Kedarnath Badrinath Yatra (Do Dham): 5, 6 and 7-Day Itineraries
A Kedarnath Badrinath yatra from Haridwar takes at least 5 days, and 6 to 7 days is far more comfortable. The usual order is Kedarnath first, then Badrinath: drive to Sonprayag, trek 16 to 18 km to Kedarnath, come down, then drive about 215 to 245 km to Badrinath. Doing Badrinath last means the hard trek is behind you and the trip ends with a relaxed darshan that needs no climbing.
Below are three tested itineraries, the two road routes between the dhams, and what it all costs.
Which dham first: Kedarnath or Badrinath?
Most pilgrims and tour operators go Kedarnath first. Here’s why we agree:
- Energy. The Kedarnath trek is the physically demanding part. Do it while everyone is fresh.
- Weather buffer. If rain delays the trek or helicopter by a day, you can absorb it before Badrinath instead of risking your return.
- Comfort at the end. Badrinath has no trek. A vehicle drops you close to the temple, there’s Tapt Kund’s hot water, and hotels with proper heating. It’s a gentler finish, especially for seniors.
The reverse order works too, mainly if Kedarnath helicopter slots are only available later in your trip. But on foot, Kedarnath first is the better plan.
Kedarnath to Badrinath: the two road routes
After the Kedarnath trek you come back down to Gaurikund (the trek base) and Sonprayag (the vehicle point, about 5 km below). From Sonprayag, there are two ways to Badrinath:
Route | Via | Distance from Sonprayag | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Main highway | Guptkashi, Kund, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Chamoli, Joshimath | About 224 km | 7 to 9 hours | Buses, larger groups, monsoon months |
Chopta route | Guptkashi, Ukhimath, Chopta, Mandal, Gopeshwar, Chamoli, Joshimath | About 211 km | 7 to 9 hours | Private cars, scenic drive, dry months |
The Chopta route is shorter on paper and beautiful, through forests and meadows near Tungnath. But it’s narrower, colder and slower in places, and it can be closed or icy early and late in the season. The Rudraprayag route has more traffic but more services and more buses.
Our 6-day Kedarnath Badrinath itinerary from Haridwar (recommended)
This is the plan most families finish without exhaustion.
Day 1: Haridwar to Guptkashi or Sitapur (about 220 km, 8 to 9 hours)
Leave Haridwar by 6 am. Drive via Rishikesh, Devprayag, Srinagar and Rudraprayag. Overnight at Guptkashi, Phata or Sitapur, close to Sonprayag.
Day 2: Trek to Kedarnath (16 to 18 km)
Start early. Drive to Sonprayag, take the shuttle to Gaurikund, and trek to Kedarnath, which takes most people 6 to 8 hours. Ponies, palkis and helicopters (from Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi) are the alternatives. Evening aarti at Kedarnath. Overnight at Kedarnath.
Day 3: Kedarnath darshan, trek down to Sonprayag
Early morning darshan, then trek down to Gaurikund and take the shuttle to Sonprayag. Overnight at Guptkashi or Sitapur. Don’t try to drive to Badrinath the same day. Your legs will thank you.
Day 4: Guptkashi to Badrinath (about 185 to 200 km, 7 to 8 hours)
Leave by 7 am. Take the Rudraprayag or Chopta route. Reach Badrinath by afternoon, check in, rest. Evening aarti at Badrinath.
Day 5: Badrinath darshan and Mana village
Bathe at Tapt Kund and take early darshan. Visit Mana village (about 3 km), Bhim Pul and Vyas Gufa. Rest in the afternoon. Optional second darshan in the evening.
Day 6: Badrinath to Haridwar or Rishikesh (about 320 km, 10 to 12 hours)
Leave Badrinath by 6 am to reach Haridwar or Rishikesh by evening. If you have time, add a night at Rudraprayag and turn this into a relaxed 7-day trip.
The 5-day version (fit travellers only)
Compress by trekking up and down Kedarnath in the same window and driving long days:
- Day 1: Haridwar to Guptkashi/Sitapur.
- Day 2: Trek up to Kedarnath, darshan, overnight at Kedarnath.
- Day 3: Early darshan, trek down, drive to Joshimath or Pipalkoti.
- Day 4: Joshimath to Badrinath, darshan, Mana village, overnight Badrinath.
- Day 5: Badrinath to Haridwar.
It works, but Day 3 is brutal: an 18 km descent followed by 5 to 6 hours in a car. We don’t suggest it for anyone over 50 or travelling with children.
The 7-day version (best for seniors and families with kids)
Take the 6-day plan and add:
- An extra night at Badrinath after darshan, for rest and a second darshan. Or use it for Charan Paduka, Mata Murti temple or a short walk towards Vasudhara Falls.
- An overnight halt at Rudraprayag or Srinagar on the way back, so no single day exceeds 6 to 7 hours of driving.
If anyone in your group is over 60, read our senior citizens’ guide before choosing between trek, pony and helicopter at Kedarnath.
Starting from Delhi?
Add one day at each end: Delhi to Haridwar or Rishikesh on Day 0, and back on the last day. From Delhi, a comfortable Do Dham trip is 8 to 9 days. See our Delhi to Badrinath road guide for the plains leg.
