Char Dham Yatra – Our Experience and Learnings

We travelled to Char Dham (also called Choti Char Dham) in Uttarakhand during the first week of October 2025. The four holy places we visited were Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.

This year was challenging because of heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides. Many roads were damaged, and temporary roads had been created, especially on the way to Yamunotri. Even in such difficult conditions, it was impressive to see how government workers were continuously clearing roads to keep the Char Dham route open.

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Day 1: Arrival in Dehradun and Stay in Mussoorie

We landed in Dehradun on 4th October, but instead of staying there, we went straight to Mussoorie for the night. This helped us save travel time the next day. Our journey was tightly planned from the beginning.

Usually, Char Dham crowds reduce in October, but this year it was very crowded. Many people who could not travel in September came in October, which caused traffic jams and delays.

The next day, we travelled to Barkot.

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Day 2–3: Yamunotri – Trek, Mules, and Weather Tips

We started early in the morning for Yamunotri. Some of us chose to trek, while elderly members took mules, as palanquins (palkis) were limited.

Although many YouTube videos talk about government counters with fixed rates for mules, we could not find any and had to negotiate directly with mule operators.

Important tips for Yamunotri:

• Start the trek early, as the sun sets early in October.
• There is very little light in the evening.
• Weather changes quickly, so always carry a poncho or raincoat.
• Locals advised us to walk behind mules because they naturally choose the safest paths.

Unfortunately, a bus got stuck on a temporary road, and we had to stay overnight in Yamunotri instead of returning to Barkot.

👉 Recommendation:
Stay in Yamunotri instead of Barkot. It saves time and helps you directly take the diversion towards Uttarkashi the next day.

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Day 4: Gangotri – Expect the Unexpected Weather

On 8th October, we travelled from Uttarkashi to Gangotri. Google showed pleasant weather, but in reality, it was raining, and the temperature dropped sharply.

Lesson learned:

• Never fully trust weather apps in the mountains.
• Always carry warm clothes, even if the forecast looks good.

Luckily, the weather improved in the afternoon. We had a peaceful pooja, thanks to the hotel staff who helped arrange a local pujari.

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Day 5–7: Kedarnath – Very Important Safety Advice

On 9th October, we headed to Kedarnath and stayed in Sonprayag as our base. We planned to stay one night in Kedarnath.

Strong recommendations for Kedarnath:

• Take a helicopter if possible.
• If trekking, be physically fit.
• Avoid horses.

Due to a booking mistake by our tour operator, we did not get helicopter tickets. The condition of horses was very poor/mistreated, and rules were often ignored. Horses were being used even after sunset, which is unsafe.

Sadly, one of our friends fell from a horse after 5 PM and suffered multiple fractures. Another family member also fell but escaped serious injury.

My mother took a horse in the morning and was deeply disturbed by the condition of the animals. She decided to return using a pittu (human carrier), which was much better managed.

👉 Advice for families with elderly or children:

• Book helicopter tickets first, then plan the rest of the trip.
• If trekking is difficult, consider waiting for the ropeway to become operational.
• After returning from Kedarnath, take at least one full day of rest.

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Day 8: Badrinath – Peaceful Early Morning Darshan

On 12th October, we visited Badrinath. Since we arrived late the previous night, we opted for early morning darshan.

• We walked around 2 km, which was manageable.
• Morning darshan was less crowded and peaceful.

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Final Days: Rishikesh, Haridwar, and River Rafting

Some people in our group had not visited Haridwar and Rishikesh, so we included them on our return journey.

Some of us attended the Ganga Aarti in Haridwar, which was a beautiful experience.

A few of us stayed back for river rafting from Shivpuri to Rishikesh. It was exciting and well-organized. During calm stretches, we were allowed to take a dip in the Ganga. The water was cold initially but refreshing.

On 16th October, we returned to their respective homes.

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Stay Details and Travel Support

Below are the places where we stayed during the trip. We arranged our travel through Club Mahindra tour operators: Anil: +91 9760582222 or Sunil: +91 7668230760
(Please note: they may not accept if at least one is not Club Mahindra members.)

No. of Night Stay	Date	Location	Hotel
1	4th Oct	Missouri	Forest View
2	5th & 6th Oct	Barkot	Vikram Palace
2	7th & 8th Oct	Uttarkashi	Vanya Homestay
3	9th - 11th Oct	Sonprag (10th overnight at Kedarnath)	Trilochani home stay
1	12th Oct	Badrinath
1	13th Oct	Devprag	Chakasha
1	14th Oct	Haridwar	Urmi
1	15th Oct	Rishikesh	Moustche

 For Detailed Itinerary (includes places to visit on the way): https://sapnashekar.blogspot.com/2025/05/Char-Dham-Itinerary.html

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Final Thoughts

Char Dham Yatra is a spiritual, beautiful view and memorable journey, but it requires good planning, physical preparation, and flexibility. Weather, roads, and crowds can change plans quickly.

If you plan well and stay cautious, the experience is truly rewarding.