Char Dham Yatra for NRI
For pilgrims flying in from the US, UK, Canada, Gulf, Australia and elsewhere: a 12 day Char Dham Yatra that starts at Delhi airport, with registration and helicopter tickets issued on your passport, deluxe hotels with heated rooms, all meals, insurance, an Indian SIM and daily updates for family back home.
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Char Dham Yatra for NRI Overview
The Char Dham Yatra for NRI package solves the things that are hard to arrange from abroad. Yatra registration and Kedarnath helicopter tickets are issued on passport details, because Aadhaar is not available to most NRIs. The vehicle meets your international flight at Delhi IGI, a Delhi hotel night is added for late arrivals, and an Indian SIM is arranged so the registration OTPs and helicopter tickets reach you.
Hotels are deluxe with heated rooms at the cold halts, all three meals are included, travel insurance with medical evacuation is in the price, and the family abroad gets a WhatsApp group with daily location and photo updates. Payment is by international card or bank transfer, with a GST invoice in INR; many NRI pilgrims book 4 to 6 months ahead to line up leave and flights.
Below are the documents, payment and arrival details for NRI pilgrims, then the complete 12 day package with itinerary, hotels, prices, inclusions, exclusions and taxi fares.
₹54,900 per person, twin sharing, 5 persons in an Innova, deluxe hotels from Delhi
NRI Checklist for the Char Dham Yatra
| Item | What NRIs need to know | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Documents | Passport is the ID for registration, helicopter tickets, hotels and check posts. OCI or visa as applicable. Aadhaar is not required. | Register every pilgrim on passport details and issue helicopter tickets on the passport |
| Registration | The Uttarakhand portal accepts passports for Indian citizens abroad and foreign nationals; an Indian mobile number is needed for the OTP | We register you with our number and hand over the slips on arrival |
| Payment | International credit or debit card through our payment link, or SWIFT transfer; invoice in INR with GST | 25% advance to confirm, balance 30 days before arrival |
| Arrival | Most international flights land at Delhi IGI at night | Pick-up at T3 and a Delhi hotel night at ₹4,500 per room, tour starts next morning |
| SIM and network | Foreign roaming is poor beyond Rishikesh; an Indian SIM needs a passport and photo | Prepaid SIM arranged at the airport or our office on day 1 |
| Money | UPI needs an Indian bank account; cash is needed at the dhams | We advise ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 cash per person; ATMs at Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun |
| Insurance | Overseas policies often exclude altitude above 3,000 m | A 12 day Indian policy with medical evacuation is in the price |
| Family abroad | Time zones make phone calls hard | WhatsApp group with daily location, photos and the coordinator number |
| Leave planning | Flights plus 12 days plus a buffer day | Book flights out of Delhi no earlier than the evening of day 12, or stay a night |
- Best months for NRI visits. Late May to mid June for school holidays abroad, or September to early October for the best weather; book by February for May and June.
- Foreign nationals. Spouses and friends who are not Indian citizens can join; registration and hotels accept passports and visas. The Kedarnath helicopter portal accepts passports.
- Vegetarian and dietary needs. All food on the route is vegetarian; gluten-free and vegan requests are met at most halts with notice.
- Children born abroad. Register on the passport; children under 5 travel free in the package.
Char Dham Yatra NRI Package Itinerary: Day by Day
The order of sightseeing can change with weather, road conditions, temple timings and darshan queues.
Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Route | Distance and time | Night stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Delhi → Meerut → Roorkee → Haridwar | About 220 km, 5 to 6 hours | Haridwar |
| Day 2 | Haridwar → Dehradun → Mussoorie → Barkot | About 200 km, 7 to 8 hours | Barkot |
| Day 3 | Barkot → Janki Chatti → Yamunotri → Barkot | 45 km drive, 6 km trek each way | Barkot |
| Day 4 | Barkot → Uttarkashi | About 80 km, 3 to 4 hours | Uttarkashi |
| Day 5 | Uttarkashi → Harsil → Gangotri → Uttarkashi | About 100 km each way, 4 hours each way | Uttarkashi or Harsil |
| Day 6 | Uttarkashi → Tehri → Rudraprayag → Guptkashi | About 220 km, 8 to 9 hours | Guptkashi or Sitapur |
| Day 7 | Guptkashi → Sonprayag → Gaurikund → Kedarnath | 30 km drive, 16 to 18 km trek or helicopter | Kedarnath |
| Day 8 | Kedarnath → Gaurikund → Guptkashi | 16 to 18 km trek down, 30 km drive | Guptkashi |
| Day 9 | Guptkashi → Chopta → Joshimath → Badrinath | About 190 km, 7 to 8 hours | Badrinath |
| Day 10 | Badrinath → Mana → Joshimath → Pipalkoti | About 60 km, 3 hours | Joshimath or Pipalkoti |
| Day 11 | Pipalkoti → Rudraprayag → Devprayag → Rishikesh | About 240 km, 7 to 8 hours | Rishikesh |
| Day 12 | Rishikesh → Haridwar → Delhi | About 240 km, 6 to 7 hours | Tour ends |
Holy Places Covered
Char Dham Yatra NRI Package Price Details
Starting prices per person on twin sharing. Final price depends on dates, hotel category, vehicle and group size.
| Tour name | Char Dham Yatra NRI Package |
|---|---|
| Duration | 12 Days / 11 Nights |
| Route | Delhi → Haridwar → Barkot → Yamunotri → Uttarkashi → Gangotri → Guptkashi → Kedarnath → Badrinath → Pipalkoti → Rishikesh → Delhi |
| Start point | Home, hotel, airport or station anywhere in Delhi NCR |
| Tour price | From ₹54,900 per person (deluxe nri package, 5 persons in an Innova, deluxe hotels) |
Price by Hotel Category
| Hotel category | Stay and meals | Price from (per person) |
|---|---|---|
| Deluxe NRI package | Deluxe hotels with heated rooms, all meals, Innova Crysta for 5, travel insurance, airport pick-up, SIM card help | ₹54,900 |
| Deluxe with Kedarnath helicopter | Deluxe NRI package plus the Kedarnath helicopter for every pilgrim | ₹62,900 |
| Luxury NRI package | Best resorts, helicopter, Fortuner for 4, escort, pujas and all meals | ₹89,900 |
Price by Group Size and Vehicle
Deluxe NRI package hotels. The vehicle cost is shared, so bigger groups pay less per person.
| Group size | Vehicle | Hotels | From Delhi (per person) | From Haridwar (one day less) (per person) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 persons | Innova Crysta | Deluxe | ₹67,900 | ₹61,900 |
| 3 to 5 persons | Innova Crysta | Deluxe | ₹54,900 | ₹48,900 |
| 6 to 10 persons | Tempo Traveller 12 seater | Deluxe | ₹49,900 | ₹43,900 |
Add-ons and Optional Charges
| Add-on | Charged | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi pick-up and drop (adds 1 day) | Per vehicle | ₹6,500 sedan, ₹8,500 SUV, ₹13,000 tempo traveller |
| Kedarnath helicopter (Phata or Sersi to Kedarnath and back) | Per person | Government portal fare, about ₹5,500 to ₹8,000 return, changes each season |
| Kedarnath same-day helicopter with VIP darshan | Per person | From ₹12,900 including helipad transfer and darshan slot |
| Pony or palki for Kedarnath and Yamunotri | Per person | Paid locally at district rates, see the trek table |
| Extra night at any halt (landslide or rest day) | Per room per night | ₹2,500 standard, ₹4,500 deluxe, ₹8,000 premium |
| Single room supplement | Per person | ₹9,900 for the full tour |
| Child 5 to 11 years with extra bed | Per child | 25% less than the adult price |
| Lunch add-on | Per person | ₹350 per lunch |
Prices are for the 2027 season and are starting prices. Peak dates in May, June and the October holidays may cost more. Helicopter fares are set by the government portal and change every season. GST is extra where applicable.
