Char Dham Yatara

Day 1: Dehradun to Barkot

The journey to the Char Dham begins at the Dehradun from where we will travel to Barkot, a town in the Uttarkashi district.

Located in Uttarkashi district at an altitude of 1,220 m, Barkot is a town in Uttarkashi district, on the banks of the Yamuna River.  Barkot is a scenic town where the landscape stretches beautifully in with colorful apple orchards and the slopes verdant green with vegetation. The road to Barkot is very scenic and we will reach Barkot in the evening, and en route, we will also pass the beautiful and charming town of Mussorie, making a stop at Kempty Falls for lunch. From Barkot, you will get stunning views of Bandarpoonch Peak and it is a major stopover for pilgrims who wants to visit Gangotri and Yamunotri during the Char Dham season. Check into the hotel, have dinner, and rest well, tomorrow your day of actual trekking starts.

Day 2: Yamunotri Dham Darshan And Back To Barkot

Today is the biggest day as you will visit one of the first Char Dhams, Yamunotri Dham. After our breakfast from Barkot, we will head towards Gangotri Dham. First, it’s a short drive to Janki Chatti/Phool Chatti. From here, it’s approximately a 6 km hike to Yamunotri.  The trek is through the lush valley, dense conifers, rhododendrons, cacti, and numerous Himalayan shrubs. Yamunotri is the origin of River Yamuna, a highly revered place situated in the north of Uttarakhand. The Yamunotri Glacier at an elevation, of 6,387 meters is the source of the river Yamuna. The real source is Champasar Glacier closer to the temple. Yamunotri Dham is located at an altitude of 3293 m in the Western Garhwal Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand and is the seat of Goddess Yamuna. Goddess Yamuna's idol here is made of black marble. According to the legends, Goddess Yamuna is the daughter of Yama (the god of death), and taking a bath in the river is believed to bring a peaceful death. Apart from being a place of spiritual significance, Yamunotri is also blessed generously with nature’s beauty. The temple set with the backdrop of the Yamuna River that jests down along on side of the temple makes for a wonderful sight. You will hear and see the sounds and sights of beautiful waterfalls and lush valleys along the way. The Bandarpoonch Massif is very prominent here and you will get expansive views of the peak.

AYamunotri is also a pleasant spot with many options for sightseeing. One of the significant is Surya Kund which is among several hot springs in the area. The hot water spring is believed to have medicinal properties. Many pilgrims carry rice in a cloth and dip it in the hot water. The cooked and steamed rice is then treated as "prasad" and offered to Divya Shila of the temple. The Shila is a rock pillar that is worshipped before stepping into the temple. After visiting the temple take a dip in the Kund, offer your prayers, and after spending some time in the serenity of the temple return back to Barkot.

Day 3: Drive From Barkot To Uttarkashi

From Barkot today you will visit the hub of adventures and spirituality, Uttarakashi. It is the renowned district of Uttarakhand where mountaineers, hikers, and pilgrims come every year for their mountain endeavours. Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) is located in Uttarakashi along with a variety of ashrams and temples. The town is considered comparable to Varanasi which is also on the banks of the river Ganges. Uttarkashi is located at a distance of approximately 90 km from Barkot and it takes 4 hrs to reach the town.

Uttarkashi is popular for its rich cultural heritage and immense natural abundance. Sweeping mountain views, decorate the town on all sides. The entire town is lined with many temples and holy places. One of the pious temples is the Vishwanath temple, believed to be the oldest one. It was redeveloped by Maharani Khaneti Devi of Tehri State in 1857. The entire temple is a huge site that comprises other shrines of Markandeya Rishi, Ganpati, and Sakshi Gopal. While you are at the premises take full advantage of the Akhand Abhishek and Akhand Jyoti. They are of prime importance and bring happiness. An interesting thing that you will observe at Vishwanath Temple is that the Shivalingam is almost 56 cm in height and there’s a slight tilt in the southwards direction. There’s also a Nandi Statue outside the temple. If you believe the literature of Skanda Puran, Uttarkashi is the home of Lord Shiva for Kaliyug and it is also part of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The Vishwanath temple is an ancient temple and you can witness the age-old architectural style of the temple building.

