Chardham Trip Planner India

Located
in the lofty laps of Himalayas are the holy centres of Gangotri, Yamunotri,
Badrinath and Kedarnath - collectively the Chardham or four sacred spots. According
to the scriptures of Hinduism, these are the most sacred of all pilgrimages,
and undertaking a journey to them will not just wash away one's sins but ensure
release from the cycle of birth and death. For centuries, saints and pilgrims,
in their search for the divine, have walked these mystical vales known in ancient
Hindu scriptures as 'Kedarkhand'. Thus these four sites are revered. When one
goes to this area, it is easy to acknowledge when told that heaven and earth
converge in these holy spots. The Chardham must be visited from left to right
-beginning with Yamunotri, going on to Gangotri, Kedarnath and culminating the
journey at Badrinath. This route follows the Hindu tradition of parikrama or
clockwise circumambulation. Explore these places and have a deep communication
with the Lord Almighty up in the misty heights of the majestic Garhwal Himalayas
in the magnificent state of Uttaranchal.
Earlier, a yatra (or journey) to this area was arduous and difficult, simply
because while the area was beautiful, accessibility was grueling and strenuous.
Thus few people came here, and due to the short travel season limited to the
summer months and the harsh winters, the limited infrastructure could not
even offer the comforts of a basic hotel elsewhere. Spiritual Journeys now
offers you one of the finest accommodations in Char Dham, the cradle of eternal
tranquility, by way of very luxurious tents offering you the best accommodation
possible.
The spiritual solace of the Char Dham yatra endows peace of the mind and
soul. Once we are in the lap of the Himalayas, our Chardham Yatra comprises
of staying in one of our tented bases, and going out to one of the Dhams.
Every year, the Hindu religious calender determines when the Chardham opens
to the public. The best time to travel is May to July, making this the ideal
vacation time for the year.
Our itinerary for the Chardham Yatra is as follows, however, we will customize
the tour for you and your group. (Please note while we have mentioned distances,
due to local conditions, time to traverse these distances is much longer than
in other places).
Tour Programme : 14 Night / 15 Days
Destinations : Delhi, Haridwar, Barkot, Harsil, Guptakashi, Gaurikund,
Joshimath, Gangotri.
Day
01: Arrival Delhi
On arrival greeting and meeting by our company,s representative and transfer
to hotel. Over night stay at hotel.
Day 02: Delhi
After breakfast enjoy a full day guided tour of New and Old Delhi which include
Qutab Minar, Lotus Temple, Lakshmi Narayan Temple,India Gate, President House,
Parliament House and Secretariat Buildings. Afternoon tour to Old Delhi, visit
Raj-Ghat (the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira
Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi), Jama Masjid and Red Fort.Over night stay at hotel.
Day 03: Delhi Haridwar
After breakfast transfer to Railway Station for Haridwar by train. Arrival
at Haridwar Railway Station, greeting and assistance by representative, transfer
to hotel The Haveli Hari Ganga. If Hardwar can be described as the Confluence
of The Mind & the Soul then The Haveli Hari Ganga, a beautiful heritage
Haveli is the Confluence of The Mind, the Body & the Soul.
Situated on the banks of the Holy Ganga, a mere 500 meters walk through the
Bazaar and the sacred "Har ki Pauri" at Haridwar, it stands at the
gateway to the Devbhumi the abode of the Gods and the "Char Dham
Yatra". The Haveli is an architectural marvel, where the ancient structure
has been restored to recreate the old - world charm with modern day hospitality.
The interiors of The Haveli are interestingly reminiscent of old Indian Mythological
times where there are balanced tones of tranquility & comfort. And the
only way to get to the Haveli is by the three-wheeled pedal rickshaws. Relax
with an Ayurvedic massage. Dinner and overnight: The Haveli Hari Ganga.
Day 04: Haridwar Barkot
After breakfast drive to Barkot and lunch on the way at Mussoorie, a glorious
hill station. Continuing our journey, stop at Kempty Falls, and arrive at
The Chardham Camp in Barkot in the evening, a journey of 7 ½ hours.

