Delhi is the starting point for more Char Dham yatris than any other city. Haridwar is only about 220 km away, so you can leave Delhi in the morning and attend the evening Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri the same day. That short first leg is why a Delhi departure needs the fewest extra days of any city in India.
From Delhi you have every option: day trains, overnight trains, Volvo buses, a flight to Dehradun, or a taxi that picks you up at home and stays with you for the whole circuit. Families of four to six usually choose door-to-door pickup, because it removes the Haridwar transfer and the luggage shifts that come with it.
| Mode | Route | Time | Approx. fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | New Delhi / Anand Vihar → Haridwar Shatabdi, Jan Shatabdi and Vande Bharat run in the daytime. The Mussoorie Express runs overnight from Delhi Sarai Rohilla. | 4.5–5 hrs (day trains), 7–8 hrs (overnight) | ₹250–1,200 |
| Bus | ISBT Kashmere Gate → Haridwar / Rishikesh Uttarakhand Roadways and private Volvo buses run through the day and night. This is the cheapest option for solo yatris. | 5–7 hrs | ₹300–900 |
| Road | Home pickup in Delhi → Haridwar → Char Dham circuit The same vehicle stays with you for the whole yatra. This is the most comfortable option for elders and families. | 5–6 hrs to Haridwar | Added to the taxi package (per vehicle) |
| Flight | Delhi (DEL) → Dehradun (DED) Only worth it if you are short on time. The airport formalities often cancel out the time saved. | About 1 hr flight + 1 hr transfer | ₹2,500–6,000 |
Fares are approximate one-way, per-person estimates for the yatra season and change with booking date. Check current schedules on IRCTC and airline websites before booking.
Getting there
Leave Delhi by 6 am, or take the morning Shatabdi. You reach Haridwar by early afternoon, have time for Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri, and stay the night. The Yamunotri leg to Barkot starts the next morning.
Day 1
About 210 km (7–8 hrs) via Mussoorie or Vikasnagar into the Yamuna valley.
Day 2
Drive to Janki Chatti, about 6 km trek (pony or palki available) to Yamunotri temple, return to Barkot.
Day 3
About 100 km. Evening visit to Kashi Vishwanath temple, Uttarkashi.
Day 4
Day trip to Gangotri via Harsil (about 100 km each way), return to Uttarkashi.
Day 5
Long drive (8–9 hrs) via Tehri and Srinagar to the Kedarnath base.
Day 6
Sonprayag → Gaurikund, then the 16–18 km trek to Kedarnath. Night stay at Kedarnath.
Day 7
Morning darshan, trek down to Gaurikund, drive back to the hotel.
Day 8
Via Chamoli and Joshimath. Evening darshan and Tapt Kund.
Day 9
Morning visit to Mana village, then descend towards Rudraprayag.
Day 10
Via Devprayag, the confluence where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi form the Ganga.
Going home
The last day runs from Rudraprayag or Srinagar to Haridwar, then on to Delhi the same evening by road or the evening Shatabdi. You can be home by night if you leave the hills early.
May and June are the busiest months, because Delhi school holidays fall then. Book vehicles and Kedarnath stays 45–60 days ahead for those months. September after the monsoon and early October are quieter and have the clearest mountain views. Pack proper woollens: you go from 40°C+ Delhi heat to near-freezing mornings at Kedarnath and Badrinath.
Your total has two parts: the Delhi (NCR) → Haridwar journey (see the fares above), and the Uttarakhand package covering vehicle, stays and meals for the circuit. The package cost depends on group size, hotel category and season, not on your home city.
Dwarka, Rohini, Pitampura, Laxmi Nagar, Saket, Janakpuri
Yes. With an early morning pickup from Delhi you can drive past Haridwar and reach Barkot by late night, but it makes for a 12–13 hour first day. Most families prefer one night in Haridwar or Rishikesh to rest before the hills.
A train to Haridwar plus a taxi from there costs less. A taxi from Delhi costs a little more but avoids changing vehicles and is easier with elders or heavy luggage. Groups of 5–6 often find the difference small once it is split per person.
Plan for 10–11 days door to door: one day each way between Delhi and Haridwar, plus the 9–10 day circuit of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Add a buffer day if you are travelling in the monsoon.
Yes. Kedarnath alone from Delhi takes 4–5 days. See our Kedarnath trip from Delhi page for the day-by-day plan.
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