Another incredible spot not to miss is the Shakti temple which is exactly opposite Vishwanath. It has a massive linga called ‘Trishul’ of 20 feet in height and a circumference of 90 cm. It is made of iron and copper. The legend goes that Shakti (Trishul) was thrown by Goddess Shakti (Durga) to kill some demons and hence the name of the temple. When in Uttarkashi also visit other notable temples like Markandey Rishi, Kuteti Devi, Sakshi Gopal, Gopeshwar Mahadev, Koteshwar Mahadev, and Sakshi Gopal Temple.

Apart from pilgrim spots and temples, Uttarkashi is also a hub for all adventure lovers as it serves as the base for many popular treks like Dyara Bugyal Trek, Dodital Trek, Kedartal Trek, Sartal Trek, Har Ki Dun Trek, etc. Uttarkashi has a considerably big market, so if you want to withdraw any cash from ATM or buy some last-minute miscellaneous stuff for the trek.

Day 4: Uttarkashi To Gangotri And Back To Uttarkashi

Along the way, at Gangnani take the chance to bathe in Garam Kund. Henceforth the landscapes get mesmerizing as you pass through Harsil valley with Deodar trees blooming everywhere. Again at Gangotri wash away your sins and tiredness by taking a dip in the holy Ganga. Ganga river here is also called Bhagirathi. The revered Gangotri temple on the river banks was built by the Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa in the 18th Century. Gangotri Temple is located at an altitude of 3,100 m and is nestled in the Gangotri Ranges. The sacred river Ganga originates from the Gaumukh glacier in the Gangotri Valley. There are many legends attached to the origin of the River Ganga here. One tale goes such that sage Kapila once burnt the 60,000 sons of King Bhagirath to ashes and cursed them that they will attain Moksha only if their ashes were washed in the holy River Ganga, who at that time seated in heaven. Bhagirath thus prayed to Goddess Ganga, who transformed into a River to wash away the ashes of Bhagirath’s son. Another tale goes that when Ganga was descending to Earth in response to the prayers of King Bhagirath, her intensity was such that it would submerge the entire earth. To protect the world from being submerged Lord Shiva caught Ganga in his locks and released Ganga in three streams, one of which came down to earth as Bhagirathi. There’s a Bhagirath Shila located close to the temple, where Bhagirath has been said to have been meditating. To witness the origin of the River Ganga, one has to trek from Gangotri all the way to the Gaumukh Glacier. Some people also trek 4 km further to Tapovan.

Another major attraction is the submerged Shivling which comes into sight only in winter when the river level is less. But is an epic view. Around 100 Yards from the Ganga Temple flows the river Kedar Ganga. Along with the Ganga temple, there is also a Kedar Ganga temple which you must visit. About 10 km downstream from Gangotri lies the  Bhairon Nath temple. According to the legends, Bhairon Nath was chosen by Lord Shiva to protect the temple. After a day full of exploration you will head back to Uttarkashi. You will stay the night at Uttarkashi.

Day 5: Drive From Uttarkashi to Sonprayag

From Uttarkashi, the next celebrated stop is Sonprayag.  Early in the morning after breakfast, we will start the drive towards Sonprayag. The route is extremely tranquil through Moolgarh and Lambgoan. Also, the sight of the beautiful Mandakini river at Tilwara is serene. The water body follows from Kedarnath (which you will be visiting soon). The path to Guptkashi goes side by side with the Mandakini river. En route, you will also the Tehri Dam, the highest dam in the world and we will reach Sonprayag by evening.

Day 6: Sonprayag to Kedarnath

Today will be a milestone of life as you will go to Kedarnath. There will be a medical check-up after which you will head to Sonprayag.

