamunotri opens 3 May, Gangotri 3 May, Kedarnath 5 May, Badrinath 6 May — subject to final pujari decisions); the traditional yatra order Yamunotri → Gangotri → Kedarnath → Badrinath; helicopter package operators and pricing for devotees who can't manage the trek (especially Kedarnath's 16-km mule/foot route from Gaurikund); accommodation tiers from GMVN guesthouses to private hotels and dharamshalas; the mandatory Uttarakhand government pilgrim registration portal; and seasonal weather windows. We also cover the spiritual heart of each Dham: the legends behind Adi Shankaracharya's reconsecration of all four shrines, the Jyotirmath samadhi at Badrinath, the Kalpvas tradition, the panch-prayag river confluences along the route, and the lesser-known Panch Kedar and Panch Badri secondary circuits for devotees with more time. Browse the latest Char Dham yatra updates, weather advisories, and pilgrim stories below.
Traditionally devotees follow the Pradakshina (clockwise) route: Yamunotri first, then Gangotri, then Kedarnath, finishing at Badrinath. This mirrors how Adi Shankaracharya is said to have visited them.
Yes — multiple operators (Pawan Hans, Chipson, Aryan, Heritage etc.) run Phata–Kedarnath and Sersi–Kedarnath services. Booking opens via heliyatra.irctc.co.in roughly two months before each opening. Round-trip fares range Rs 7,000–9,000.
Yes — Uttarakhand Tourism mandates a free Char Dham pilgrim biometric registration via registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in or the Tourist Care app. Carry the QR-coded slip to checkpoints along the route.
Approximate 2026 opening dates: Yamunotri 3 May, Gangotri 3 May, Kedarnath 5 May, Badrinath 6 May. Closing dates announced closer to Diwali (Yamunotri 10 Nov, Gangotri 13 Nov, Kedarnath 9 Nov, Badrinath 19 Nov approximate).
Yes, with helicopter packages and assisted yatra services. For Kedarnath specifically, mule (kanvaar), palki and dandi services are available from Gaurikund. Most operators offer 6–8 day "Do Dham" (Kedarnath + Badrinath) packages for elderly devotees.
