All About the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand Himalayas

Yamunotri Temple

Located in Uttarkashi at an elevation of 3164 m, Yamunotri Dham in Uttarakhand is one of the four important temples of the Chardham Circuit. It is also the place from where the Yamuna River originates. In Yamunotri, another major attraction after the temple are the thermal springs which are known as ‘Kunds’ of Goddess Shakti.

To visit Yamunotri Temple, a full day tour from Uttarakhand’s main towns/cities including Rishikesh, Haridwar or Dehradun is required. The temple is accessible by a 13-km trek from the town of Hanuman Chatti and a 6-km trek from Janki Chatti.

Yamunotri Opening Date: 19 April 2026

Where to Stay in Yamunotri?

Some of the best places to stay near Yamunotri are:

• Maa Yamunotri
• Hotel Devbhoomi
• Camp Adhvanta

Gangotri Temple

Situated at an altitude of 3,200 m in Uttarkashi district, Gangotri is where thousands of devotees pay their visit with faith of getting their sins cleansed. Gangotri is a sacred town through which flows the sacredmost river in India, Ganga. The Gangotri Glacier at Gaumukh is the origin point of this holy river which is called Bhagirathi before it merges with Alaknanda in Devprayag to form Ganga. The Ganges is believed to be the sacred source of purity and sanctity and so before visiting the temple, devotees take a holy dip in its water.

The shrine of Gangotri was built in the 18th century and is an exquisite 20 ft structure made of white granite. People can visit Gangotri during the months of May and October.

Gangotri Opening Date: 19 April 2026

Where to Stay in Gangotri?

Some of top hotels & resorts to stay in Gangotri are:

• Hotel Mandakini
• Hotel Bhagirathi Sadan
• Ganga Niketan Hotel
• GMVN Travelers Lodge
• GMVN Gangotri Tourist

Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath Temple in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state is situated at an altitude of 3584 m and is at a close proximity to the river Mandakini. It is considered as a sacred abode of Lord Shiva and is believed to be one of the 12 Jyotirlinga.

According to legends, Kedarnath was built by the Pandavas of the Mahabharata fame who won the favour of Lord Shiva after doing the penance here. The sacred shrine in Uttarakhand is also one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, expounded in Tevaram. The temple is open between April end and November.

Kedarnath Opening Date: 22 April 2026

Where to Stay in Kedarnath?

Some of the best places to stay in Kedarnath are:

• Punjab Sindh Awas
• New Himachal House
• Himachal House
• Rajasthan Bhwan
• Bahel Ashram

Badrinath Temple

The holy Badrinath Temple is situated at an altitude of 3415 m in the Garhwal Himalayas on the bank of Alaknanda River. One of the important shrines of the Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand as well as the Chardham Yatra in India, it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his Badri Avatar. Legend has it, Lord Vishnu meditated at this place for thousands of years under the Badri (berry) tree and so the name is given as Badrinath.

The idol inside Badrinath Temple is made of the shaligram and is in the meditative pose. It is believed that the temple was established by Adi Shankaracharaya in the 9th century. From Haridwar, Rishikesh and Kotdwar, the devotees can easily reach Shri Badrinath Dham Temple.

Badrinath Opening Date: 23 April 2026

Where to Stay in Badrinath?

Some best hotels & resorts to stay in Badrinath are:

• New Hotel Snow Crest
• Sarovar Portico
• Hotel Dwarikesh
• Narayan Palace
• Hotel Shankar Shree