Chardham Yathra

Our agenda for Day 2 is to drive from Rishikesh to Barkot via the lush, winding road to Mussoorie. While doing so, we make several stops and visit the lovely Mussoorie Lake, as well as Kempty Falls. Kempty Falls is a great spot for lunch, as one can enjoy the view as well as quality food at this point, which may not be available later on in the journey. After this, we drive directly to Barkot, and check into our hotel. Here, you find yourself in the arms of Uttarakhand’s hills, at a height of 1,220 m. The weather of Barkot makes it an agreeable place to visit regardless of the time of the year. During the summer months, the temperature lies somewhere in the comfortable range of 25 to 30 degrees, and in winters, while the days are pleasant, the nights can get slightly chilly, with the temperature ranging between 10 and 5 degrees. The itinerary for the rest of the day is empty. We spend the night at Barkot. We use this time to recuperate and conserve our energy for Day 4, which encompasses the Prahalad (hill) Yatra of Yamunotri. Dinner and Overnight Stay at the hotel.

We wake up early today, and start our day with a hearty breakfast. Afterwards, with risen spirits, we embark on a scenic drive to Uttarkashi. We check into the hotel upon our arrival, and after lunch and a short rest, we visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple, which is the main point of intrigue in this area. The city of Uttarkashi is situated at the banks of Ganga. The weather experienced by Uttarkashi is more on the extreme side, meaning it receives generally hot summers (temperature ranging between 30 and 35 degrees). The winters, on the other hand, are chilly.
The Vishwanath temple was reconstructed in the year 1857. Other facets of the structure include the Shakti temple (situated right across the Kashi Vishwanath temple), which is most well known for its magnificent “Trishul”, standing at a height of 6 meters, made of iron and copper. In addition to the Shakti temple, other shrines like that Ganeshji, Markandeya Rishi and Sakshi Gopal also compose a big part of the Vishwanath spiritual shrine here. The soulful aartis are a major part of the early morning and evening rituals here. After making the preferred visits and offering our prayers, we make our way back to the hotel, and rest for the night. Dinner and Overnight Stay at the hotel.

Today, we make the uphill journey to Gangotri, which is situated at the astonishing height of 3,048 meters. We take a packed breakfast with us to enjoy on the way. We stop at a hot spring named Garam kund at Ganganani for a holy dip quite unlike any other spiritual experience. Afterwards, we take the Harsil valley route straight to our objective destination of the day –Gangotri.
Owing to its height and abundance of vegetation, the weather at Gangotri is almost always cold. The temperature even in summers ranges between 10 and 20 degrees. Light layers are recommended while making the trip. During winters, because of heavy snowfall, the place is closed and inaccessible. We soon reach Gangotri, and take a moment to pray and bathe in the holy waters of river Ganga (referred to as the Bhagirathi, at its point of origin). The Gangotri temple (established in the 18th century), is situated on the right bank of the mighty river. After offering our prayers, completing the pooja rituals and taking some time to enjoy the view presented to you in the lap of nature, we take a beautiful late sunset drive back to Uttarkashi, and spend the night there. Dinner and Overnight Stay at the hotel

After a sumptuous breakfast, we drive up to Guptkashi. The name “Guptkashi” translates to Hidden Benaras, and is derived from the legend that Lord Shiva once hid himself from the Pandavas at this location. Guptkashi is a wonderfully pleasant place to visit in the summers. The temperature never goes beyond 30 degrees. During the winter months, however, it can get considerably chilly. We make the journey via the Moolgarh and Lambgoan route, which offers us breathtaking glimpses of river Mandakini. One interesting fact is that river Mandakini actually originates from Kedarnath, which only adds to the spiritual energy and aura that makes this entire trip special. While driving alongside the river, we soon find ourselves at the Ardh Narishwar temple at Guptkashi. After taking some time to visit the temple and offer prayers, we check into our hotel, Guptkashi. After taking some time to visit the temple and offer prayers, we check into our hotel, and take the night to recuperate. Dinner and Overnight Stay at the hotel

Distance covered: 160 km
We shall wake up to a beautiful sunrise in Badrinath. After a sumptuous breakfast, we will drive to Rudraprayag route Joshimath. We shall make a stop at Joshimath at the Narsingh Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu’s 4th incarnation in Narsimha avatar. Later, we shall drive back to Rudraprayag via Joshimath. At Rudraprayag, we shall check into a hotel and call it a day. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel