TripZack

Distance covered (by road): 36 km (one side) Distance covered (by trek): 6 km (one side)
Early morning, after a delicious breakfast, our first activity of the day is to drive from Barkot to the Janki Chatti / Phool chatti area. From here, we trek to the first shrine of the Chardham circuit, i.e. Yamunotri. The trek is 6 kilometers long and may be covered by foot, by horse, or by Doli (cost not included). The landscape covered on the trek is a stunning mix of general Himalayan vegetation and some classic plants of the region, including clusters of dense conifers, birch, firs, certain species of cacti and the ever-present rhododendron. Once we arrive at Yamunotri, we indulge in the ritual of making Prasad to take back home at the end of the journey. We do this by cooking some rice, using the steaming water of the extremely hot kund. The temperature at the Yamunotri region is mostly on the colder side. In summer, the maximum temperature is 18 degrees. In winter, the weather can get drastically cold. Another asset that is special to Yamunotri is the various “kunds” or hot water springs. The Jamunabaikund is composed of water that is warm enough to take a dip in. The Surya Kund is also worthy of attention. After doing so, one may offer prayers to the divyashila which is the Yamunotri temple, which was built in the 19th century. It even faced destruction twice, but was duly resurrected. On your way back to Jankichatti, you will witness the river Yamuna in all her glory. Soon after, we return to Barkot for the night. Dinner and Overnight Stay at the hotel.

Distance covered: 100 km We wake up early today, and start our day with a hearty breakfast. Afterward, with risen spirits, we embark on a scenic drive to Uttarkashi. We check into the hotel upon our arrival, and after lunch and a short rest, we visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple, which is the main point of intrigue in this area. The city of Uttarkashi is situated at the banks of the Ganga. The weather experienced by Uttarkashi is more on the extreme side, meaning it receives generally hot summers (temperatures ranging between 30 and 35 degrees). The winters, on the other hand, are chilly. The Vishwanath temple was reconstructed in the year 1857. Other facets of the structure include the Shakti temple (situated right across the Kashi Vishwanath temple), which is most well known for its magnificent “Trishul”, standing at a height of 6 meters, made of iron and copper. In addition to the Shakti temple, other shrines like Ganeshji, Markandeya Rishi, and Sakshi Gopal also compose a big part of the Vishwanath spiritual shrine here. The soulful aartis are a major part of the early morning and evening rituals here. After making the preferred visits and offering our prayers, we make our way back to the hotel and rest for the night. Dinner and Overnight Stay at the hotel.

Distance covered: 100 km (each side)
Today, we make the uphill journey to Gangotri, which is situated at an astonishing height of 3,048 meters. We take a packed breakfast with us to enjoy on the way. We stop at a hot spring named Garamkund at Ganganani for a holy dip quite unlike any other spiritual experience. Afterward, we take the Harsil Valley route straight to our objective destination of the day –Gangotri. We take our time and enjoy the ravishing hamlet valley of Harsil, with unprecedented views of the Himalayas, and its alpine vegetation consisting mainly of clusters of deodar and fir. Owing to its height and abundance of vegetation, the weather at Gangotri is almost always cold. The temperature even in summers ranges between 10 and 20 degrees. Light layers are recommended while making the trip. During winters, because of heavy snowfall, the place is closed and inaccessible. We soon reach Gangotri and take a moment to pray and bathe in the holy waters of river Ganga (referred to as the Bhagirathi, at its point of origin). The Gangotri temple (established in the 18th century), is situated on the right bank of the mighty river. After offering our prayers, completing the pooja rituals, and taking some time to enjoy the view presented to you in the lap of nature, we take a beautiful late sunset drive back to Uttarkashi and spend the night there. Dinner and Overnight Stay at the hotel.

