The Chota Char Dham Yatra is an extremely pious and religious trip for Hindus. This is not just a trip, it is a journey through the four holiest and most sacred places in Uttarakhand. Nestled in the laps of nature, protected by the beautiful Himalayas, these places are abodes of God. Every Hindu once in their lives plan on embarking on this holy Yatra to rid themselves of their sins and attain moksha.
While this is on everyone’s bucket list, sometimes the Yatra might end up being too costly to undertake. Many people decide to give it up since it doesn’t fit their budget. However, that is not true.
If you want your Char Dham Yatra to be budget-friendly and quite affordable, then you must avail private transports like buses, and also trek as much as possible.
Several buses ply to all the stops of the Char Dham Yatra, after which you need to trek. These buses make for a comfortable and pocket-friendly journey.
Check out our suggested itinerary with prices for the Chota Char Dham Yatra:
Day 1
Before you Yatra starts you need to reach Rishikesh. Rishikesh is well connected to all the major cities in India. If you are coming from Delhi, then you can also board a bus to reach Rishikesh.
Day 2
Your first stop after you reach Rishikesh will be Janki Chatti, from where you will trek to Yamunotri. Once you reach Rishikesh, board a government bus to Dharashu Bend (INR 230). Once you reach Dharashu Bend board another bus to Janki Chatti (INR 120). Sit back and relish the awe-inspiring roads, as your Chota Char Dham Yatra officially starts. You will witness the air getting fresher and cooler, the trees increasing in number and the mountains dominating the backdrop. It looks mesmerizing. You will also find more pilgrims inside the bus, and most of them keep chanting or singing hymns. This will make your journey through the mountains even more divine and enchanting.
Once you reach Janki Chatti, look for a good and decent hotel. If you are going in the peak season, then make sure you pre-book your stay. If you are lucky you might just get a room for INR 200 with a beautiful view of the imposing Himalayas.
Day 3
Next day, after having a delicious breakfast, head out for your trek to the Yamunotri. It is a 6 km trek and is quite enthralling and refreshing. You will come across lovely streams and large meadows covered with a blanket of grass.
Once you reach the pious Yamunotri Temple, just take a rejuvenating dip in the Garam Kund to relax your muscles after the trek. Follow this up by offering your prayers at the temple. You can explore a little more, and visit places like Hanuman Chatti, Surya Kund, and Divya Shila. Also take in the gorgeous view that this place commands, and let it all soak in.
Once you are done exploring Yamunotri, quickly check out of your hotel and head back to Dharashu Bend or Barkot (INR 70). Make sure you come to the bus station by 13:00 hours maximum, since you might not find any more buses after this, which will force you to stay another night at Janki Chatti.
If you board a bus to Barkot, then you will have to find another bus to Dharashu Bend upon reaching there. The journey from Barkot to Dharashu Bend is quite scenic, and you will pass some breathtaking avenues and hilly terrains. Once you reach Dharashu Bend, you can hail a taxi to Uttarkashi, for your next stop in the Char Dham Yatra – Gangotri Temple. The taxi from Dharashu Bend to Uttarkashi costs about INR 50. You need to stay the night at Uttarkashi, which should cost about INR 200.
Day 4
The next day you will have to hail a taxi to reach Gangotri since there are no buses from here. The taxi will cost you about INR 200. The road journey to Gangotri is exceedingly lovely, and you will pass several natural hot springs and apple orchids, which will be etched in your memories forever.
The lovely town of Gangotri is truly fit for royals! It is so magnificent and sacred, that you can feel the magic radiating from the land. The entire town is surrounded by lush meadows and enchanting mountains, which makes it look all so beautiful.
Make your way to the Gangotri Temple and perform a little puja. You can also take a bath at the Bhagirath river that flows beside the temple.
If you are done with your Gangotri Yatra fairly early, then you can head back to Uttarkashi on the same day, otherwise, you will have to take lodging at Gangotri for another day. Trekkers you wish to trek to Topovan or Gaumukh, need to stay another day, and also require a permit.
Day 5
After you reach Uttarkashi, you will next move on to the holy Kedarnath Yatra. To reach Kedarnath in the most budget-friendly way, you need to make sure that you have pre-booked a government bus ticket to Srinagar. Alternatively, if you are unable to secure a bus ticket then you need to come early in the morning the next day ( around 4 am ) to hire a jeep to Srinagar. The jeep costs about INR 200.