Kedarnath needs no introduction. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, a perfect Himalayan getaway with terrific historical and mythological prominence. More importantly, it is just a magnificent spot of beauty and serenity with the Kedarnath Range as the backdrop. Kedarnath is located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand and perches at an altitude of 3553 m. Kedar is a synonym of Lord Shiva who is both protector and the destroyer. As per the Mahabharata, the Pandavas after winning the war against Kauravas felt guilty for ending the lives of their own brothers. They, therefore, wanted to take the blessing of Lord Shiva. He then escaped and hid in many places. When he finally appeared at Kedarnath. Kedarnath is also part of the Panch Kedar Yatra where parts of Shiva are believed to be found.

The motorable road is till Guarikund, from where you will have to trek 16 km to complete the trek.  From Guarikund start your trek and continue through Rambada Bridge to reach Jungle Chatti, your first stop point. Gaurikund to Jungle Chatti is at a distance of 4 km. If you are tired take a break here, have some water and refreshments and continue on your journey. From Jungle Chatti, the next stop is at Bheembali, which is at a distance of 3 km from Jungle Chatti. There are accommodations along Bheembali as well. The third stop is at Linchauli, which is 4 km  Linchauli, accommodations are available at Linchauli as well. The mountain views from Linchauli are extraordinary and will take all your tiredness away. From Linchauli, it is another 4 km to Kedarnath base camp. From the base camp, you will get a panoramic view of the mountain environs and the temple not very far away. You can feel the divine mysticism and the spiritual aura of the place as soon as you set foot on the Kedarnath shrine. The Kedarnath peak stands tall behind the temple adding to the divine aura of the temple.

Day 7: Kedarnath to Sonprayag

Get up early morning before dawn and after taking a bath visit the temple by 4:45 am for the Kedarnath Shiva. Everyone can go inside Garbha Griha and touch the idol. You can also prostrate with your head touching the deity etc. After Temple Darshan and Post breakfast begins your downwards journey from Kedarnath. Trek down to Gauri Kund, which is known for its hot spring. There is a famous Parvati temple as well. According to legends, Gaurikund is where Parvati did penance involving yogic and ascetic practices to win Lord Shiva’s heart and it is believed that Lord Shiva accepted to marry Parvati here and they got married in the Tijuginarayan temple. From Gaurikund you will drive to Sonprayag, where you will stay the night.

Day 8: Sonprayag to Badrinath

The last but not the least, Badrinath is the final stop of the Char Dhams. You will take a 7 hours long ride to Badrinath via Joshimath. It will also be your halting point for the day. Located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Badrinath is the seat of Lord Vishnu. Not many know of the epic behind the name of Badrinath. The location is decored by wild berries, therefore, the name, \"Badri van\" or \"forest of berries\". En route Joshimath, you can also see Adi Shankaracharya Math and Narsingh Temple at Joshimath.

At 3000 meters height, Badrinath is protected by Nar and Narayan mountains on either side. This religious place is also filled with hot water springs of which Tapt and Narad kunds are popular. Tapt Kund is on Alaknanda river banks and it is compulsory to bath in this kund before stepping to the Badrinath temple. Narad Kund is the pool where Badrinath idol was discovered.

Other attractions are Brahama Kapal (a platform where rituals for deceased are performed), Sheshnetra (it is boulder 1.5 km far that has an impression of a snake), Charanpaduka (another boulder 3 km far that has an impression of Vishnu\'s footprint), Maha Murty temple (this shrine dedicated to mother of Badrinath), Vasundhara (a waterfall, 5km from Badrinath) etc. Mana village near Badrinath is also of major importance as it houses other attractions like Bhim Pul and Vyas Gufa. Mana lies in the Indo-Tibetan border and is steeped in natural beauty.

Bhim Pul: On the other side of Mana village, a massive rock forming a natural bridge, lies over the roaring Saraswati river. It presents a spectacular view of water thundering down through the narrow passage under the rock and is believed to have been placed there by Bhim, the second eldest among the five Pandava brothers.

