Char Dham Yatra from Haridwar

Drive to Barkot via Mussoorie, enroute visit Kempty Fall (Suggestible to have your lunch at Kempty fall as further no good restaurants are available before Badkot).  Later drive straight to Barkot, transfer to your Hotel. Rest of the day is free to relax and store your energy for the Pahad (hiII) Yatra of Yamunotri the next day. Overnight stay at Barkot.

Barkot is known for its scenic natural beauty. Located at the confluence of Yamuna and tons rivers. At an elevation of over 4,000 ft, apple orchards ringed by the Himalayan range.  Barkot offers panoramic views of the snowcapped mountains of Bandar Poonch. Barkot is an important stopover en route to Yamunotri and Gangotri, among the four Char Dham Pilgrimages.

Early morning, Drive to Jankichatti/Phoolchatti, trek start from here to Yamunotri (6kms). Either by walk or by horse or by Doli at own cost. The trek passes through lush green valley, a profusion of conifers, rhododendrons, cacti and several species of Himalayan shrubs.

Arr. Yamunotri, One can cook rice by packing it in a cloth and dipping it in the hot water of the hot kund. Pilgrims take this cooked rice home as “Prasad”. Here near the temple “Pooja” can be offered to DivyaShila, After taking bath in JamunabaiKund’s warn water and having “Darshan” of pious “Yamunaji” returning to Jankichatti. Return back to Barkot, Overnight stay.

Yamunotri, the western most shrine of the Char Dhams, is dominated by Banderpunch (6,361 m). Yamunotri is the source of the river Yamuna, the twin sister of Varna, the Lord of Death. Yamuna is also the daughter of Surya the Sun. The actual source of the river originates from Champasar Glacier 1 km a head of the shrine, at an altitude of 4,321 mts.

Yamunotri Temple: Maharani Gularia of Jaipur built the temple in the 19th Century. It was destroyed twice in the present century and rebuilt again.

Surya Kund: There are a Number of thermal springs in the vicinity of the temple, which flows into numerous pools. The most important of these is Surya Kund.

DivyaShila: A rock pillar, worshipped before entering the Yamunotri Temple.

Drive to Uttarkashi. Visit Vishwanath Temple & Others. Check in Hotel. Rest day at leisure. Night Halt.

Uttarkashi is home to a number of ashrams and temples and also to the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. The name of the town reflects its similarity to and location (as north of) the city of Kashi (Varanasi). Similar to Varanasi, town of Uttarkashi is situated on the Ganges, lies next to a hill named Varun Parvat, on confluence of two rivers Varuna and Asi, has a ghat called ManikarnikaGhat and has a temple dedicated to Shiva (Kashi Vishwanath) in the center of the town.

Vishwanath temple – Vishwanath temple is one of the oldest Shiva temples in Northern India. Re-constructed in 1857 by Maharani Khaneti Devi of Tehri State in the ancient architectural style. It is situated at the heart of the town. A massive iron trident, symbolic of divine mother’s, is erected and worshiped from time immemorial at the temple complex. Ganeshji, Sakshi Gopal, Markandeya Rishi’s small shrines are also part of the temple complex. AkhandJyoti as well as Akhand Abhishek, special aarti at morning and evening are offered. As per SkundaPuran, Uttarkashi is known as ‘Saumya Varanasi’, the abode of Lord Shiva in Kaliyug and counted as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.

Early morning drive to Gangotri, enroute at Gangnani take a holy dip in GaramKund, further drive to Gangotri via beautiful Harsil Valley. Harsil is famous for its nature beauty and for the majestic views of the Deodar trees, and mountains. On arrival at Shree Gangotri, take a holy dip in the sacred river Ganges which is also called Bhagirathi at its origin. Perform Pooja and Darshan, after that relax for some time in the lovely surroundings. Return back to Uttarkashi. Overnight stay at Uttarkashi.

Drive straight to Guptkashi via Moolgarh&Lambgoan. Enroute you can see the beautiful river Mandakini at Tilwara. The Mandakini river comes from Kedarnath, drive alongside the river to reach Guptakashi. On arrival Check In at the Hotel, evening visit ArdhNarishwar Temple. Overnight stay at the Hotel.

After medical check-up proceed to Sonprayag, Trek start from Sonprayag to Kedarnath (3584 mts) by pony / Doli. Tour members should carry personal medicines, heavy woolen, toiletries and clothes for an overnight halt at Kedarnath. Visit Kedarnath Temple. Overnight stay.

Kedarnath: The Kedarnath shrine, one of the 12 jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, is a scenic spot situated, against the backdrop of the majestic Kedarnath range. Kedar is another name of Lord Shiva, the protector and the destroyer. According to legend, the Pandavas after having won over the Kaurava in the Kurukshetra war, felt guilty of having killed their own brothers and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. He eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being followed he dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four other places and are worshipped there as his manifestations. The arms appeared at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at Madhmaheshwar and his locks (hair) with head at Kalpeshwar. Kedarnath and the four above-mentioned shrines are treated as PanchKedar.

Early morning you get up before dawn and after taking bath you are at the temple by 4:45 am for the ‘Abhishek’ to Kedarnath Shiva. Everyone can go inside GarbhaGriha and touch the idol. You can also prostrate with your head touching the deity etc. After Temple Darshan trek down to Sonprayag. Further drive to Guptkashi. Check in Hotel. Night Halt.

Drive to Badrinath via Joshimath. Check in Hotel. Later at evening visit Badrinath Temple for Aarti. Overnight stay.

Badrinath one of the ‘Four Dhams’ is one of the most celebrated pilgrimage spots of the country and is situated at an elevation of 3,133 meters, guarded on either side by the two mountain ranges known as Nar & Narayan with the towering Neelkanth Peak providing a splendid backdrop. This revered spot was once carpeted with wild berries. Thus the place got the name “Badri van”, meaning “forest of berries”.

Early morning, pilgrims after having a bath in the Taptkund have the Darshan of Badrivishal. Brahamakapal is significant for PinddanShraddh of ancestors (Pitrus). There are other interesting sightseeing spot like Mana, Vyas Gufa, Maatamoorti, Charanpaduka, Bhimkund and the “Mukh” of the Saraswati River. Just within the three kms of Badrinathjee. Later drive back to Rudraprayag / Kirtinagar via Joshimath. Check in Hotel. Overnight stay.

Drive to Rishikesh, 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 hence firth came to be known as Rishikesh.

Visit Rishikesh Temples & Sight Seeing – LaxmanJhulla, Ram Jhulla, TriveniGhat, Bharat Mandir, Shivananda Ashram.

Later transfer to Haridwar Railway Station / Dehradun Airport. Tour Terminate.