Char Dham · Two Dhams
Do Dham Yatra — Kedarnath & Badrinath
The two shrines most pilgrims combine when time is short — a Shiva Jyotirlinga and a Vishnu Dham, in one 7–9 day trip from Rishikesh. 2026 dates for both, a day-by-day plan, and the trek and helicopter options.
- Shrines
- Kedarnath + Badrinath
- Duration
- 7–9 days
- Kedarnath trek
- 16–18 km
- Route loop
- ≈900 km round trip
Why pilgrims choose Do Dham
Kedarnath and Badrinath are the most visited of the four Char Dham shrines and sit relatively close on the same road out of Rishikesh. Doing just these two pairs Shiva and Vishnu in a single journey and fits a week — most groups skip Yamunotri and Gangotri only when time is tight.
Opening & closing dates
Set by each temple committee and announced on Maha Shivratri / Basant Panchami. Estimates follow recent years — we confirm before you book.
Kedarnath
2 May 2026
Announced on Maha Shivratri
10 November 2026
Bhai Dooj
Badrinath
5 May 2026
Announced on Basant Panchami
17 November 2026
A few days after the other shrines
A 7-day Do Dham plan
Colour tells you the kind of day at a glance — a long drive, a trek, a darshan, or an easy travel day. We reshape this around your dates, fitness and whether you take the Kedarnath helicopter.
- Day 1
Rishikesh → Guptkashi / Sitapur
Drive down the Alaknanda via Devprayag, Srinagar and Rudraprayag, then up the Mandakini valley.
≈180 km · 7–8 hrGuptkashi - Day 2
Guptkashi → Kedarnath
Shared jeep to Sonprayag and Gaurikund, then trek — pony, palki or helicopter optional. Overnight near the shrine.
30 km drive + 16–18 km trek3,583 mKedarnath - Day 3
Kedarnath → Guptkashi / Sitapur
Morning abhishek and darshan, then trek back down to Gaurikund and drive to the valley base.
16–18 km trek + 30 km driveGuptkashi - Day 4
Guptkashi → Badrinath
Via Chopta, Chamoli and Joshimath, climbing to Badrinath on timed convoy gates. Evening darshan if time allows.
≈190 km · 8–9 hrBadrinath - Day 5
Badrinath → Mana → Pipalkoti / Joshimath
Bath at Tapt Kund, darshan of Badri Vishal, and a visit to Mana village before descending.
≈80 km · 3–4 hr3,133 mPipalkoti - Day 6
Pipalkoti → Rudraprayag / Srinagar
Follow the Alaknanda past the Panch Prayag confluences; stop at Devprayag where the Ganga is born.
≈150 km · 6–7 hrSrinagar - Day 7
Rudraprayag → Rishikesh / Haridwar
Final drive down to the plains for onward train or flight connections.
≈160 km · 6–7 hr
Fly in to Kedarnath and this drops to about 5–6 days. Add Yamunotri and Gangotri and it becomes the full 10–12 day Char Dham.
The route from Rishikesh
Rishikesh → Kedarnath
≈220 km / 8–9 hrs to Gaurikund via Rudraprayag and Guptkashi, then the 16–18 km trek or a helicopter from Phata / Sirsi / Guptkashi.
Kedarnath → Badrinath
≈240 km / 8–9 hrs via Chopta, Chamoli and Joshimath. The last stretch runs on timed one-way convoy gates.
On the ground
The same vehicle and driver stay with you throughout. Beyond Sonprayag, only shared local jeeps run to Gaurikund.
Char Dham Yatra registration
Uttarakhand requires every pilgrim to register for the Char Dham Yatra before travelling. List Kedarnath and Badrinath as the shrines to visit; the slip is checked on both routes.
- Register online at the portal above, or on the “Tourist Care Uttarakhand” mobile app.
- Offline counters operate in Haridwar, Rishikesh and along the Kedarnath and Badrinath routes (Sonprayag, Guptkashi, Pipalkoti, Joshimath).
- A health check / advisory may apply for the Kedarnath trek at altitude — carry prescriptions and any medication your doctor recommends.
We complete the registration for every traveller on trips booked with us.
Best time for the Do Dham Yatra
Peak season
May – mid June
Long daylight for the Kedarnath trek and the busiest crowds. Book stays and helicopter slots well ahead.
Monsoon — high risk
July – August
Landslides and flash-flood risk on the Mandakini and Alaknanda roads. Travel only with flexible buffer days.
Best for a calm trip
September – early November
Stable weather, clear peak views and thinner queues at both shrines before the portals close.
Do Dham Yatra FAQs
Explore more of the Yatra
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