Chardham Yatra by Tempo Traveller

A Char Dham Yatra by tempo traveller keeps a group of 9 to 12, or up to 26 in the larger vans, in one vehicle for the whole loop from Delhi through Haridwar to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath and back. The route is the same one a car takes; what changes is the pace, the luggage space and the cost per head. Extended families, temple groups and office parties choose it because nobody is split between vehicles and the luggage of a fortnight rides in the rear rack rather than on laps. Couples and small families usually book the Chardham tour by car with an Innova.

The vans are air-conditioned with pushback seats. On the hill sections they average a little less than a car, and on the busiest roads, such as the Joshimath approach in May and June, a 12 seater may have to wait for the gate cycle; the itinerary allows for that. Every passenger registers with Uttarakhand tourism before departure and carries ID, and the vehicle's green card is issued at Haridwar.

The yatra season runs from the temple openings after Akshaya Tritiya in late April or early May until the closures around Diwali. Most groups take 11 or 12 days from Delhi; a 9 seater is the most manoeuvrable size for the Gangotri and Yamunotri valleys.

Chardham Yatra Tempo Traveller Rental Packages

We run 9, 12, 16, 20 and 26 seater tempo travellers on the Char Dham from Delhi, Haridwar and Dehradun. The 9 and 12 seaters are the best fit for the narrow stretches above Uttarkashi and Barkot; the 16 seater and above suit larger groups on the Kedarnath and Badrinath side, where the roads are wider. Each van comes with a driver who has done the loop in season, and the fare depends on the seating capacity and the number of days, not on the number of shrines.

Chardham Tempo Traveller Rental Fares

The daily fare in the table covers an average of 250 km a day across the trip, so a slow hill day is balanced by the Delhi to Haridwar run. Fuel, tolls and parking are within the fare; the green card and any state taxes are billed at actuals, and hotels or meals are added only if you ask for them.

Suggested route for Chardham trip with Tempo Traveller

The legs below are for a van leaving Delhi. You can hire a tempo traveller in Delhi for the whole trip or pick up the vehicle at Haridwar with our Chardham yatra package from Haridwar.

• Start from Haridwar: Delhi to Haridwar is about 220 km and 5 to 6 hours in a tempo traveller. The group completes the registration check, the van collects its green card, and the first evening is spent at the Har Ki Pauri aarti.
• Haridwar to Yamunotri: About 200 km and 8 hours through Rishikesh, Chamba and the Mussoorie bypass to Barkot; a van is slower than a car on this climb, so an early start matters. Lunch en route, overnight at Barkot.
• Barkot to Yamunotri: The van drops the group at Janki Chatti, 45 km away, and waits in the parking area. The 6 km walk or pony ride to the temple and back takes most of the day. Return to Barkot.
• Yamunotri to Gangotri: About 80 km and 4 hours from Barkot to Uttarkashi. Larger vans park below the town; the Kashi Vishwanath temple is a short walk from most hotels.
• Uttarkashi to Gangotri: About 100 km each way, 3.5 to 4 hours in a van, through Harsil to Gangotri at about 3,100 metres. Day trip with the night back in Uttarkashi.
• Gangotri to Guptkashi: About 220 km and 9 to 10 hours via Tehri, Srinagar and Rudraprayag; the longest day for a van and one that needs a 6 am departure. Overnight at Guptkashi.
• Guptkashi to Kedarnath: The van drives 30 km to Sonprayag, where all private vehicles stop. Shared jeeps run to Gaurikund and the 16 km trek follows; helicopter seats from Phata or Guptkashi should be booked ahead for a group. Night at Kedarnath.
• Kedarnath to Guptkashi: Trek down after morning darshan, about 4 to 5 hours, and rejoin the van at Sonprayag. Groups with time push on to Pipalkoti.
• Guptkashi to Badrinath: About 185 km and 7 to 8 hours up the Alaknanda through Karnaprayag and Chamoli to Joshimath. Vans queue for the Joshimath gate in peak weeks; the driver plans the departure around it.
• Joshimath to Badrinath: About 45 km and 2 hours to Badrinath at about 3,300 metres, where the van reaches the town car park. Mana, the last village, is another 3 km on. The return to Haridwar takes two days via Rudraprayag and Devprayag, and Delhi is a further 5 to 6 hours.

Route notes for the Char Dham loop by tempo traveller

• About 1,800 km from Delhi and back; a van needs 11 to 12 days, with no leg over 10 hours of driving.
• The van stops at highway restaurants for breakfast and lunch; large groups should agree the halt in advance so the kitchen can cope.
• Every passenger needs Uttarakhand pilgrim registration and photo ID; the van's green card is issued at Haridwar and checked at barriers up the valleys.
• Vans move only in daylight on the hill sections; some narrow stretches and the Joshimath gate hold larger vans longer than cars.
• Included: chauffeur-driven AC tempo traveller from Delhi, driver's charges and allowances, fuel, tolls, parking and green card. Not included: hotels and dharamshalas, meals, ponies, palkis, helicopter tickets and temple fees.
• Suits groups of 9 to 26 travelling together on one budget who want to stay in one vehicle for the whole yatra.