The
Chardham Camp at Barkot, Yamunotri, at an altitude of 1830 metres (6000 feet)
is 40 kms (25 miles) from Dharasu. Barkot is a place of great scenic beauty
with spectacular views of snow capped mountains all around. A magnificent
view of the eternal snow peaks of Bandarpunch can be seen from here. Relax
with an Ayurvedic massage. Dinner and overnight at the Chardham Camp Resort,
Barkot.
Day 05: Barkot
After early breakfast, drive to Hanuman Chatti, and take a local 4-wheel drive
vehicle to Phool Chatti, then walk 7 km (4 miles) to Yamunotri. Arriving at
Yamunotri, we will pray at the temple and start our most scared pilgrimage
to the Char Dhams. Reverse our journey by walking back to Phool Chatti then
driving to the Barkot resort, and relax with a soothing Ayurvedic massage.
Dinner and overnight: The Chardham Camp Resort, Barkot.
Day 06: Barkot Harsil
After breakfast drive to Harsil, a total journey of 6 ½ hours. Enroute
stop at Uttakashi. At Gangnani, stop for a dip in the hot water spring. Going
through beautiful valleys, arrive at the Chardham Camp Resort, Harsil amidst
an apple orchid in Dharali village at an altitude of 2620 metres (8595 feet),
and relax with an Ayurvedic massage. Located in the topographically mountainous
district of Uttarkashi, this hamlet is famous for its natural beauty and delicious
apples. From Harsil, the adventurous ones can trek to Sat Tal, situated just
above Dharali, 2 km beyond Harsil, to be greeted by the rewarding sight of
seven lakes situated amidst beautiful natural surroundings. Dinner and overnight
at the Chardham Camp Resort, Harsil.
Day 07: Harsil
After breakfast Drive to Gangotri, and upon arrival, take a dip in the sacred
Ganges (called the Bhagirathi, here at its origin). Perform a pooja, and relax
in the lovely surroundings.

Drive
back to the Harsil Resort to relax in the bright sunshine, the beautiful views
of the valley, and an Ayurvedic massage. In the evening, we will perform the
Ganga Aarti at our own riverbank. Dinner and overnight: The Chardham Camp
Resort, Harsil.
Day 08: Harsil Guptakshi
After early breakfast drive to Guptakashi. Embark on the single longest journey
of our trip when we drive to Guptakashi, a journey of 9 ½ hours, with
lunch in Srinager. Get your first glimpse of the beautiful River Mandakini
and then follow the river as we drive on her bank arriving at Chardham Camp
Resort, Guptakashi at an altitude of 1320 metres (4330 feet), at dusk. Guptkashi
has great importance, quite like that of Kashi. The ancient Vishwanath temple,
Ardhnareshwar temple and Manikarnik Kund, where two streams of the Ganga and
Yamuna meet, are the main places of attraction in Guptkashi. A stupa is constructed
at Nala, close to Ukhimath. Ukhimath is the winter seat of Lord Kedarnath,
when the doors of the temple of Kedarnath are closed. Relax with an Ayurvedic
massage. Dinner and overnight at the Chardham Camp Resort, Guptakashi.
Day 09: Guptakashi Gaurikund
After breakfast start on our 2-hour drive to Gaurikund. Arriving there, we
embark on our 14 km (9 mile) trek to Kedarnath, arriving late in the afternoon.
After freshening up, perform Pooja and visit (darshan) Shri KedarnathJi. At
dusk, visit the Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi. Overnight and dinner at Punjab
& Sindh Awas. (The quality of this out of the way pilgrims guest
house is maintained by us).
Day 10: Gaurikund Guptakashi
After breakfast reverse our journey back to Chardham Camp Resort,

Guptakashi, arriving there by the evening, and relaxing with an Ayurvedic
massage. Dinner and overnight at the Chardham Camp Resort, Guptakashi.
Day 11: Guptakashi Joshimath
After breakfast depart by car for Joshimath, a journey of 6 ½ hours,
stopping at Chopta and Pipalkoti. This is one of the most beautiful sites
of the whole trip. Enjoy the stunning drive through the thick medicinal forest,
home of many a herb used in Ayurveda. Arrive at Chardham Camp Resort, Joshimath
by late afternoon, leaving the evening free for you to explore Joshimath,
at an altitude of 1845 metres (6050 feet). Joshimath is described in the ancient
scriptures as Kartikeyapura, because the Katyuri kings named it after their
God, Kartikeya. It is one of the four great maths or monasteries and a popular
center of pilgrimage. It is also the base for treks to the famous Valley of
Flowers. Joshimath is close to Nanda Devi (7816 metres (25,645 feet) the highest
peak in India), and 15 kms (10 miles) from the AULI skiing resort. Relax with
an Ayurvedic massage when you arrive. Dinner and overnight at the Chardham
Camp Resort, Joshimath.
Day 12: Joshimath
After breakfast drive to Shri Badrinath, a journey of 3 hours. After your
visit (darshan), spend time at the village of Mana, the last village before
the Indo-Tibetan border. Drive back to the resort for an Ayurvedic massage.
Dinner and overnight: The Chardham Camp Resort, Joshimath.
Day 13: Joshimath Haridwar
After early breakfast return to Haridwar, a 9 ½ journey through Srinager,
visiting Devprayag, the confluence of the rivers Alakanda and Bhagirathi which
forms the Ganga. Arrive Haridwar late evening, and relax with an Ayurvedic
massage. Dinner and overnight: The Haveli Hari Ganga.
Day 14: Haridwar Delhi
After breakfast transfer to Railway Station return to Delhi by train. Transfer
to your hotel, and a few hours of shopping in Delhi. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 15: Delhi Onward. After breakfast spend the rest of this day on
your own, shopping or sightseeing in the capital city. In the evening, transfer
to the airport for your flight home. Overnight on your flight.
Chardham Trip Planner India, Reservation Form