Char Dham – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Char Dham yatra?

Chardham yatra is the most popular religious yatra in India. Chardham means four adobes or shines, and they are Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. All the Dhams have great significance in the Hindu religion, which is located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.

2. When does Chardham Yatra start?

Every year Chardham Yatra starts on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya which generally held in mid-April to May starting. (detailed information)

3. What is Chardham's opening & closing dates 2024?

Opening & Closing dates of Chardham Yatra 2024 are -

CharDham
Chardham Opening
Dates 2024* (Tentative)

Char Dham Closing
Dates 2024* (Tentative)
Kedarnath Dham 14-May-2024* 3-Nov-2024*
Badrinath Dham 18-May-2024* 20-Nov-2024*
Gangotri Dham 10-May-2024 2-Nov-2024
Yamunotri Dham 10-May-2024 3-Nov-2024
4. Which Dham should I visit first?

Char Dham follows a fixed sequence that always starts from the West and ends at East, which means Chardham starts from Yamunotri, next proceed to Gangotri, Kedarnath and ends at Badrinath.

5. How to do Char Dham yatra?

There are 02 ways of doing Yatra. The first & foremost preferable way is by drive commencing from Delhi/Dehradun/Haridwar. It is reasonable also compared to a helicopter. Chardham Helicopter package starts from 1,65,000 PP which makes it affordable for only a few people.

6. How to plan char Dham yatra?

First decide your dates, number of members, and an approximate budget for the whole trip. You can do Chardham by any travel company or by own. If you want to do Chardham by own then, pre-book your hotels and transport at least 2-3 months before arrival.

7. Can we do Do(two) Dham yatra by helicopter from Dehradun?

Yes. Do-Dham & Chardham Yatra by helicopter service also available from Dehradun, which generally takes 3 to 5 days for complete darshan.

8. Is it safe to travel to Kedarnath?

Travel to Kedarnath Dham is completely safe. But avoid traveling during the monsoon season which increases the chance of landslides and road blockage.

9. How long is Kedarnath & Yamunotri trek?

Kedarnath Trek is 17 km long, which starts from Gaurikund and ends at Kedarnath whereas Yamunotri trek is 6 km long which starts from the Jankichatti.

10. Is there any helicopter service to Kedarnath?

Yes, there are many helicopter companies in Kedarnath which generally operates from Phata, Sersi, Sitapur, & Guptkashi.

11. How is the road condition of Char-Dham Route?

Char Dham Expressway National Highway is in progress due to which roads are not in good condition. The project is expected to end by 2024.

12. Is it to safe travel to Chardham as a solo female traveller?

If you are traveling to Uttarakhand than you don't have to worry about your safety because you will not face any such situation in Devbhoomi but it is always recommended to take guidance from any reputed tour operator locally. Here people are humble, cooperative, helpful and guide you in the right direction if you are in any problem. Correct planning & proper execution will ensure the best & lifetime cherishing trip for Solo lady/girl trip.

13. Is it allowed to take a 1-7-year-old child for Chardham Yatra?

Traveling Chardham with kids can be done but remember Chardham is a remote & pilgrim place with scenic beauty. If you are traveling with kids then keep emergency medicines, warm clothes, and rain jacket with you. And try to book your Chardham packages in advance, with Local Tour Operator

14. How do I do Chardham Yatra registration?

Chardham Yatra Biometric is compulsory for those who are planning to visit Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri or Hemkund Sahib. You can do registration on the Biometric centers which are located in different places Haridwar, Rishikesh, Jankichati, Gangotri, Guptkashi, Phata, etc. For this, you only need your Aadhar Card and mobile number. And for online registration, you can visit http://onlinechardhamyatra.in/

15. Is it possible to do Chardham Yatra in one day?

Yes, can be done on 01 days by helicopter however it can be a bit hectic. 02 days for covering Chardham by helicopter are sufficient. For further details, please refer to the given link Chardham Yatra by helicopter 2024. Minimum 09-10 days by surface to do Char-Dham Yatra.

