Chardham Yatra with Valley of Flowers

The trip starts at a very early time through a picturesque drive between Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun to Barkot which is the entrance to Yamunotri Dham. The road crosses the beautiful hill station of Mussoorie, which provides cool sceneries of forested mountains, cloudy valleys, and twisting mountain roads. A short stop at Kempty Falls is a good way to rest and have a look at nature. Barkot, which is located on Yamuna River, is the best place to acclimatize. On arrival, check in the hotel, have dinner, and sleep to be ready to perform first holy darshan.

Early morning, drive to Janki Chatti or Phool Chatti which is the starting point of the 6 km walk to Yamunotri Temple. Pilgrims can walk or ride on ponies, palkis or dandi. The walk is spiritual and is sceneried with waterfalls, greenery and Himalayan mountains. In Yamunotri Dham, people make a holy bath in Surya Kund, cook rice as prasad in the hot spring and pray to Goddess Yamuna. Darshan completed, proceed to Janki Chatti and proceed to Uttarkashi to spend the night.

Begin the day by taking a morning drive to the Gangotri Dham with a stopover at the breathtaking Harsil Valley, a place with virgin beauty and deodar trees. After arriving at Gangotri, pilgrims take a dip in the icy waters of Bhagirathi River and do puja in the Gangotri Temple which is devoted to Goddess Ganga. Following the darshan, start the scenic drive to Joshimath or Pipalkoti, passing over river confluences and alpine scenes. Dinner and stay at Joshimath or Pipalkoti.

Get up early in the morning, travel to Govindghat and then walk to Ghangaria, which is the base camp of the Valley of Flowers National Park. The clearly distinguished path is providing an excellent view of the waterfalls, glaciers and the alpine forests. Take a little rest at Ghangaria and then proceed to the Valley of Flowers, a colourful meadow that is covered with hundreds of unique Himalayan flowering species during the flowering season. The valley is a heavenly place of a photographer and a nature lover. Spend good time at the valley and go back to Ghangaria to have dinner and stay overnight.

Early morning, walk back to Ghangaria to Govindghat then drive to Badrinath Dham the holy seat of Lord Vishnu, situated between Nar and Narayan mountain ranges. On arrival, pilgrims have a holy bath in Tapt Kund, and then darshan at the Badrinath Temple. Other places of interest can be visited, which include Mana Village, the final Indian village bordering the Indo Tibetan border, Vyas Gufa, Bhim Pul, and Mata Murti Temple. Badrinath Evening aarti and over night stay.

Finally, on the last day, one should take early morning darshan at Badrinath Temple, and then have breakfast. The completion of the Char Dham with Valley of Flowers Yatra is the start of a journey back to Haridwar, Rishikesh or Dehradun. The trip is summed up with spiritual satisfaction, awe-inspiring moments and divine blessings of the holy shrines as well as the best of creations of nature.