Delhi is the natural starting point for most pilgrims heading to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. It is well connected by road, rail and air to Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun – the three gateways to the Char Dham circuit. Yet many families still struggle with the same questions: Should we drive or take the train? How many days do we need? Where should we stay each night? At Kashi Travels, based in Noida, we plan the Char Dham Yatra from Delhi every season for families, senior citizens and large groups. This guide shares the itinerary, travel options and practical advice we give our own guests.
How far is Char Dham from Delhi?
The total road journey from Delhi through all four shrines and back is long. Approximate distances for the main legs:
| Leg | Approx. distance | Approx. drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi → Haridwar | 220 km | 5–6 hrs |
| Haridwar → Barkot (via Mussoorie) | 210 km | 7–8 hrs |
| Barkot → Janki Chatti (Yamunotri trek base) | 45 km | 1.5–2 hrs |
| Barkot → Uttarkashi | 100 km | 3–4 hrs |
| Uttarkashi → Gangotri | 100 km | 3–4 hrs |
| Uttarkashi → Guptkashi / Sitapur | 220 km | 8–9 hrs |
| Guptkashi → Badrinath | 190–200 km | 7–8 hrs |
| Badrinath → Rishikesh | 295 km | 9–10 hrs |
| Rishikesh → Delhi | 240 km | 6 hrs |
Distances are approximate and change with route diversions. Our Char Dham Yatra route page explains each leg in detail.
Ways to do the Char Dham Yatra from Delhi
| Mode | How it works | Days | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private car / SUV | Door pickup in Delhi-NCR, same vehicle for full trip | 10–12 | Families of 2–6 |
| Tempo traveller | 12, 16 or 25 seats, same as car | 11–12 | Groups and societies |
| Train + taxi | Train to Haridwar/Dehradun, taxi from there | 10–11 | Budget travellers |
| Flight + taxi | Fly to Dehradun (Jolly Grant), taxi from there | 9–10 | Those short on time |
| Helicopter circuit | Road/flight to Dehradun, then charter | 5–6 | Seniors, limited leave |
Most families prefer a private vehicle from their doorstep in Delhi, because it avoids luggage transfers, lets elders rest when needed and keeps the same trusted driver for the whole journey.
Recommended 11-day itinerary from Delhi
This itinerary balances driving time and rest:
Day 1 – Delhi to Haridwar. Pickup from home in the morning. Reach Haridwar by afternoon and attend the evening Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri.
Day 2 – Haridwar to Barkot. Drive via Dehradun and Mussoorie, with a stop at Kempty Falls. Overnight in Barkot.
Day 3 – Yamunotri darshan. Drive to Janki Chatti and trek about 6 km to Yamunotri (pony and palki available). Bathe in Jamuna Bai Kund, cook prasad in Surya Kund, return to Barkot.
Day 4 – Barkot to Uttarkashi. Visit Kashi Vishwanath temple in Uttarkashi in the evening.
Day 5 – Gangotri darshan. Drive to Gangotri via Harsil. Darshan and return to Uttarkashi.
Day 6 – Uttarkashi to Guptkashi/Sitapur. A long, scenic drive via Tehri and Rudraprayag.
Day 7 – Kedarnath trek. Shuttle from Sonprayag to Gaurikund, then 16–18 km trek (or pony, palki or helicopter shuttle). Evening aarti and overnight near the temple.
Day 8 – Kedarnath darshan and return. Early darshan, trek back to Gaurikund, drive to Guptkashi.
Day 9 – Guptkashi to Badrinath. Drive via Chopta or Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag and Joshimath. Evening darshan.
Day 10 – Badrinath and Mana. Morning darshan, visit Mana village, drive down to Rudraprayag or Srinagar.
Day 11 – Return to Delhi via Rishikesh. Visit Laxman Jhula and Triveni Ghat, then drive home.
This is also the base plan of our road-based Char Dham tour package, which we customise for each family.
Train and flight options from Delhi
If you prefer not to drive the Delhi–Haridwar stretch:
- Trains: Several daily trains, including Vande Bharat and Shatabdi services, connect Delhi to Haridwar and Dehradun. Book on the official IRCTC website well in advance for May and June.
- Flights: Dehradun's Jolly Grant airport has regular flights from Delhi. It is the most convenient option for the helicopter circuit.
In both cases you still need a vehicle from Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun for the mountain roads. Kashi Travels can arrange pickup from the station or airport as part of your Char Dham tour package.
Char Dham Yatra from Delhi by helicopter
For pilgrims with limited time or mobility, helicopter circuits start from Dehradun and cover all four shrines in 5–6 days. Kedarnath shuttle seats (from Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi) are sold only on the official IRCTC HeliYatra portal. Read our full guide on the 4 Dham Yatra by helicopter to understand charter and shuttle options.
Registration and documents for 2026
Before your Char Dham Yatra from Delhi, every traveller must register on the official Tourist Care Uttarakhand portal. Keep ready:
- Aadhaar or another photo ID for each traveller
- Registration QR code or printout
- Medical fitness certificate if you are above 55 or have health conditions
- Hotel confirmations
Our step-by-step registration guide shows how to register the whole family on one mobile number.
2026 opening dates
| Shrine | Opened | Expected closing |
|---|---|---|
| Yamunotri | 19 April | Around 11 November |
| Gangotri | 19 April | Around 10 November |
| Kedarnath | 22 April | Around 11 November |
| Badrinath | 23 April | Around 13 November |
Confirm the latest updates on the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee website.
