Chardham Yatra

Duration : 12 Days / 11 Nights
Destinations : Delhi - Rishikesh - Hanumanchatti - Yamunotri - Jankichatti - Uttarkashi - Gangotri - Uttarkashi - Rudraprayag - Sonprayag - Kedarnath - Gandhi Sarovar - Sonprayag - Karanprayag - Badrinath - Rishikesh - Delhi

Day 01 : Delhi - Rishikesh: Upon arrive at Delhi, receive by our representative from railway station/airport and straight drive to Haridwar the first destination of Char Dham yatra, Enroute halt for Lunch, arrive Haridwar check in at Hotel. Evening visit of Ghats and excursion Hardwar visiting Mansa Devi Temple and participation in Ganges puja Overnight Stay.

Hardwar or haridwar are two names for the same piece. The whole of uttrakhand is dotted with temples of vishnu & shiva. Vishnu is known as hari and shiva as har dwar means gate, and it is for this reason that this place is known as haridwar or hardwar, as it is the gateway to shri badrinath and shri kedarnath, the holy shrines of hari and har. The hindu pantheon allows freedom of worship of gods in any form. Uttarakhand abounds in shrines of gods & goddesses and haridwar from time immemorial has been the gateway to these shrines.

Rishikesh
Rishikesh is situated on the trisection of three districts of garhwal division and most of the city lies on the right bank of the River Ganga, the place of sages is a celebrated spiritual town on the bank of ganga and is surrounded by 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.

It is the starting point for the char dham pilgrimage yatra of the hindus in which char dham pilgrims go to yamunotri, gangotri, kedarnath and badrinath to seek spiritual salvation. On the way to the garhwal himalayas and the sikh shrine at hemkund sahib one passes rishikesh.

Rishikesh dventurous visitors, rishikesh is the place for starting their trekking expeditions and excursions towards the himalayan peaks, 10 km upsteam at shivpuri is the site for river running, rafting activities, on the roaring white water of ganga, from October to May. The international yoga week, which attracts participation from all across the world, is held here every year from 2nd to 7th Feb. on the bank of ganga river.

Places to see:
triveni ghat, lakshman jhoola, ram jhoola, bharat mandir, shivanand ashram & the divine life society)

Day 02 : Rishikesh - Hanumanchatti: Morning drive to Hanumanchatti enroute visiting Tehri famous for world famous Tehri dam. Overnight hotel.

Day 03 : Hanumanchatti - Yamunotri - Jankichatti: Morning trek to Yamunotri (14 km) after visit of the holy Shrine trek down five km to Janki Chatti . Overnight hotel.
Trek to yamunotri temple (13 km).

Yamunotri:
Situated at a elevation of 3235 meters above sea-level, the shrines of yamunotri is one of the tour dhams of uttakhand. The source of yamuna lies about 11 km ahead at an attitude of about 4421 meters. The approach is extremely difficult and pilgrims therefore offer pooja at the temple itself. Hanumanchatti or 5 km from jankichatti. Darshan pooja trek back or come down to jankichatti 6 km below the temple.

Day 04 : Jankichatti - Uttarkashi: After breakfast, trek nine kms . Our vehicle will pick up and drive to Uttarkashi. Overnight hotel.

Day 05 : Uttarkashi - Gangotri - Uttarkashi: Morning drive to Gangotri. arrive Gangotri visit temple for Darhsn and Pooja, in the late afternnon drive back to Uttarkashi for Night stay.

Temple Gangotri As legend goes raja bhagirath used to worship lord shiva at the sacred stone near which the temple is located. It is believed that goddess, ganga first descended to earth from heaven at this stone. Amar singh thapa, the gokha commander of garhwal, in the 18th century A.D. constructed this temple. It is also believed that the pandavas come here to perform the great deva yagna to atone the death of their kinsmen in the bettle of MAHABHARATA.

Day 06 : Uttarkashi - Rudraprayag: Morning drive to Rudraprayag. Overnight hotel.

Day 07 : Rudraprayag - Gaurikund - Trek to Kedarnath: Morning drive to Gaurikund afterwards trek to Kedarnath ( 14 kms ) thru the panoromic valley of Mandakini. The gushing sound of river and cascading waterfalls provides a romantic atmosphere for trekking.

Kedarnath TempleAn imposing sight standing in the middle of a wide plateau surrounded by snow covered peaks. The present temple built in 18th century A.D. by Adi shankaracharya, stands adjacent tot he site of earlier temple built by the pandavas. The inner walls of the assembly hall are decorated with fitures of various deitties and scenes from mythology. Outside the temple door a large statue of the nandi bull stands as guard.

Dedicated to lord shiva, the exquisitely architectured, kedarnath temple is considered to be more than 1000 years old. Built of extremely large heavy and evenly cut grey slavs of stones. It evokes wonder as to how these heavy slavs had been handled in the earlier days. The temple has a "Garbha Griha" for worship and mandap appt. for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors. A concial rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as lord shiva in his sadashiva form. Rest at bunglow visit to kedarnath ji temple for aarti, darshan.

Day 08 : Kedarnath - Guptkashi: After breakfast trek down to Gaurikund. Drive to Guptkashi. Overnight hotel.

Day 09 : Guptkashi/Joshimath:Morning drive to Joshimath . Overnight hotel.

Day 10 : Joshimath - Badrinath: After breakfast drive to Badrinath. Overnight hotel.

Badrinath
Badrinath is one of the four dhams of the country and situated at an elevation of 3133 mts. Above sea level, guarded on either side by the two mountain ranges known as NAR & NARAYAN , with the towering NEEL KANTH PEAK providing a splended back-drop. This revered spot was once carpeted with wild barries which gage it the name "badri Van" meaning forest of berries. Facing the temple at the back of alaknanda river there is a hot water spring known as TAPT KUND.

Badrinath Temple
Dedicated to lord vshnu, the temple of shri badrinathji is 15 mts. In height built in the form of a cone with a small cupola of a filt bull and spire. Legend dates the temple prior to the vedic age.

Day 11 : Badrinath - Rishikesh Morning drive to Rishikesh enroute Enroute halt for lunch. Overnight hotel.

Day 12 : Rishikesh - Delhi After breakfast proceed to Delhi. In the evening Garhwal HImalayan Expedition representative will provide departure transfer to International airport/Railway station to back home.