Char Dham Yatra from Delhi — Route & Registration (2027)

A Char Dham Yatra from Delhi is best planned as one road circuit covering Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, starting and ending near Haridwar or Rishikesh. Most Yatris from Delhi block 10 to 12 days for the full loop, since the four shrines sit in different valleys with long drives and two treks between them.

This guide covers the order, the mandatory registration, the road route and where to stay along the way.

🛕 The Four Dhams, and the Order You Visit Them

The traditional sequence is Yamunotri first, then Gangotri, then Kedarnath, then Badrinath. Yamunotri and Kedarnath both require a trek from the nearest roadhead, while Gangotri and Badrinath sit close to the parking area.

Kedarnath's trek climbs from about 1,980 m at Gaurikund to 3,583 m, so most parties take 6-8 hours on foot, or book a helicopter leg if walking that far is not possible.

📝 Registration: What's Mandatory Before You Leave

Char Dham registration is compulsory for every Yatri and it is free. You register online at Uttarakhand Tourism's registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in portal, or through the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app.

For each traveller you will need:

• An Aadhaar card as the primary photo ID

• One backup ID — PAN card, voter ID, passport or driving licence

• A recent passport-size photo, saved as a small digital file

• A working mobile number for OTP verification

• An emergency contact who is not travelling with you

Once OTP verification is done, the portal issues a Yatra Registration Letter with a QR code. Uttarakhand also runs biometric registration counters at points along the route, and cards are checked at checkpoints before each dham.

Our Kedarnath registration guide and Badrinath registration guide walk through the biometric step for each shrine on its own, if you want more detail before you go.

🛣️ The Road Route from Delhi

Delhi to Haridwar is about 220 km, roughly 5-6 hours by road, and this is where most circuits begin. From Haridwar or Rishikesh, drivers split toward Yamunotri (roughly 230 km away) before looping back through Uttarkashi toward Gangotri.

From Gangotri, the route returns south and east toward Kedarnath, then continues to Badrinath before heading back to Rishikesh and Delhi. Read our Delhi to Haridwar and Rishikesh guide for the first leg in detail.

📅 When the Shrines Open, and How to Time It

The four shrines open only for a fixed season each year, and Uttarakhand announces exact dates on Basant Panchami — typically late January or February. Recent years suggest a pattern: Yamunotri and Gangotri open around Akshaya Tritiya, generally late April, with Kedarnath and Badrinath opening a couple of days later.

For the 2027 season, expect opening dates somewhere around late April to early May 2027, but treat this as a guide only until Uttarakhand confirms it nearer Basant Panchami 2027. The shrines typically stay open till around November, before winter closing ceremonies begin.

Avoid the peak monsoon window of July and August if you can. Heavy rain brings landslides and road blocks on hill stretches, and the Yamunotri trek gets slippery in particular. May-June and September to early October are generally steadier for driving and walking.

👪 Which Circuit Suits You?

Travelling with elders? Skip the Yamunotri trek in peak monsoon, add a rest day in Rishikesh to acclimatise, and consider a helicopter for the Kedarnath leg instead of the 16 km walk.

On a tight schedule? A full 10-12 day loop is hard to compress safely. Some Yatris instead pick Do Dham (Kedarnath-Badrinath only) in 6-7 days and save the western dhams for another trip.

First-timers? Book the full loop but keep a buffer day before Kedarnath and Badrinath, since Himalayan roads run to weather, not to a printed schedule.

🛏️ Where to Stay Along the Way

Haridwar and Rishikesh work as the natural base for the first and last nights of the circuit, close to the Ganga aarti and easy to reach from Delhi. Read our Delhi to Haridwar Ganga Aarti guide if you want to build in an evening there.

Beyond that, plan on one overnight near each dham — Barkot or Janki Chatti for Yamunotri, Uttarkashi or Gangotri town for the second dham, Sonprayag or Guptkashi for Kedarnath, and Badrinath or Joshimath for the last leg. Rooms fill up fast in peak season, so book these ahead rather than on arrival.

The Char Dham circuit rewards patience more than speed, and a driver who knows the route well is worth more than a shaved hour on the highway. Plan your registration early, watch the season announcement, and book your stays before peak dates fill up. Jai Badri Vishal.