After a sumptuous breakfast, we drive up to Guptkashi. The name “Guptkashi” translates to Hidden Benaras, and is derived from the legend that Lord Shiva once hid himself from the Pandavas at this location. Guptkashi is a wonderfully pleasant place to visit in the summer. The temperature never goes beyond 30 degrees. During the winter months, however, it can get considerably chilly. We make the journey via the Moolgarh and Lambgoan route, which offers us breathtaking glimpses of river Mandakini. One interesting fact is that river Mandakini actually originates from Kedarnath, which only adds to the spiritual energy and aura that makes this entire trip special. While driving alongside the river, we soon find ourselves at the ArdhNarishwar temple at Guptkashi. After taking some time to visit the temple and offer prayers, we check into our hotel, Guptkashi. After taking some time to visit the temple and offer prayers, we check into our hotel and take the night to recuperate. Dinner and Overnight Stay at the hotel.

Distance covered (by road): 30 km
Distance covered (by trek): 19 km
Day 6 is one of the most eventful days of the entire Chardham trip. Our destination for the day is Kedarnath, possibly the most well-known and widely travelled Dham in our itinerary. According to old legends, Kedarnath is the place where Lord Shiva granted the Pandavas redemption after many prayers and requests, upon the end of the Kurukshetra war. “Kedar” is one of the many other alternative names for Lord Shiva. The Kedarnath shrine boasts the entire robust Kedarnath mountain range in the background and is situated at one of the most majestic locations possible. Because it stands tall at 3,583 meters, the temperature witnessed at the Kedarnath shrine is almost always cold. Light to semi-heavy layers of clothing are recommended even during the summer months. During winters, the weather is so cold that it is not even widely traveled to, and because the climatic conditions can be risky, it is even avoided. There are two main ways of reaching the Kedarnath shrine. One could either take the helicopter (Cost not included in the package), for which you will be dropped at the helipad in the morning soon after breakfast. This route, though quicker, stands on the relatively expensive side. Another way to reach the shrine is by trek. You will be driven to Sonprayag, after which a local jeep to Gaurikund will seamlessly bring you to your starting point for the trek. To make your way back, you will have to follow the same route and take a local jeep to Sonprayag again. Regardless of which mode you choose to opt for, you may inform the driver about the duration of your flight or trek, so he can find a suitable place to park and pick you up the next day without any hassle. After witnessing the shrine and spending some time at the Dham, we check into a Camp for the night.

Distance covered (by road): 30 km Distance covered (by trek): 19 km
After a vibrant, calming pooja and a delicious breakfast, we check out of our hotel and make the journey back from Kedarnath to Sonprayag. After your driver picks you up at the predecided place drive to Triyuginarayan Temple. And then we drive back to Guptkashi, where we check into the hotel once again. The itinerary for the rest of the day is empty, giving you enough time to take in the warm, spiritual energy of the journey so far, and rest for the next few days to come.

Our last Dham for the trip, i.e. Badrinath, is the objective of our day today. After breakfast, we drive straight to Badrinath and check into our hotel. The maximum average temperature at Badrinath is around 15 degrees, and the minimum would be around 8 degrees. Extra layers of clothing are always required for Badrinath, regardless of the time of the year. During winter, it is mostly closed to tourists. One of the most significant holy rituals of Badrinath is taking a bath in Taptkund. After this, one may embark on sightseeing or the darshan of Badrivishal, followed by the beautiful aarti in the evening. In the interim period, you may take the time to explore other popular gems of the region, namely Mana village (Indo-Mongolian tribe inhabited), Bhimkund, Matamoorti, Vyasgufa (the cave where Ved Vyas is said to have composed the Mahabharata), and the mouth of the Saraswati river. Most of these points of interest are located within three to five kilometers of Badrinath After spending time at the shrine and witnessing one of the most spiritually-charged aartis you will ever witness, Overnight stay in Badrinath or Joshimath.

After the Beautiful Sunrise at Badrinath Receive morning arti at Badrinath and after breakfast drive to Rishikesh/Haridwar ( local sightseeing, Dinner, and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Dehradun via Rishikesh. Rishikesh, “the place of sages,” is a celebrated spiritual town on the bank of the Ganga and is surrounded by the Shivalik range of the Himalayas on three sides. It is said that when Raibhya Rishi did hard penances, God appeared by the name of ” Hrishikesh ” and this area henceforth came to be known as Rishikesh. Later, visit the Rishikesh Temples for sightseeing at Laxman Jhulla, Ram Jhulla. Later, drop at Dehradun / Haridwar.