Quick facts
- Shrines
- Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath
- Season
- Spring to before winter; temples close in winter
- 2027 opening dates
- Not announced yet
- Registration
- Mandatory and free, on the Uttarakhand Tourism portal
- Kedarnath helicopter
- Book only on heliyatra.irctc.co.in
- Nearest airport
- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
Char Dham Yatra 2027: key dates
Opening dates are fixed each year by tradition and announced by the temple authorities. Badrinath's date is announced on Basant Panchami (11 Feb 2027) and Kedarnath's on Maha Shivratri (6 Mar 2027); Gangotri and Yamunotri traditionally open around Akshaya Tritiya. Badrinath: to be announced, please check the official source closer to the date. Kedarnath: to be announced, please check the official source closer to the date. Gangotri: to be announced, please check the official source closer to the date. Yamunotri: to be announced, please check the official source closer to the date.
Sources: All India Radio: I4C alert on fake Kedarnath helicopter and Char Dham booking websites (Apr 2025), The Tribune: Beware of fake helicopter services, warn police amid Char Dham rush.
How to reach Uttarakhand
Starting point
Most pilgrims start from Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, and Haridwar and Dehradun have the main railway stations.
The traditional order is Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and then Badrinath. Plan rest days: the roads are long and winding mountain roads.
Registration (mandatory)
Every pilgrim must register with Uttarakhand Tourism before the yatra. Registration is free on the official portal, registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in; never pay an agent or website for "registration". The portal also lists offline registration points, for example at Rahi Hotel in Haridwar and the Transit Camp in Rishikesh (2026 list; check it again for 2027).
Treks and roads
Gangotri and Badrinath can be reached by road. Yamunotri is a trek from Janki Chatti, and Kedarnath is a longer trek from Gaurikund. Ponies, palkis (palanquins) and porters are available on the treks.
Helicopters
Kedarnath helicopter tickets are sold only on the official IRCTC portal, heliyatra.irctc.co.in. Fake websites, ads and WhatsApp numbers offering helicopter bookings are common: never pay to a personal account. Report fraud at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930. To be announced, please check the official source closer to the date.
Trains and flights at a glance
Main railway stations
- Haridwar Junction (HW)
- Yog Nagari Rishikesh (YNRK)
- Dehradun (DDN)
Main direct trains
- 12017 Dehradun Shatabdi Express · from New Delhi (NDLS)
- 22457 Vande Bharat Express · from Delhi Anand Vihar (ANVT)
- 19031 Yoga Express · from Delhi (DLI)
- 12171 LTT–Haridwar AC Express · from Mumbai LTT (LTT)
Airports
- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (DED)
Lists checked on 9 Nov 2026. Timings, running days and routes change, so confirm on IRCTC or NTES, or with the airline, before you book. Sources: ixigo: Delhi to Haridwar trains, Haridwar district: How to reach.
Where to stay for Char Dham Yatra 2027
GMVN tourist rest houses
Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN), the state tourism corporation, runs rest houses along the Char Dham routes. They are simple and fill up early in the season.
Good for: Reliable, government-run stays
Price guide: Ask us for current prices
Hotels and guest houses
Towns along the route have hotels and guest houses for every budget. Book ahead for May and June, the busiest months.
Good for: Families and elderly travellers who need comfort
Price guide: Ask us for current prices
Dharamshalas and ashrams
Dharamshalas and ashrams near the shrines offer basic rooms at low cost.
Good for: Budget and spiritual stays
Price guide: Ask us for current prices
Near Kedarnath and Yamunotri
Stays near the temples are limited. Many pilgrims stay in the base towns (around Gaurikund and Janki Chatti) and start the trek early.
Good for: Starting the trek early
Price guide: Ask us for current prices
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Tips & safety
Health and altitude (especially for elderly pilgrims)
- All four shrines are high in the Himalaya. Get a medical check-up before the yatra, especially if you have heart or lung problems, high blood pressure or diabetes.
- Go slowly, rest well and drink plenty of water. Breathlessness, headache and dizziness can be signs of altitude sickness: stop, rest and get medical help.
- Carry your regular medicines, prescriptions and a basic first-aid kit.
Weather
- It can be cold at the shrines even in May and June. Carry warm clothes, a rain jacket and good walking shoes.
- During the monsoon, landslides can close roads for hours or days. Keep spare days in your plan and follow official travel advisories.
- Start treks early in the morning; weather in the mountains often changes in the afternoon.
Safety and documents
- Carry your yatra registration and a photo ID for every traveller.
- Never pay for registration or helicopter tickets to individuals, WhatsApp numbers or personal bank accounts.
- All emergencies (police, fire, ambulance): 112
- Tourist Care Uttarakhand helpline: 1364 (toll-free), 0135-3520100