Char Dham Yatra From Ahmedabad

Duration: – 12 Days / 11 Nights
Destination Covered: – Ahmedabad – Delhi – Rishikesh – Yamunotri – Uttarkashi – Gangotri – Srinagar – Sitapur – Kedarnath – Badrinath – Pipalkoti – Haridwar – Delhi.

Day 01: Ahmedabad, Gujarat – Delhi (919 km)
The journey begins with your travel from Ahmedabad to Delhi. Travel via flight/train as per your convenience.

Day 02: Delhi – Rishikesh (230 km /7 hr)
We will welcome you warmly at the Railway station/Airport. If time permits, why don’t we make time to explore Delhi a bit? Our journey towards the first holy destination at Rishikesh will begin at 9.30 pm. Overnight journey.

Day 03: Rishikesh - Barkot (200kms/7hrs)
The auspicious day would have us set foot in the holy town of Rishikesh. After freshening up and enjoying breakfast, we can move on to enjoy the many spots within the city that are acclaimed as the major sightseeing spots. These include Sivananda Ashram, Geeta Ashram, Ram Jhula, Swarg Ashram and Laxman Jhula. Afterwards, we will drive you to Barkot, our stopover for the day. We will remember to halt at Kempty Falls, Mussoorie before resuming the trip. Enjoy overnight stay at hotel in Barkot.

Day 04: Barkot - Yamunotri - Barkot (45 Kms Road/6kms Trek)
Today we will visit first of our major destinations, Yamunotri. Motorable road exists only till Jankichatti. We will begin early from the hotel such that you can be dropped at the base-camp in Jankichatti as early as possible. One needs to trek for about 6 km to reach the sacred shrine of Yamunotri. The temple at Yamunotri venerates the origin of Yamuna River from Champasar glacier, 1 km uphill from the site of the temple. Hindu mythology considers Goddess Yamuna as the sister of Yama Deva, the God of death and Shani Deva, the God of Karma. A visit to her shrine is considered to particularly appease her two celestial brothers. After having darshan of the idols of Yamuna Devi, Ganga Devi and Lord Hanuman at the main temple, one can proceed to watch Surya Kund, a hot spring used by devotees to boil potatoes and rice and prepare Prasadam. After having darshan of temple and exploring its precincts, one can tread downhill to our base-camp at Jankichatti. Our driver will be awaiting your timely return so that you can be accompanied to hotel in Barkot. Overnight stay in hotel.

Day 05: Barkot - Uttarkashi -(90kms/4hrs)
We will shift you to Uttarkashi today, which would serve as the base for our pilgrimage to Gangotri. Prakateswar Mahadev Cave can be visited en route to Uttarkashi. After you freshen up at the hotel, you can pay visit to the temples Uttarkashi si famous for. These include Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Shakti Temple. The holy town of Uttarkashi adorns the banks of Bhagirathi River. As you can see, the city not just emulates Kashi in its name but also in the temples it bears. The Shakti temple and Kashi Vishwanath Temple face each other. The huge iron Trishul in the Shakti Temple is considered to be an actual embodiment of Divine Mother Herself. Enjoy overnight stay at hotel.

Day 06: Uttarkashi - Gangotri - Uttarkashi (100kms/4hrs)
The route to Gangotri from Uttarkashi is perhaps the most scenic you would encounter on the entire trip. We will pass through Harsil as well. Harsil is akin to a true gem hidden in Himalayan terrain. Its unsullied scenic beauty, when combined with such few tourists, makes it an ideal abode for the solitude seekers. We have observed that our guests insist on taking a dip in the waters of Bhagirathi even if it is icy cold. Afterwards, proceed to perform puja/rituals along the banks of River Bhagirathi. The beautiful temple of Gangotri is such a delight to visit. The temple truly fills one with the most sublime spiritual joy. Isn’t it a delight that we will pass through the scenic route between Uttarkashi and Gangotri once again? Overnight stay at the hotel in Uttarkashi.

Day 07: Uttarkashi - Srinagar (205kms/8hrs)
Today’s itinerary involves an 8 hour drive from Uttarkashi to Srinagar. Along the drive, we will halt at Tehri Dam, India’s highest dam. Once we arrive at Srinagar(not to be confused with capital of Jammu & Kashmir), we have you check in at the hotel.

Day 08: Srinagar - Sitapur (80kms/4Hrs)
We will visit Dhari Devi temple in Kalyasaur village and Rudraprayag en route Phata/Sitapur. Dhari Devi is considered as the guardian Goddess of the whole of char dham Yatra shrines. At Rudraprayag, Rivers Alakananda and Mandakini meet. There’s a small yet divine temple of Maa Gauri and Narad Shila along the banks. Afterwards, we will resume our drive but will also halt at Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Guptkashi. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 09: Sitapur - Kedarnath - Sitapur (19kms Trek/6Hrs)
The third and perhaps the most challenging of our destinations will be covered today. We will drop you at Phata/Sonprayag in the early morning. The 19 km long trek is considered quite challenging even by experienced trekkers. You can hire the assistance of a doly/palki. Also, make sure you carry necessary supplies of medication, first aid, woolen clothes etc. Alternatively, you can skip the trek altogether and land directly near the temple precincts. The sight of the magnificent stone edifice of Kedarnath temple housing the supreme jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva fills a devout heart with extreme joy. This is where once reaps the benefit of having walked a perilous path to arrive humbled at Kedarnath shrine.

Day 10: Sitapur - Badrinath (230kms/9Hrs)
We will move towards our fourth and final destination of Badrinath today. Along the scenic route, we will have the pleasure of halting at the confluences of Karnaprayag (merger of Pinder and Alaknanda), Vishnuprayag(meeting point of Dhauliganga and Alaknanda) and Nandprayag (Mandakini and Alaknanda meet here). Also, the famous Narsimha Temple at Joshimath cannot be skipped either. After arrival at hotel, we will retire for an early night’s sleep.

Day 11: Badrinath - Pipalkoti (80kms/4hrs)
They say only the blessed can have darshan of Badrinarayan early in the morning. As per convention, one ought to take a holy dip in the waters of hot water spring Tapt Kund before paying visit at the holy shrine. The beautiful temple has idols of not just Lord Vishnu, but also Goddess Lakshmi, Hanuman, Lord Ganesh, Kubera and Nar-Narayan. Afterwards, one can proceed to Brahma Kapal, the place in the temple precincts where rites and rituals for one’s dead ancestors are performed.
The peaks of Nar, Narayan and Neelkanth form the picturesque backdrop of the beautiful temple at Badrinath. It is believed that Lord Vishnu meditated in this chilly land, and Maa Lakshmi took the form of a Badri tree to protect him from the cold. In fact, if accounts are to be believed, the region was filled with Badri trees in the days of yore. Even after Badri trees left the landscape, the region retains its name as Badrinath.
After immersing oneself in the holy environ of Badrinath, one can explore the nearby village of Mana. Famed as the ‘last Indian village’, the village has many relics of the Mahabharata era strewn in its terrain that one feels transported to the ancient era altogether. Bhim Pul, Vyas Gufa, Ganesh Gufa, Saraswati River are some of them. Bhim Pul refers to the natural rock bridge over the thunderous flow of Saraswati River. While Ganesh Gufa is the site in which Lord Ganesh transcribed the epic Mahabharata dictated to him by Ved Vyas, Vyas Gufa is revered as the site in which Ved Vyas created Mahabharata and other puranas.

Day 12: Pipalkoti - Haridwar - Delhi (220kms/6hrs)
On our twelfth day, you will be driven back to Haridwar. Along the way, we will halt at Devprayag, the beautiful merger of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi. It is from Devprayag that Ganga earns her name and becomes whole. As one reaches Haridwar, one can take a holy dip in the waters of Ganga at Har-ki-Pauri. Also, witness the mesmerizing evening aarti at Har-ki-Pauri, it truly will transport you into one of the more sublime words that co-exist alongside ours, but require a true spiritual catalyst to evoke itself into being. We will board our coach to Delhi afterwards. Overnight journey.

Day 13: Delhi - Ahmedabad
As the end of the journey draws near with our reaching Delhi and then boarding the subsequent flight/train to Ahmedabad, our hearts would be heavy with the grief of parting but grateful at having shared such beautiful and meaningful time together. Hopefully, your Chardham Yatra from Ahmedabad has been as spiritually catalytic and beautifully sublime as had been for many guests of yesteryears.