Haridwar, Rishikesh, Kedarnath and Badrinath

Day 1: Haridwar

1 night · Easy · Holy city where the Ganga leaves the hills, known for Har Ki Pauri and the evening Ganga Aarti.

Day 1: Haridwar

• Arrive and check in near Har Ki Pauri.
• Take the ropeway up to Mansa Devi Temple.
• Visit Maya Devi Temple in the town centre.
• Cross the river for the Chandi Devi ropeway before it closes at 6 pm.
• Be at Har Ki Pauri by about 5:30 pm for the evening Ganga Aarti.

Getting here from Haridwar: Road, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. About 25 km by road.

Day 2: Rishikesh

1 night · Easy · Ganga-side town in the Himalayan foothills known for yoga, ashrams, evening aarti and river rafting.

Day 2: Rishikesh

• Arrive and check in around Tapovan or Swarg Ashram.
• Visit Bharat Mandir in the old town.
• Walk to Triveni Ghat and stay for the evening aarti.
• Dinner at a vegetarian restaurant near your stay.

Getting here from Rishikesh: Road to Sonprayag, about 8 to 9 hours, then the 16 km trek from Gaurikund. About 210 km by road.

Days 3 to 4: Kedarnath

2 nights · Challenging · High Himalayan Shiva temple and Jyotirlinga, reached by a 16 km trek from Gaurikund.

Day 3: Arrival day

• Travel from Rishikesh to Kedarnath (about 8 to 9 hours, then the 16 km trek from Gaurikund).
• See the Parvati temple and hot springs at Gaurikund.
• Trek 16 km to Kedarnath, resting at the stops on the way.
• Check in near the temple and rest to adjust to the altitude.

Day 4: Kedarnath

• Go for early morning darshan at Kedarnath Temple.
• Visit the Shankaracharya Samadhi behind the temple.
• Walk up to Bhairavnath Temple for the valley view.
• If fit and the weather is clear, walk to Gandhi Sarovar (Chorabari Tal).

Getting here from Kedarnath: Trek down, then road, about 8 to 9 hours. About 220 km by road.

Days 5 to 7: Badrinath

2 nights · Moderate · High Himalayan Vishnu shrine on the Alaknanda river, one of the Char Dham temples.

Day 5: Arrival day

• Travel from Kedarnath to Badrinath (Trek down, then road, about 8 to 9 hours).
• Bathe at Tapt Kund below the temple.
• Join the evening darshan at Badrinath Temple.
• Walk to Brahma Kapal on the river bank.

Day 6: Badrinath

• Go to Mana Village early in the morning.
• See Vyas Gufa and Bhim Pul inside the village.
• Walk to Vasudhara Falls and back if fit, taking 4 to 5 hours.
• If skipping the falls, climb to Charan Paduka instead in the afternoon.