16. Are there any special darshan tickets in Char Dham Temples?

VIP darshan ticket counter facility is available only in Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham. The charges may be around 2500-3000 per person for a single Dham. In Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham there are no special counters for VIP tickets however special pooja can be conducted through the temple's priests.

17. Is Char Dham yatra by Own Car possible??

The Chota Chardham yatra by your own car can be possible if you have good experience of driving on hills. Here in Uttarakhand roads are full of sharp band & turns, also many narrow one lane roads connect to the circuit, which needs skillful and experienced hilly drivers to tackle all these issues. If you don’t have the driving experience on hills, then it is better to hire rental cars or drivers.

18. Is there any Char Dham yatra package by train?

No, currently Chardham Yatra is not possible by train. The Rishikesh is the last stop and nearest railway station in the Garhwal region, where you can reach by train. Haridwar/Rishikesh has well-rail connectivity with major cities. Once you reach Haridwar/Rishikesh by train, then you must have to hire a car or to take public transport for Chardham darshan.

19. Can we visit any Hill-stations on Chardham yatra?

Chardham Yatra is a 10-12 days long spiritual journey. This yatra journey is quite hectic & tiring, so to get relaxed during the yatra, you can take a halt at some of the best locations. Some locations are on the way to the journey, but some are away from the main circuit. So by adding 1-2 more days, you can complete this yatra with sweet memories. Popular hill stations where you can visit in your Chardham yatra are - Auli, Chopta, Harsil, Rishikesh, Joshimath, Niti Valley, etc.

21. Where to book a helicopter flight for Kedarnath?

To book a helicopter flight for Kedarnath, you can directly book flight tickets from https://heliservices.uk.gov.in/ government portal. In Phata, Guptkashi, Gaurikund, Sitaput, Sersi are the places from where heli services to Kedarnath are available. As per your convenience you can select the origin location.

22. How to reduce the risk of infection of Covid-19 during Chardham Yatra?

So, if you are also planning to visit Chardham Yatra 2024, then you can adopt some these precautionary measures to save yourself from CoronaVirus -
1. During the visit to any temple or dham, pilgrims are strictly advised not to touch any idols.
2. Before entering the temple, wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds. If water or soap is not available, use sanitizer to sanitize your hands.
3. In public settings, try to maintain social distancing (2 meter), use face masks and hand sanitizers frequently.
4. Try to avoid public transport like buses, trains. Go for private taxis or any other safer options.
5. Must check travel restrictions & guidelines before you go.
6. Pack multiple facemasks, sanitizer, disinfecting spray in your travel luggage.
7. Carry your own water bottle, medical kit, food items, etc.
8. Stay in a place with good hygiene, and cleanliness.
9. Before using stays, rental equipment, or any third persons objects, use disinfecting wipe or disinfecting spray.
10. If possible avoid crowded places, public gathering.
11. Don’t spit here and there.

23. Is it mandated to carry Covid -19 test report for entering Uttarakhand?

There is no specific guideline by the state government to carry a negative report however it is recommended to do it for your own safety or to prevent its further spread. For precautionary measure, wearing a mask and maintaining a distance is mandate.

24. Is there any possibility of lockdown in Uttarakhand?

Uttarakhand is open for visitors from Sep’20 and there has been a good influx of visitors ever since, everything went well hence government is also hopeful for coming months. State has done a lot of preparation for hosting Maha Kumbh Mela which will be open for everyone from 01 Apr. Government is also taking mandatory measures to smooth run the Chardham Yatra and other leisure tours, so far there is no indication that there will be a lockdown like situation here but in-case it happen we will extend all our support to our guests to send them to their place.

25. What if an in-case lockdown happens and the guests will not be able to come as planned?

As it is contingency, hence no cancellation will be levied, If it happens, we will action according to our guests' decision, we will refund or if guests are willing to secure their trip for the future, will do it accordingly as we been doing.

26. What precautionary measures you are taking for the safety for our guests?

All the hotels which are in our panel follow proper hygiene measures & also sanitizing the commonly used areas and the entire vehicles are also sanitized after each trip. We are forming small groups and highly promoting our bike trips as well.



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