Every summer, lakhs of pilgrims leave Delhi for the four Himalayan shrines of Uttarakhand: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. The 2026 season was the busiest on record, so if you want a smooth trip in 2027, planning early matters more than ever. This guide covers the expected 2027 opening dates, registration, the road route from Delhi, a day-by-day itinerary, costs, helicopter options and what to pack.
Char Dham Yatra 2027 at a Glance
| Detail | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Shrines | Yamunotri (Goddess Yamuna), Gangotri (Goddess Ganga), Kedarnath (Lord Shiva), Badrinath (Lord Vishnu) |
| Expected start | Around Akshaya Tritiya, which falls on Sunday, 9 May 2027 in India |
| Season | May to early or late November, with a monsoon slowdown in July and August |
| Registration | Mandatory for every pilgrim; free in 2026 at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in |
| Days needed from Delhi | 10 to 12 days by road |
| Starting point | Haridwar or Rishikesh, about 220 to 240 km from Delhi |
| Hardest part | The Kedarnath trek of about 16 km each way from Gaurikund |
Char Dham Yatra 2027 Opening Dates (Expected)
The temples do not open on fixed calendar dates. Priests fix the dates from the Hindu panchang each year, so the exact 2027 schedule is not out yet. Here is how it usually works:
- Yamunotri and Gangotri traditionally open on Akshaya Tritiya. In 2027, Akshaya Tritiya falls on 9 May in India, so both shrines are likely to open on or around that day.
- Badrinath opening date is announced on Basant Panchami (late January or early February).
- Kedarnath opening date is announced on Mahashivratri (February or March).
- Kedarnath and Badrinath usually open within a few days of Yamunotri and Gangotri.
For reference, in 2026 Yamunotri and Gangotri opened on 19 April, Kedarnath on 22 April and Badrinath on 23 April. Because Akshaya Tritiya comes almost three weeks later in 2027, expect the season to start in early to mid May rather than April.
| Shrine | 2026 Opening | 2027 Opening (Expected) | Usual Closing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yamunotri | 19 April 2026 | Around 9 May 2027 | Bhai Dooj (October or November) |
| Gangotri | 19 April 2026 | Around 9 May 2027 | Govardhan Puja (October or November) |
| Kedarnath | 22 April 2026 | A few days after 9 May 2027 | Bhai Dooj (October or November) |
| Badrinath | 23 April 2026 | A few days after 9 May 2027 | Mid to late November |
Tip: Treat any “confirmed 2027 date” you see before February 2027 with caution. Book refundable hotels until the temple committees make the official announcement.
Is Registration Mandatory for Char Dham Yatra 2027?
Yes. The Uttarakhand government requires every pilgrim to register before starting the yatra, and police check registrations at several points on the route. In 2026, online registration opened on 6 March, about six weeks before the temples opened, and it was free. Expect a similar window for 2027, likely late March or early April given the later start.
How to Register Online
- Go to the official portal registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in or install the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app.
- Sign up with your name and mobile number and choose Individual, Family or Tour Operator.
- Add each traveller’s details and ID. Indian citizens use Aadhaar; foreign nationals and many NRIs use their passport.
- Select the shrines and your planned date for each one.
- Download the QR-coded yatra registration letter and keep a printout plus a copy on your phone.
Offline counters also run in Haridwar and Rishikesh, but they get crowded in peak weeks. For help, the Uttarakhand tourism helpline is 1364.
Watch out: Registration has been free so far. In early 2026 the state discussed a small fee to cut down on fake bookings, but it was not brought in. Check the official portal for 2027 and never pay an agent who claims to sell “VIP registration”.
How to Reach the Char Dham from Delhi
Almost every Char Dham trip from Delhi starts at Haridwar or Rishikesh. From there, all four shrines are reached by mountain roads.
By Road
Delhi to Haridwar is about 220 km and takes 5 to 6 hours on the Delhi to Dehradun route via Meerut and Roorkee. Most families hire a taxi or tempo traveller from Delhi for the whole trip, which saves changing vehicles in the hills. Uttarakhand Transport and private operators also run buses from Delhi’s ISBT Kashmere Gate to Haridwar and Rishikesh.