What a Do Dham yatra costs
Costs vary hugely with vehicle, hotel category and how you do the Kedarnath trek. These are indicative ranges per person for a 6-day trip from Haridwar, for a family of four sharing a taxi:
Item | Budget | Mid-range | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
Taxi (sedan to Innova, 6 days, shared by 4) | ā¹4,000 to ā¹5,000 | ā¹5,000 to ā¹6,500 | ā¹6,500 to ā¹8,000 |
Hotels (5 nights, shared rooms) | ā¹4,000 to ā¹6,000 | ā¹8,000 to ā¹14,000 | ā¹15,000 and up |
Food | ā¹2,000 to ā¹3,000 | ā¹3,000 to ā¹4,500 | ā¹4,500 and up |
Kedarnath pony or palki (optional) | ā | ā¹3,000 to ā¹6,000 one way | Palki or helicopter |
Puja, prasad, extras | ā¹1,000 and up | ā¹2,000 and up | Varies |
Ā
Kedarnath helicopter tickets from Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi are sold only through the official IRCTC HeliYatra portal and sell out quickly. Beware of fake booking sites.
Things to arrange before you go
- Char Dham registration is compulsory for both dhams. Register every traveller online and carry the e-pass. Our Char Dham registration guide explains the steps.
- Check opening dates. Kedarnath usually closes a few days before Badrinath at the end of the season, so late-October and November trips need care. Our guide on the best time to visit Badrinath and Kedarnath covers this month by month.
- Book Kedarnath stays early. Rooms at Kedarnath itself are limited and basic. Many people sleep at Gaurikund or Sonprayag instead and trek up and down in one long day.
- Helicopter backups. If you’re flying to Kedarnath, keep a trekking or pony fallback in case flights are grounded. For Badrinath helicopter options, see our helicopter options guide.
Packing for two very different dhams
Kedarnath needs trekking gear: proper shoes, a rain jacket, a walking stick, and a small backpack. Badrinath needs warm layers for cold mornings and evenings. Both get cold at night in every month, so carry thermals even in June. Our family Char Dham planning guide has a full checklist for families.
Kedarnath Badrinath yatra kitne din mein hoti hai?
Haridwar se Kedarnath aur Badrinath ki yatra kam se kam 5 din mein ho sakti hai, lekin 6 se 7 din mein yeh aaraam se hoti hai. Pehle Kedarnath jaiye (16 se 18 km ki chadhai), phir Sonprayag se lagbhag 215 se 245 km gaadi se Badrinath. Delhi se shuru karein toh 8 se 9 din rakhiye. Dono dham ke liye registration zaroori hai.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Plan at least 5 days from Haridwar for Kedarnath and Badrinath, but 6 to 7 days is much more comfortable. From Delhi, allow 8 to 9 days. The extra days cover the Kedarnath trek, weather delays and a rest day before the long drive home.
Most pilgrims visit Kedarnath first and Badrinath second. You do the demanding 16 to 18 km Kedarnath trek while fresh, any weather delay happens before Badrinath, and the trip ends with Badrinath’s easy, no-trek darshan and comfortable hotels.
From Sonprayag, the vehicle point below Kedarnath, Badrinath is about 211 km via Ukhimath and Chopta or about 224 km via Rudraprayag. Add the 16 to 18 km trek from Kedarnath down to Gaurikund and the short ride to Sonprayag. The drive takes 7 to 9 hours.
Yes. Kedarnath and Badrinath are commonly combined as the Do Dham yatra. Both are in Uttarakhand’s Garhwal region, connected by road via Rudraprayag or Chopta. A 6-day trip from Haridwar covers both comfortably, with one day of trekking at Kedarnath.
Drive from Haridwar to Guptkashi or Sitapur, trek to Kedarnath from Gaurikund, come down to Sonprayag, then drive about 215 to 245 km to Badrinath via Rudraprayag or Chopta. Return from Badrinath to Haridwar, about 320 km, in one long day or two shorter ones.
Yes, with planning. Badrinath has no trek and is very accessible. For Kedarnath, seniors usually take a pony, palki or helicopter instead of walking. Choose the 7-day itinerary, get a medical check-up before travel and avoid the peak crowds of May and June.
A 6-day trip from Haridwar costs roughly ā¹12,000 to ā¹20,000 per person on a budget, ā¹20,000 to ā¹35,000 mid-range, and more for comfortable hotels or helicopters. The biggest variables are hotel category and whether you take a pony, palki or helicopter at Kedarnath.
The Chopta route via Ukhimath and Gopeshwar is shorter and very scenic, but narrower, colder and sometimes icy early or late in the season. The Rudraprayag route has more buses and services. In the monsoon or with a large vehicle, the Rudraprayag route is usually the safer choice.
Yes. Char Dham Yatra registration is compulsory for both Kedarnath and Badrinath. Register every traveller online on the Uttarakhand government portal and carry the QR-code e-pass. Police check registrations at several points on the route.
Late May to June and mid-September to mid-October are the best windows. The weather is stable and both temples are open. July and August bring monsoon landslides, while late October and November get very cold and Kedarnath closes a few days before Badrinath.
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End your Do Dham yatra in comfort
After the Kedarnath trek, you’ll want a warm room and a proper meal. Hotel Royal Badri is on the main road near the Badrinath bus stand, about 900 m from the temple, with parking, Sattvik food at Akshaya, and staff who’ll help you plan Tapt Kund, darshan and Mana village. See Hotel Royal Badri or WhatsApp +91 87960 35148.
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