Pickup points across Delhi-NCR
Kashi Travels is based in Sector 122, Noida, and we pick up pilgrims from anywhere in Delhi-NCR:
- Delhi: South Delhi, East Delhi, West Delhi, Dwarka, Rohini, Mayur Vihar, Laxmi Nagar and more.
- Noida and Greater Noida: All sectors, Noida Extension and Gaur City.
- Ghaziabad: Indirapuram, Vaishali, Raj Nagar Extension, Crossings Republik.
- Airports and stations: IGI Airport, New Delhi, Anand Vihar and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations.
Early morning pickups (5–6 am) help you cross Delhi traffic and reach Haridwar before the afternoon heat. Our drivers plan the best exit route depending on where you live.
Choosing the right vehicle
- Swift Dzire: 2–3 travellers, light luggage.
- Ertiga: 4–5 travellers, moderate luggage.
- Innova Crysta: 4–6 travellers, the most comfortable for seniors on mountain roads.
- Tempo Traveller: 9–25 travellers. See our 12 seater tempo traveller page for layout and features.
All vehicles are commercially registered with valid permits for Uttarakhand.
Best time to start from Delhi
May to mid-June and mid-September to October are the best months. Delhi is very hot in May and June, so the hills feel especially refreshing. Avoid July and August because of monsoon landslides. Our guide on the best time for Char Dham Yatra gives month-wise weather details.
Budget and what affects the cost
The cost of a Char Dham Yatra from Delhi depends on vehicle, hotel category, number of days, season and add-ons such as pony, palki or helicopter seats. We do not publish fixed prices because they change with dates – please call or WhatsApp us for a quote. Our Char Dham Yatra cost guide explains each cost head.
What our Char Dham tour package includes
Every family's needs are different, so we build each Char Dham tour package around your group. A typical road package from Delhi includes:
- Private vehicle with an experienced hill driver for all days of the trip.
- Door pickup and drop anywhere in Delhi-NCR.
- Fuel, driver allowance and the driver's night stay.
- Hotels in the category you choose, near the temples where possible.
- Help with registration, document checklists and puja bookings.
- 24x7 phone support from our Noida office.
Tolls, parking and state entry tax are charged at actuals, and pony, palki and helicopter charges are paid separately. We write all of this clearly in the quote, so there are no surprises on the road.
Short on time? A 7-day Do Dham plan from Delhi
If you cannot take 11 days off, a Do Dham plan covering Kedarnath and Badrinath is a good alternative. It takes about 7–8 days from Delhi: Delhi → Rishikesh → Guptkashi → Kedarnath → Guptkashi → Badrinath → Rudraprayag → Delhi. Many families complete this first and return later for Yamunotri and Gangotri. See our Do Dham Yatra guide for the day-wise plan, or ask us to convert it into a full Char Dham Yatra from Delhi later.
Group trips from Delhi: societies, offices and satsangs
Every season we plan group pilgrimages for residential societies, office teams and satsang mandalis across Delhi-NCR. For groups of 9 to 25 travellers, a tempo traveller keeps everyone together, reduces the cost per person and makes the journey more joyful with shared bhajans and meals. A group Char Dham tour package needs a little more planning – bigger hotel blocks, a group leader for coordination and fixed daily start times – and our team helps with all of it. We also suggest one coordinator in the group to keep registration documents for all members in one folder.
Food and rest stops between Delhi and Haridwar
The first day sets the tone for the whole trip. Our drivers usually stop at clean highway restaurants near Muzaffarnagar and Khatauli for breakfast or lunch, and avoid long halts so you reach Haridwar in time for the evening aarti. Families carrying elderly parents should plan a comfort stop every two hours. On the return leg, Rishikesh and Haridwar have many good vegetarian restaurants for a relaxed last meal before driving home to Delhi.
Health checklist before you leave
The shrines are at altitudes between about 3,100 and 3,600 metres, and the journey includes two uphill walks. Before leaving home:
- Visit your doctor two to three weeks before the trip, especially if you are above 55 or have blood pressure, diabetes, asthma or heart problems.
- Carry prescriptions and enough medicine for the full trip plus three spare days.
- Pack thermal wear, woollens, gloves, a rain jacket and comfortable walking shoes.
- Walk 4–5 km daily for a month before the trip to build stamina.
- Keep ORS sachets, glucose, dry fruits and a small first-aid kit in your day bag.
Health screening camps are set up at several points on the route in 2026, and pilgrims who do not meet the medical guidelines may be advised not to continue to the higher shrines.
Tips from our drivers
- Leave Delhi before 6 am to avoid city traffic.
- Keep the first night in Haridwar or Rishikesh to rest before the mountains.
- Avoid night driving in the hills.
- Carry motion-sickness tablets for the winding roads to Barkot and Guptkashi.
- Keep cash; ATMs and networks are unreliable in some valleys.
- Save our office number and the driver's number on every phone in the group.
Why book your Char Dham tour package with Kashi Travels?
Kashi Travels has served Delhi-NCR for over 15 years from our office in Sector 122, Noida. Families choose us because we offer:
- Door-to-door pickup anywhere in Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad.
- Experienced hill drivers who know hotels, safe halts and road conditions.
- Transparent written quotes with all inclusions and exclusions.
- 24x7 support throughout the journey.
A family who travelled with us for Kedarnath and Badrinath shared on Google that their driver "demonstrated excellent driving skills and had great knowledge of the routes and timings". We aim to deliver that experience on every trip.