By Train
Haridwar has the best rail links from Delhi, including the Shatabdi and Vande Bharat services to Dehradun that stop at Haridwar. Rishikesh (Yog Nagari Rishikesh station) and Dehradun are other options. Hire a taxi from the station for the hill section.
By Air
Fly from Delhi to Dehradun (Jolly Grant Airport), which is about 35 km from Rishikesh. This saves most of a day on the plains. Some operators also sell helicopter packages from Dehradun that cover all four dhams in a few days, though these are costly and depend on weather.
Char Dham Yatra Route Map from Delhi
The yatra is traditionally done from west to east, which is also the most practical order by road:
Delhi → Haridwar → Barkot → Yamunotri → Uttarkashi → Gangotri → Guptkashi → Kedarnath → Badrinath → Rishikesh → Delhi
The full loop is roughly 1,700 km by road, depending on your exact stops.
| Shrine | Altitude (approx.) | Last Road Point | Trek |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yamunotri | 3,290 m | Janki Chatti | About 6 km each way |
| Gangotri | 3,100 m | Gangotri | None, the temple is by the road |
| Kedarnath | 3,583 m | Gaurikund (shuttle from Sonprayag) | About 16 km each way |
| Badrinath | 3,133 m | Badrinath | None, the temple is by the road |
11-Day Char Dham Itinerary from Delhi
This plan suits most families travelling by road. Add one spare day for landslides or bad weather, especially after mid June.
Day 1: Delhi to Haridwar (about 220 km)
Leave early, reach by afternoon and attend the evening Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri.
Day 2: Haridwar to Barkot (about 210 km)
Drive via Dehradun and Mussoorie or via Vikasnagar. It is a long mountain day, so start by 6 am.
Day 3: Yamunotri Darshan
Drive about 45 km to Janki Chatti, then trek about 6 km to Yamunotri. Pilgrims take a dip in the Surya Kund hot spring area and cook rice in its water as prasad. Return to Barkot for the night.
Day 4: Barkot to Uttarkashi (about 100 km)
Visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Uttarkashi in the evening.
Day 5: Gangotri Darshan
Drive about 100 km to Gangotri, pray at the temple on the Bhagirathi and stop at Gangnani hot springs on the way back. Night in Uttarkashi.
Day 6: Uttarkashi to Guptkashi or Sitapur (about 220 km)
The longest drive of the trip. Stay close to Sonprayag so you can start the Kedarnath trek early.
Day 7: Kedarnath Trek
Take the shared jeep from Sonprayag to Gaurikund and start the 16 km trek before sunrise. Most people take 6 to 8 hours. Stay overnight near the temple and attend the evening aarti.
Day 8: Kedarnath to Guptkashi
Morning darshan, then trek down and drive back to Guptkashi.
Day 9: Guptkashi to Badrinath (about 200 km)
Drive via Rudraprayag and Joshimath (Jyotirmath). Take a bath in Tapt Kund before evening darshan.
Day 10: Badrinath and Mana Village, Drive to Rudraprayag
Early darshan, then visit Mana, the last village before the Tibet border, about 3 km away. Drive down to Rudraprayag or Srinagar.
Day 11: Back to Rishikesh and Delhi
Stop at Devprayag, where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi meet to form the Ganga. Reach Rishikesh by afternoon and Delhi by night, or break the trip with a night in Rishikesh.
Short on time? A Do Dham trip (Kedarnath and Badrinath only) takes 5 to 6 days from Delhi.
Kedarnath Helicopter Booking
If the 16 km trek is too much, helicopter shuttles fly to Kedarnath from three helipads in Rudraprayag district: Sersi, Phata and Guptkashi. Tickets are sold only on the official IRCTC HeliYatra portal (heliyatra.irctc.co.in), and you need your Char Dham registration first.
| Helipad | 2026 Round Trip Base Fare (per person) |
|---|---|
| Sersi | ₹6,390 |
| Phata | ₹10,164 |
| Guptkashi | ₹12,762 |
GST and a booking fee are added on top. Fares are revised each year, so expect small changes for 2027. Booking windows open in phases and sell out within minutes in May and June, so be ready on the release day. Ignore social media pages selling “confirmed heli tickets”, since helicopter booking scams are common every season.
Other options for the trek are ponies, palkis (palanquins) and pithus (porters), with rates fixed by the district administration. Pay only at the official counters in Sonprayag and Gaurikund.