Vyas Gufa (cave): Near Mana Village, this is a rock-cave where Ved Vyas is believed to have composed the Mahabharata and the pauranic commentaries.

The dreamlike setting of Badrinath and the mesmerizing vistas add to the sanctity of the place and it is where you can experience true tranquility. Just like other Dhams, the Badrinath temple is also full of legends. It is said that Lord Vishnu came here and immersed himself in complete meditation after Sage Narada rebuked him for being to occupied with worldly pleasures. Badrinath also has mrntions in Vedic scriptures like Srimad Bhagvatam. The presiding deity inside Badrinath is an idol of Lord Vishnu immersed in meditation. Enjoy a day full of sightseeing and basking in the natural glory, head back to your hotel and rest the night.

Day 9: Badrinath to Dehradun

Now it's the day to say goodbye to all the Dhams and head back home. The return journey follows a devotional path with Rudraprayag and Rishikesh on its way. Usually, the devotees take a quick bath in Taptkund before starting the return journey. You can capture the tourist locations of Mana village if you missed them yesterday.

Inclusions :-

1.Accommodation. (Guest house, Home stay, Camping)

2.Meals while on trek (Veg.+ Egg)

3.Trek equipments (Sleeping bag, mattress, Kitchen & dinning tent, crampon, utensils, tent)

4.All necessary permits and entry fees.

5.First aid medical kits, stretcher and oxygen cylinder.

6.Mountaineering qualified & professional trek Leader, guide and Support staff.

Exclusions :-

1.Any kind of personal expenses.

2. Food during the transit.

3. Insurance.

4. Mules or porter to carry personal luggage.

5. Anything not specifically mentioned under the head

Cancellation and Refund Policy

A.1.1. Process – The cancellation process is completely automated. Please login to you’re Mountain Hike account and find relevant instructions on your dashboard. You can choose your preferred mode of refund (Instant/Cash) as per the policy below and your refund would automatically be processed by the system.

A.1.2. Replacement of participant(s) – Our system allows you to seamlessly replace any of the participants in your booking through the Mountain Hike login account dashboard. Please note that this feature is applicable only when the status of the Booking is “Paid” and there are at least 5 days remaining prior to the departure date (departure date minus 5). If you are unable to replace a participant through your dashboard, then, drop an email to themountainhike@gmail.com the screenshot of the error. The new participant needs to print, sign, scan and send the undertaking form to themountainhike@gmail.com

Please note that the replacement would not be applicable on any Volvo/Train transport booked for the original participant. The same would be automatically cancelled. This is simply because the seats booked in such transport mediums are not transferrable.

A.1.3. Cash Refund: Cash refund is applicable only in case of bookings made without using any promotional offer code or vouchers. Also, the cash refunds would not be applicable in case of shifted batch bookings & if the status of the Booking is “Booked”.

The Refund of the amount would be processed as per deduction guidelines outlined below:

1. Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date – 5% deduction
2. Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure – 50% deduction
3. Less than 15 days of departure – No Cash Refund

All cancellation refunds will be processed back to the bank account or the credit card account from which the event fee has been paid. The amount for refund processing would always be calculated basis the net amount paid* for booking the event w.r.t the Base Price of the event (excluding additional components like transport, insurance, rent, portage, etc.).

A.1.4. Voucher Refund: This option is available for all types of bookings including the bookings made under promotional offers.

The Mountain Hike would offer you a short term voucher that would enable you with a flexibility to book any other The Mountain Hike event using the voucher. The option of claiming a voucher is available till 5 day prior to the departure of the event. The Refund of the amount would be processed as per deduction guidelines outlined below:

1. Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date – No deduction
2. Less than 5 days prior to departure – No Refund

The amount for refund processing would always be calculated basis the net amount paid* for booking the event w.r.t the Base Price of the event (excluding additional components like transport, insurance, rent, portage, etc.). Please note that the voucher issued would not include the service tax amount paid while making the booking. However, when you use the voucher to book again on our website, service tax would not be applicable on the voucher amount. Validity of the voucher would be 10 months from the date of issue.

