Char Dham Yatra Route Map: Distances, Stops and Drive Times

The Char Dham Yatra route is a loop of about 1,200 to 1,300 km of mountain road from Haridwar, visiting Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath in that order. This page gives you a clear Char Dham route map, the distance between every stop, where to stay each night and how long each drive really takes.

The Char Dham Yatra route in order

Tradition says the yatra moves from west to east, so the Char Dham Yatra route starts at Yamunotri and ends at Badrinath. This order also makes sense on the Char Dham route map: you climb the Yamuna valley first, cross to the Bhagirathi valley for Gangotri, drive east to the Mandakini valley for Kedarnath and finish in the Alaknanda valley at Badrinath.

1. Haridwar / Rishikesh – the start point, with trains and buses from all over India.
2. Barkot – night stop for Yamunotri; the road ends at Janki Chatti, followed by a 6 km trek.
3. Uttarkashi – night stop for Gangotri, about 100 km away by road.
4. Guptkashi / Sonprayag – base for Kedarnath; shuttle to Gaurikund, then a 16 km trek.
5. Badrinath – reached by road via Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Joshimath.
6. Back to Haridwar via Devprayag and Rishikesh.

Distance chart for the Char Dham Yatra route

These are road distances on the Char Dham Yatra route under normal conditions. Hill roads are narrow, so plan on an average of 25–30 km per hour. From Delhi or Noida add 200–230 km to reach Haridwar – see our guide to the Char Dham Yatra from Delhi.

Day-by-day plan on the Char Dham route map

Nine days from Haridwar is the comfortable minimum for the full Char Dham Yatra route. It gives one full day for each trek and avoids driving after dark. If you can add a spare day to the Char Dham route map, keep it after Kedarnath, where weather and queues cause the most delays. Our 9-day Char Dham Yatra package follows this exact Char Dham Yatra route.

Altitude on the Char Dham route map

You climb from about 314 m at Haridwar to 3,583 m at Kedarnath. Night stops marked on the Char Dham route map, such as Barkot, Uttarkashi and Guptkashi, are lower, which helps your body adjust. Walk slowly on the treks, drink water and rest if you feel a headache.

Yamunotri and Gangotri on the Char Dham route map

The first part of the Char Dham Yatra route follows the Yamuna to Barkot and Janki Chatti, then crosses to Uttarkashi on the Bhagirathi. On the Char Dham route map, the Gangotri road passes Harsil and deodar forests and goes right up to the temple. Details are in our Yamunotri Gangotri yatra guide.

Kedarnath section of the Char Dham Yatra route

On the Char Dham route map, the road from Uttarkashi runs via Ghansali and Tilwara to Guptkashi. Vehicles stop at Sonprayag; a shuttle jeep takes you to Gaurikund, and the 16 km trek begins there. Read the Kedarnath yatra guide for trek stops, ponies and helicopters.

Badrinath section and return

The last leg of the Char Dham route map climbs the Alaknanda valley through Chamoli and Joshimath to Badrinath. The long return drive on the Char Dham Yatra route to Haridwar passes the five prayags, including Devprayag, where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet to form the Ganga. More in the Badrinath yatra guide.

Road tips for the Char Dham Yatra route

• Start each day early and stop before sunset; do not drive in the hills at night.
• Check road updates in the monsoon; landslides can close the Char Dham Yatra route for hours.
• Carry snacks and water; eateries are far apart on some stretches of the Char Dham route map.
• Use an experienced hill driver – our Char Dham taxi service only sends drivers who know these roads.
• Register before you leave: see Char Dham Yatra registration.

For official road and weather advisories during the season, follow Uttarakhand Tourism and the India Meteorological Department. A printed Char Dham route map is useful too, because mobile network drops in several valleys.