Hotels Used on the Char Dham Yatra NRI Package
Hotel names are confirmed on your booking voucher. Rooms at the dhams are simple, so most comfort is at the halts below the temples.
| Night | Halt | Standard | Deluxe | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Night 1 and 2 | Barkot | Clean hotel with attached bath and hot water | Resort or camp with garden and valley view | Best available riverside resort |
| Night 3 and 4 | Uttarkashi or Harsil | Hotel in Uttarkashi town | Hotel in Uttarkashi or camp at Harsil | Harsil valley resort with apple orchards |
| Night 5 and 7 | Guptkashi or Sitapur | Hotel with attached bath | Resort with Chaukhamba view | Premium resort with spa or heated rooms |
| Night 6 | Kedarnath | GMVN dormitory or lodge near the temple | Private lodge or tent with attached bath | Premium tent or guest house, or same-day helicopter return |
| Night 8 | Badrinath | Hotel or dharamshala near the temple | Hotel with heated rooms near Tapt Kund | Best available hotel near the temple |
| Night 9 | Joshimath, Pipalkoti or Rudraprayag | Hotel in Pipalkoti | Hotel or resort in Joshimath | Resort in Joshimath or Auli |
| Night 10 | Rishikesh or Haridwar | Hotel near Tapovan or Haridwar | Riverside hotel or ashram-style resort | Luxury riverside resort |
All hotels have attached bathrooms, hot water in the morning and evening, and pure vegetarian food. At Kedarnath, electricity and hot water are limited and rooms are shared in GMVN dormitories on the deluxe nri package plan. Heated rooms are available at Badrinath, Joshimath and Guptkashi on the deluxe and premium plans. Family rooms with three or four beds can be arranged at most halts on request.
If you prefer to book the stay yourself, see Char Dham hotel booking and Kedarnath hotel booking, or ask us for a vehicle-only taxi package below.
Package Inclusions and Exclusions
Package Inclusions
- 11 nights hotel stay on twin sharing as per the category booked
- 11 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 11 dinners, pure vegetarian, 2 bottles of water a day and evening tea
- Airport pick-up at Delhi IGI on arrival from abroad and drop for the return flight, with a Delhi hotel night if the flight lands after 6 pm
- Travel insurance for 12 days with medical evacuation cover
- Indian SIM card arranged on arrival and a WhatsApp group with daily updates for family abroad
- Yatra registration using passport details, and helicopter tickets issued on the passport
- Heated rooms at Guptkashi, Badrinath and Joshimath
- Dedicated AC vehicle from Delhi to Delhi for the full route (AC is switched off on hill climbs)
- Uttarakhand-registered hill driver with the same vehicle for the whole tour
- Fuel, driver allowance, tolls, parking, state tax and green tax
- Uttarakhand yatra registration for every pilgrim
- Shared jeep from Sonprayag to Gaurikund and back
- Darshan, aarti and temple timing guidance by our tour coordinator on call
- Pick-up and drop at your home, hotel, airport or railway station in Delhi NCR
- All hotel and vehicle taxes except GST
Package Exclusions
- Train or flight tickets to Delhi
- Pick-up outside Delhi NCR
- Kedarnath helicopter tickets in the standard and deluxe plans
- Pony, palki, pithu, doli and porter charges on the treks
- VIP darshan, special puja, rudrabhishek and donation
- Snacks and any food ordered outside the fixed meals
- Entry fees, camera fees and Mana village or Kempty Falls parking
- Room heater charges where hotels charge separately
- Medical, travel and trip cancellation insurance
- Personal expenses such as laundry, calls and tips
- Extra stay or vehicle cost due to landslide, weather, strike or road closure
- GST at the applicable rate
Char Dham Taxi Fare: Vehicle Only
Round trip for the full circuit with the same driver. Fuel, driver allowance, tolls, parking and taxes included.