Char Dham Yatra Cost from Delhi
Costs depend on group size, hotel level and whether you use a helicopter. These are rough per person estimates for an 11-day road trip from Delhi in a group of four to six, based on 2026 rates.
| Expense | Budget | Mid Range |
|---|---|---|
| Transport (shared taxi or tempo traveller) | ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 | ₹15,000 to ₹22,000 |
| Hotels (10 nights, twin sharing) | ₹8,000 to ₹15,000 | ₹18,000 to ₹35,000 |
| Food | ₹4,000 to ₹6,000 | ₹6,000 to ₹10,000 |
| Pony or palki at Kedarnath and Yamunotri (optional) | ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 | ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 |
| Total (without helicopter) | ₹27,000 to ₹46,000 | ₹44,000 to ₹82,000 |
Add the helicopter fare if you plan to fly to Kedarnath. Group packages from Delhi tour operators usually fall within or near these ranges, but always check what is included, especially meals, pony charges and the Kedarnath night stay.
Best Time for Char Dham Yatra 2027
- May to June: Pleasant weather and clear roads, but the biggest crowds. Book hotels early.
- July to August: Monsoon. Landslides often block roads, and in 2026 the yatra was paused for a few days during heavy rain alerts. Avoid this period if you can.
- September to October: Fresh green valleys, clear mountain views and fewer people. Many regular pilgrims prefer this window.
- November: Very cold, and the shrines close one by one for winter.
In winter, the deities are worshipped at their winter seats: Kharsali for Yamunotri, Mukhba for Gangotri, the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath for Kedarnath and the Narasimha temple in Joshimath for Badrinath.
Tips for Senior Citizens and First-Time Pilgrims
- See a doctor first. Kedarnath is above 3,500 m. People with heart, lung or blood pressure problems should get a check-up and carry their prescriptions.
- Go slow on the climb. Altitude sickness is the most common health problem on the yatra. Rest, drink water and descend if headaches or breathlessness get worse.
- Start early every day. Mountain roads are safest in daylight, and weather in the afternoon is less predictable.
- Carry cash. ATMs and mobile networks are patchy beyond Uttarkashi and Guptkashi.
- Keep your registration handy. You will be asked for it at check posts and at the temples.
- Keep a buffer day. One landslide can hold up traffic for hours.
What to Pack for Char Dham Yatra
- Warm layers: thermal innerwear, fleece or sweater, a down or padded jacket, woollen cap and gloves
- Raincoat or poncho and a waterproof cover for your bag
- Good walking shoes with grip, plus spare socks
- Personal medicines, ORS, pain relief and a basic first aid kit
- Torch, power bank and a small daypack for the treks
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm
- ID proof, registration printout and some cash
Planning Another Trip from Delhi?
If you are working out the numbers for a family holiday as well, read our Goa trip cost from Delhi guide for a full budget breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Char Dham Yatra 2027 start?
The yatra is expected to begin around Akshaya Tritiya, which falls on 9 May 2027 in India, when Yamunotri and Gangotri usually open. Kedarnath and Badrinath typically open a few days later. Official dates are announced in early 2027.
Is registration free for Char Dham Yatra?
Registration was free in 2026 and is mandatory for every pilgrim. You can register on registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in, through the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app or at counters in Haridwar and Rishikesh.
How many days are needed for Char Dham Yatra from Delhi?
Plan 10 to 12 days by road, including a spare day for weather. A Do Dham trip covering only Kedarnath and Badrinath takes about 5 to 6 days.
What is the cost of Char Dham Yatra from Delhi?
A budget road trip in a group costs roughly ₹27,000 to ₹46,000 per person, and a mid range trip about ₹44,000 to ₹82,000, not counting a Kedarnath helicopter ride.
What is the correct order to visit the Char Dham?
The traditional order is Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and then Badrinath, moving from west to east. It is also the most practical order by road from Delhi.
How do I book a Kedarnath helicopter ticket?
Complete your Char Dham registration, then book on the official IRCTC HeliYatra portal. In 2026, round trip base fares were ₹6,390 from Sersi, ₹10,164 from Phata and ₹12,762 from Guptkashi.
What is the best time for Char Dham Yatra?
May to June and September to October are the best months. Avoid July and August, when monsoon landslides often block roads.