Char Dham

The Char Dham Yatra — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath in Uttarakhand’s high Himalaya — is the annual traffic event of Indian pilgrimage, and the one where planning genuinely changes outcomes: registration is compulsory, altitude is a medical variable, and the temple gates open only in late spring.

in, and Akshaya Tritiya 2027 falls on Saturday 8 May** — the panchang anchor around which the 2027 season will take shape. Checked 01 October 2026.

The essentials

Source register: sources/chardham.md · Last checked: 01 October 2026.

The four dhams, one line each

• Yamunotri (3,293 m) — the source shrine of the Yamuna; a ~6 km steep trek from Janki Chatti.
• Gangotri (~3,042 m) — the Ganga’s temple; the only drive-in dham.
• Kedarnath (~3,583 m) — the Jyotirlinga below Kedarnath peak; ~16 km uphill from Gaurikund; the yatra’s physical and spiritual summit.
• Badrinath (~3,300 m) — Vishnu’s seat on the Alaknanda; road-head darshan with the official committee’s published schedule.

Each dham has its own guide; the treks have dedicated pages; the winter seats (Ukhimath, Mukhba, Joshimath, Kharsali) have their own circuit.

How to structure the yatra

Three shapes: the full yatra (west-to-east, 10–12 days), the Do-Dham (Kedarnath + Badrinath, 5–7 days — the most popular), and the helicopter Do-Dham (expensive, fast, official-booking-only). The route plan lays out legs and halt towns; the budget calculator prices them.

The planning calendar

1. Now–Dec 2026: watch for the 2027 registration opening (2026 opened ~early-mid March) and the Kedarnath/Badrinath date announcements around Basant Panchami/Mahashivratri (Feb 2027).
2. Feb–Apr 2027: register (free), book IRCTC heli if flying, book stays (GMVN portals list into 2027).
3. May 2027: the dhams open; the season runs to the Diwali window.

Health is the non-negotiable layer: the 2026 season’s mandatory screening and the advisory’s acclimatization guidance exist because the altitude is real — the altitude-health guide covers it.

Frequently asked questions