| Vehicle | Seats | Suited for | Haridwar to Haridwar, 11 days | Delhi to Delhi, 12 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan (Dzire, Etios, Aura) | 4 | Couple or 3 pilgrims with light luggage | ₹32,000 | ₹38,500 |
| SUV (Ertiga, Marazzo, Xylo) | 6 | Small family | ₹40,000 | ₹48,000 |
| Innova Crysta | 6 to 7 | Family or senior citizens who want more comfort | ₹50,000 | ₹58,000 |
| Tempo Traveller 12 seater | 12 | Joint family or small group | ₹72,000 | ₹85,000 |
| Tempo Traveller 17 seater | 17 | Group of friends or society | ₹85,000 | ₹99,000 |
| Tempo Traveller 26 seater | 26 | Large group or satsang mandal | ₹1,10,000 | ₹1,30,000 |
Only vehicles with an Uttarakhand green card and a trip card from the transport department are allowed on the yatra route, and we use those. Night driving is not allowed on the hill roads, so every day ends before dark. Each extra day costs about ₹3,500 for a sedan, ₹4,500 for an SUV or Innova and ₹7,000 for a tempo traveller. Local taxis from Sonprayag to Gaurikund are shared jeeps run by the local union and are paid on the spot.
See also Char Dham taxi booking, tempo traveller booking and Haridwar to Char Dham taxi.
Trek, Pony, Palki and Helicopter Options
Rates are set by the district administration and the government helicopter portal each season and are paid locally unless pre-booked.
| Dham | Route | Distance | Options and approximate rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yamunotri | Janki Chatti to Yamunotri | 6 km each way | Pony ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 one way; palki ₹4,000 to ₹6,000 one way; pithu ₹1,200 to ₹1,800 |
| Kedarnath | Gaurikund to Kedarnath | 16 to 18 km each way | Pony ₹2,500 to ₹3,500 one way; palki ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 one way; pithu ₹2,500 to ₹3,500 |
| Kedarnath helicopter | Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi to Kedarnath | 8 to 10 minutes | About ₹2,700 to ₹3,900 one way, set by the government Heli Yatra portal |
| Gangotri and Badrinath | By road to the temple | No trek | Short walk from the parking; wheelchair help can be arranged |
The Kedarnath helicopter flies from Phata, Sersi and Guptkashi helipads and the ride takes under 10 minutes. Tickets are sold only on the official IRCTC Heli Yatra portal, need the yatra registration number and a photo ID, and open in phases before the season. Weight above 80 kg is charged extra and weather can cancel flights, so keep the trek as a backup. Read our Kedarnath helicopter booking guide for the current fare and timings.
Registration and Documents Checklist
- Yatra registration. Compulsory for every pilgrim on the Uttarakhand Tourism portal. We complete it for you and send the slip on WhatsApp. Carry a printout.
- Photo ID. Aadhaar, voter ID, passport or driving licence for every traveller, original and one copy.
- Medical fitness. A doctor's certificate is advised for pilgrims above 50 and anyone with heart, blood pressure or breathing conditions. Health screening is done at the check posts.
- Helicopter tickets. Carry the IRCTC e-ticket and the same photo ID used for booking.
- Hotel vouchers. We send a single voucher with all hotel names, driver name and vehicle number before departure.
- Emergency contacts. Our coordinator's number, the Uttarakhand tourist helpline 1364 and the police helpline 112.
Travel Tips and What to Pack
- Start early every day. Hill roads have gates that close at dusk, and the Kedarnath trek should begin by 6 am.
- Go slow on altitude. Kedarnath is at about 3,580 m and Badrinath at 3,300 m. Drink water, avoid alcohol and tell the driver if you feel breathless or dizzy.
- Pack for cold and rain. Thermals, a down or fleece jacket, raincoat, warm cap, gloves, trekking shoes with grip, two pairs of socks a day, sunscreen and a torch.