Once you reach Srinagar, rest for some time in a nearby restaurant, and eat some lovely local delicacies. After that, you need to board a bus from Srinagar to Guptkashi.
There are times when you might not get a direct bus for Guptkashi. Usually, you will have to come extremely early in the morning to find one. Alternatively, you can board a bus to Augustmuni (INR 80)
After reaching Augustmuni you can hire a taxi or jeep to Guptkashi, which will cost you INR 100.
You might need to spend the night at Guptkashi depending on what time you arrive. The hotels at Guptkashi are a little more expensive than other places, so you can opt for an ashram. However, the ashrams are usable filled and you might not get a place.
If you reach Guptkashi, before the sun goes down, then you can reach either Sonprayag or Gaurikund and stay there, since the rates are cheaper.
Day 6
From Gaurikund, Kedarnath is another 19 km. Wake up the next day and refresh yourself before heading out for this mammoth trek.
You will find many pilgrims on this trek, making your journey even more memorable. Upon reaching Kedarnath, spend some time at the temple, and then explore the divine beauty around you. Soak in all the natural beauty that surrounds this holy town, and watch as the mountains, streams, and trees make up for the most scenic and iconic setting.
Try and stay at a hotel near the temple at Kedarnath, to experience a truly holy and mystical time.
Day 7
The next day wakes up early in the morning, and visit the Kedarnath temple again, before bidding it goodbye.
Head back to Gaurikund, and then move towards Sonprayag and then Guptkashi. A cab to Sonprayag will take INR 20, and from Sonprayag to Guptkashi, it will take INR 60.
You can also take a bus to Rudraprayag directly from Gaurikund. It is more recommended that you take a direct bus from Gaurikund to Rudraprayag. The bus ticket will only cost you INR 60.
The little hamlet of Rudraprayag is quite stunning and is also filled with budget-friendly accommodations. You can stay at an ashram which will only cost you INR 150. This Abode of God is the perfect place to stay for your next and last stop- Badrinath.
Day 8
After getting adequate rest at Rudraprayag, head out early in the morning to enjoy a comfortable darshan at the Badrinath Temple. You should take a dip into the refreshing Taps Kund before proceeding to the Temple.
There are several places near Badrinath that you can explore further like- Mata Murty Temple, Bhim Pul, Vyas Gufa, Narad Kund and the gorgeous Mana Village.
There are many stay options at Badrinath as well.
Day 9
After finishing off your Badrinath Yatra, bid adieu and head back to Rudraprayag. You can spend another day at Rudraprayag, before heading back home via Rishikesh.
Some More Pocket-Friendly Tips
source: Wildhawk Adventures
- While taxis are much faster than buses, the cheapest option to travel is through buses.
- Buses did ply in the hilly areas after 4 pm, so make sure you fix a schedule to catch the desired bus.
- You can carry small snacks like biscuits and dry fruits. This way you won’t be spending too much on snacks along the way.
- Try and book/stay at ashrams, since they are cheap and provide decent accommodations.
- Choose the right time to embark on the Chota Char Dham Yatra. If you go in the peak season, not only will you encounter hordes of people, but also prices will be more. You can try visiting it right after the monsoon and just before the temples close in November.
- Always be aware of your route and mark your routes properly so that you don’t need travel guides.
- If you have your car or bikes, then always carry an extra tire and bottles of diesel or petrol.
The Whole Price Summary
Rishikesh to Dharashu Bend by bus – INR 230
Dharasu Bend to Jankichatti by bus – INR 120
Hotel at Janki Chatti – INR 200
Jankichatti to Barkot by bus – INR 70
Barkot to Dharasu Bend by bus – INR 130
Dharashu Bend to Uttar Kashi by jeep or taxi – INR50
Hotel at Uttarkashi – INR 200 for one night
Uttar Kashi to Gangotri by taxi – INR 200
Hotel = 300
Gangotri to Uttar Kash by taxi – INR 200
Uttar Kashi to Srinagar by bus – INR 150
Srinagar to Sonprayag – INR 200
Sonprayag to Gaurikund- INR 20 (one way)
Hotel at Gaurikund – INR 300
Kedarnath Stay – INR 300
Gaurikund to Rudraprayag – INR 60
Stay at Rudraprayag – INR 300
Stay at Badrinath- INR 200
The Chota Char Dham Yatra is truly a magical experience, and something is enchanting and adventurous in completing this journey in the most humble way possible. So try and avail all the public transports to not only have a budget-friendly trip but also to experience this Yatra in the most authentic way possible.
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