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An Ek Dham Yatra is a trip to one of the four Garhwal shrines on its own, most often Kedarnath or Badrinath. It suits pilgrims who have a long weekend rather than a fortnight, who are returning to a temple they have visited before, or who want to test themselves on one trek before attempting the full Char Dham. Each of the four is a different journey in length and effort, which is why we price and plan them separately. Read our Chardham Yatra travel guide before you fix dates and registrations.
Badrinath and Gangotri are road-head temples: the vehicle reaches the town and there is no trek. Kedarnath needs about 16 km on foot from Gaurikund and Yamunotri about 6 km from Janki Chatti, with ponies, palkis and helicopter services available at both. All four lie between about 3,100 and 3,600 metres, so a night at an intermediate town such as Uttarkashi, Guptkashi or Joshimath before the final climb helps with the altitude.
The season is the same for all: opening after Akshaya Tritiya in late April or early May, closing around Diwali. Registration with Uttarakhand tourism is required for each pilgrim. Each Ek Dham package below starts from Delhi with a chauffeur-driven car or tempo traveller and passes through Haridwar, which is where the vehicle's green card is issued.
Badrinath is the easiest of the four to reach and the one most often done alone. From Haridwar the road follows the Ganga to Devprayag and then the Alaknanda through Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag and Joshimath, about 320 km that a car covers in two days with a night at Rudraprayag or Pipalkoti.
The temple, dedicated to Vishnu, stands on the west bank of the Alaknanda at about 3,300 metres, with the Tapt Kund hot spring below it where pilgrims bathe before darshan. Brahma Kapal on the river bank is where shraddha rites are performed. Mana, 3 km beyond the town, is the last village before the border and has the Vyas and Ganesh caves and the Bhim Pul; the Vasudhara falls are a further 5 km on foot.
The opening date is announced on Vasant Panchami each year and the temple opens after Akshaya Tritiya. Because the road runs into the town, no trekking is needed. The Badrinath Ek Dham trip is 2 nights 3 days from Haridwar, or 4 days from Delhi.
The Kedarnath Ek Dham is the most demanding of the four. From Haridwar the car goes up the Alaknanda to Rudraprayag and then the Mandakini valley to Guptkashi, about 210 km and 7 to 8 hours, which is the night halt before the trek.
Next morning the vehicle drives 30 km to Sonprayag; shared jeeps cover the 5 km to Gaurikund and the trek of about 16 km starts there, taking 6 to 8 hours on foot or 4 to 5 by pony. Helicopter shuttles run from Phata, Sersi and Guptkashi in season. The temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, is at about 3,580 metres and the night is spent in a lodge near it. Triyuginarayan, the temple associated with the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, and Ukhimath, the winter seat of Kedarnath, can be added on the way down.
The Kedarnath trip is 3 nights 4 days from Haridwar with one night at the temple; the trek is done in both directions, or one way by helicopter.
The Gangotri trip follows the Bhagirathi. From Haridwar the road goes through Rishikesh, Chamba and Tehri to Uttarkashi, about 180 km and 6 hours, for the first night. The next day is a 100 km run through Gangnani and Harsil to the temple at about 3,100 metres, where pilgrims bathe at the ghat and take darshan; the car reaches the temple car park, so no trek is involved.
Gaumukh, the snout of the Gangotri glacier and the source of the Bhagirathi, is about 18 km beyond the temple on foot and needs a forest permit and an extra day; it can be added for fit walkers. The temple opens on Akshaya Tritiya. The basic Gangotri trip is 1 night 2 days from Uttarkashi, or 3 to 4 days from Delhi.
The Yamunotri trip is the westernmost and the shortest trek. From Haridwar the road climbs through Chamba, past Mussoorie and Kempty Falls, to Barkot in the Yamuna valley, about 180 km and 7 hours. Next morning it is 45 km to Janki Chatti and then about 6 km on foot, by pony or by palki to the temple at about 3,290 metres. Pilgrims cook rice in the Surya Kund hot spring and offer prayers at the Divya Shila before darshan; Hanuman Chatti and Kharsali village are passed on the way. Yamunotri opens on Akshaya Tritiya and the trip takes 2 nights 3 days from Delhi.
Tell us which shrine and which dates, and we will set out the road plan with the vehicle, driver and optional hotels and guide from Delhi.
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