- Medicines. Your regular medicines for the full trip plus a basic kit: pain relief, ORS, antacid, motion sickness tablets, band-aids and a pulse oximeter if you have one.
- Cash and network. ATMs and mobile network are unreliable beyond Uttarkashi, Guptkashi and Joshimath. Carry cash for pony, prasad and local jeeps. BSNL and Jio work best.
- Keep buffer days. Landslides and rain can block roads for a few hours or a day. Do not book a flight or train on the evening you return.
- Respect temple rules. Photography is not allowed inside the temples. Dress modestly and follow the queue system.
This is a likely schedule. The tour coordinator may adjust it for weather, road conditions, temple timings or local rules. Extra stay caused by landslides, bad weather, road closures or flight cancellations is payable by the guest.
How to Reach the Yatra Base and Best Time to Visit
| Mode | Gateway | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air | Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (DED) | About 35 km from Rishikesh and 40 km from Haridwar; flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad |
| Train | Haridwar Junction (HW) | Direct trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai and many cities; the main yatra base |
| Train | Rishikesh, Yog Nagari Rishikesh or Dehradun | Vande Bharat and Shatabdi from Delhi to Dehradun in about 4.5 hours |
| Road | Delhi to Haridwar | About 220 km, 5 to 6 hours by car or Volvo bus from Kashmere Gate ISBT |
| Helicopter | Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi to Kedarnath | Optional sector; tickets sold only through the IRCTC Heli Yatra portal |
Month by Month
| Month | Weather | Crowd and advice |
|---|---|---|
| Late April to May | Cold nights at the dhams, pleasant days; snow still around Kedarnath | Opening days are the busiest of the year; book hotels and helicopter 2 to 3 months ahead |
| June | Warm days, cool nights; pre-monsoon showers | School holidays, very busy; expect queues at Kedarnath |
| July to August | Monsoon; heavy rain, landslides and road closures | Low crowd and low prices, but keep extra days and travel insurance |
| September to October | Clear skies, cold nights, best mountain views | Best months for the yatra; moderate crowd, pleasant walking weather |
| November | Very cold; temples close after Diwali | Only the first week or so; check the closing dates |
FAQs for Char Dham Yatra for NRI
Can NRIs do the Char Dham Yatra without Aadhaar?
Yes. Registration, helicopter tickets, hotels and check posts accept a passport. We register every pilgrim on passport details.
What is the NRI Char Dham package price?
From ₹54,900 per person on twin sharing for 3 to 5 persons in an Innova from Delhi airport, with deluxe hotels, heated rooms, all meals, insurance, SIM, airport transfers and registration. With the Kedarnath helicopter it is ₹62,900.
How do I pay from abroad?
International card through our payment link or SWIFT transfer, with a GST invoice in INR. 25% advance to confirm and the balance 30 days before arrival.
Is travel insurance included?
Yes, a 12 day Indian policy with medical evacuation cover, since many overseas policies exclude altitude above 3,000 m.
Can non-Indian family members join?
Yes. Foreign nationals register with passport and visa and are accepted at hotels, check posts and the helicopter portal.
Do you pick up from the international terminal?
Yes, at Delhi IGI T3 at any hour, with a Delhi hotel night for arrivals after 6 pm so the tour starts fresh the next morning.
Is registration compulsory?
Yes. Every pilgrim must register on the Uttarakhand Tourism portal and carry the slip with a photo ID. We complete the registration for you once you share names, ages and ID numbers.
What is the best time for the yatra?
May to June and September to October. July and August are monsoon months with landslide risk and slower drives. The temples close after Diwali and reopen in late April or May.
Can senior citizens do this tour?
Yes, with a slower pace. We advise a medical check before travel, the Kedarnath helicopter or palki, and an extra rest night at Guptkashi. Pilgrims above 50 may be asked for a health screening at the check posts.
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