Char Dham Yatra - Planning Guide from Chamoli

What is the Char Dham Yatra?

The Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand covers four sacred shrines in the Garhwal Himalayas - Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Pilgrims traditionally visit them from west to east, ending the yatra at Badrinath, which lies in Chamoli district. Chamoli is therefore the final and, for many, the most important leg of the entire circuit.

When does the Yatra season start?

The temples remain closed through the winter because of heavy snowfall. The kapat (doors) of Badrinath usually open in the last week of April or the first week of May - the exact date is declared a few months in advance according to the Hindu calendar - and close in November after Diwali. Plan your yatra between May and June or in September and October; July and August are monsoon months when landslides can block the highways.

Registration is mandatory

The Uttarakhand government requires every pilgrim to register before the yatra (online portal, mobile app, or at physical counters at Haridwar, Rishikesh and on the route). Carry a photo ID and keep your registration handy - it is checked at entry points on the Badrinath highway.

Route to Badrinath through Chamoli

  • Rishikesh to Devprayag (74 km) - confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi
  • Devprayag to Srinagar (33 km)
  • Srinagar to Rudraprayag (33 km)
  • Rudraprayag to Karnaprayag (32 km) - entry into Chamoli district
  • Karnaprayag to Chamoli town (43 km)
  • Chamoli to Joshimath (48 km)
  • Joshimath to Badrinath (44 km)

Add these to your yatra while in Chamoli

Practical tips

  • Book stay in Joshimath or Badrinath well in advance for May-June
  • Carry warm clothing even in summer - Badrinath is at 3133 m
  • Acclimatise: spend a night at Joshimath before going higher
  • Fuel up at Joshimath; ATMs beyond it are unreliable
  • Check road status before travelling in monsoon