Please note that any additional transport bookings are completely non-refundable, be it cash or voucher refund. For e.g. If you have booked Monal Top Trek by paying a base prices of INR 6,950 along with the transportation from Dehradun to Village Wan and back, and with portage and insurance, then in case of postponement or cancellation, only the base price of INR 6,950 would be considered for calculations of refund as per the slabs defined above or for the matter of issuing a voucher (for postponement cases). The additional transport fee deposited is completely non-refundable.

The Mountain Hike reserves the right to cancel your booking or change any of the facilities, services or prices described in our brochures or website. We will endeavour to advise you of any changes known at the time of booking. We plan the arrangements for your events many months in advance and may occasionally have to make minor changes..Transport timings and carriers shown or communicated on our website are for guidance only and are subject to change.

However in the field of adventure activities, there are many variables beyond our control like weather conditions, landslides, road situations and any other force majeure conditions. Circumstances amounting to “force majeure” include any event which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not even with all due care, foresee or forestall such as (by way of example and not by way of limitation) war, threat of war, riots, civil disturbances, industrial disputes, actual or threatened terrorist activity and its consequences, natural or nuclear disasters, fire, epidemics, health risks and pandemics, ban by local authorities, acts of God, unavoidable and unforeseeable technical problems with transport for reasons beyond our control or that of our suppliers, closed or congested airports or ports, hurricanes and other actual or potential adverse weather conditions, and any other similar events. In such situations we might be forced to change the itinerary or even cancel an event. In case of a change /cancellation, you will have the choice of either:

Accepting a replacement event from us of equivalent or similar standard and price (at the date of the change), if we are able to offer you one; or Cancelling your event, in which case you shall receive a full refund*, including all the components paid by you (transport, base fee, taxes).

*The refund would always be in the form of a voucher (validity 6 months) if the change or cancellation arises from circumstances amounting to “force majeure” or from any other reason beyond our control. However, for cancellations made otherwise (low participation due to cancellation by other participants), the participant would have a choice between voucher of 6 month validity or cash refund. Please note that in case you have made the booking using a voucher, cash refund would only be made for the part paid in cash. However, we will reactivate your consumed voucher with an additional validity of 6 month.

A.3.1. When the change or cancellation arise from circumstances amounting to “force majeure” or for any other reason beyond our control The Mountain Hike shall not be liable to refund the amount already deposited.

A.3.2. When the change or cancellation arising otherwise: We will, wherever possible, make suitable alternative arrangements. If we are unable to make such alternative arrangements, or you reject the same for good reason then we will return you to your point of departure and refund you for any unused services, as appropriate. The refund would be primarily made in the form of a voucher (6 month validity). However, in case the participant desires, the same amount can also be refunded in cash.

A.4. In case of drop out by the participant in between the event We shall not be liable to make any refund in such situation. The participant would also have to pay additionally for unplanned expenses on planning and executing the retreat of the participant on actual basis. In case suitable arrangements for retreat are not possible, The Mountain Hike reserves the right to deny such drop out in between the event.

A.5. In case of early return from an event In situations wherein the participant(s) return early from the event due to the event being completed earlier than estimated or wherein due to force majeur conditions, the participant(s) had to return early, in such cases, any extra service(s) availed or extra night(s) accommodation booked, etc., the participant will have to bear the expenses incurred.

A.6. In case of Emergency Evacuation While we do have first aid and experts available on all our events but still there might be situations under which an emergency evacuation might be needed. We are committed to make a safe evacuation for you in case of an emergency. We would make necessary and adequate arrangements for your evacuation till the nearest road head that is well connected by road, and would also help you in boarding a vehicle to the nearest Hospital or any other facility so required. Any additional expenses incurred, that of porters, vehicle, ambulance, hospitalization, or any other expense incurred for evacuation, would be covered by the participant