Chardham

Has anyone does this trip?

Silly question; of course many people would've.

But please advise

1) if it's do-able in May.

2) Can a child of 10 also manage it

3) Which tour company offers a good tour n package?

Tks

1)Yes,it is doable in first week of may and it will be crowded from second week after the temple opens.
2) I saw some bengali families with children from 5 years.
3) I trust gmvnl because of their nof hotel and the other alternative are radheshyam group of hotels.

Tks for the prompt reply. One more question, what's the point of going in May first week if the temple opens only in the second week? The reason to do chardham is also to have darshan?

As re tour operators, how about Cox n Kings or Select Hotels? Anyone tried them? I found them while surfing.

I mean to say the very first week when the temple opens.

Best to do it as early in the season as possible. I agree with Nkumar that GMVN is the best to handle the yatra, you will get decent accommodation and food. Check out their website. You can book for the yatra online too. The yatra is not very difficult in this day and age. The only places where you cannot (literally) drive down to the temple is Yumnotri and Kedarnath. In Kedarnath there are palanquins and mules available for hire and same for yumnotri. So people of all ages can attempt it.

Tks Nkumar and Living in the Himalayas. Hope the trip materialises.

Cheers!

southern travels is not a bad options, they are less expensive and they have limited options of accomodations, on other hand gmvnl is little expensive and accomodations options are more.
Dear manzey, can you post the iterenary you did in 2008.
with regards,

Southern travels sucks. There food is pathetic and at couple of places there accodmation was very bad. I booked the entire tempo traveller (9 seater)for my family and along with us, there was another mini bus (30 people) and Toyota Innova.

Here's the itenary I did in Oct 2008.
Itinerary Schedule
Day 01 : Delhi-Haridwar-Rishikesh
9 PM. Departure to Rishikesh (229kms. / 7.5 hrs. Night Journey).

Day 02: Rishikesh - Barkot
5AM. Arrive at Rishikesh. After fresh up in Choultry & breakfast, visit Shivananda Ashram, Ram Jhoola, Swarg Ashram, Geeta Ashram, Lakshman Jhoola. After lunch proceed to Barkot (216 kms. / 7hts.) Overnight stay.

Day 03: Barkot - Yamunotri - Barkot
5 AM. departure to Hanumanchatti (32 kms. / 1.5 hrs.). Later take a local jeep to Janakichatti to shorten your trek by 5 kms. Proceed to Yamunotri temple by walk / pony / Doli. (Approximate charges for both ways by horse would be Rs.800/- 1,200/- and doli Rs.2,500/- 3,500/-). Return to Barkot.

Day 04: Barkot - Uttarkashi
Leisure time till noon. After lunch, proceed to Uttarkashi (100 kms./ 4 hrs.) & check into hotel. Overnight stay.

Day 05: Uttarkashi - Gangotri - Uttarkashi
5 AM. Departure to Gangotri (100 kms. / 5 hrs.). Upon arrival at Gangotri, take a Holy Dip in the sacred Ganges, perform Pooja & return to Uttarkashi. Overnight stay.

Day 06: Uttarkashi - Rampur
5 AM. Departure to Rampur (250 kms / 12 hrs.). Overnight stay.

Day 07: Rampur - Kedarnath
5 AM. Departure to Gaurikund (15 kms.) proceed to Kedarnath (14 kms.) by walk / pony / Doli. Overnight stay.

Day 08: Kearnath - Gaurikund - Rampur
After performing pooja & darshan of Shri Kedarnath ji, back to Rampur. Overnight stay.

Day 09: Rampur- Badrinath
6 AM. Departure to badrinath (238 kms / 12 hrs.). Upon arrivel, check into your hotel. Overnight stay.

Day 10: Badrinath - Pipalkoti
Morning after darshan of Shri Badrinath ji, visit Mana Village, the last Village before the Tibetan border. After Lunch drive to Pipalkoti (79 kms. / 4 hrs.). Upon arrivel, check into hotel. Overnight stay.

Day 11: Pipalkoti - Haridwar
6 AM. Departure to Haridwar (241kms. / 10 hrs.). Have Holy bath in Ganges, see Mansa Devi Temple by Ropa Way and Aarti in the Ganges at Hari-Ki-Pauri in the evening. After dinner proceed to Delhi.

Day 12: Arrive Delhi
4 AM. Arrive delhi. Tour Concludes.

Anybody halp me to plan Kedarnath and badrinath from haridwar on 12th May to 18th May, 2009.

thanks manzey for the info, many south indians prefer southern travels because he service good south indian food. I am shocked to hear that the food was bad. How much did you pay for the entire trip from delhi-chardham-delhi.
Hi boomba,
give us some more details like how many days, nof people, prefered mode of transport, etc,

Thanks, n kumar,

We will started journey from Howrah on 12th and reached Haridwar on 13th afternoon (4p.m.)and want to back Haridwar by 19th May. We are total 3.

12th = reaching haridwar,
13th = haridwar and rishikesh.
14th = haridwar to guptakashi/rampur/sitapur/gaurikund.
15th = guptakashi/rampur/sitapur/gaurikund to kedarnath.
16th = kedarnath to ukimath.
17th = ukimath to badrinath.
18th = badri to pipalkoti.
19th = pipalkoti to haridwar.
This iterenary will be ok if you can hire a car or any conducted tours.

Yep...that was probably in earlier days. what do you expect if someone who doesn't know much about cooking starts cooking south indian food in north indian style ? also, the menu was almost same everyday.

Rates were not that expensive...around 12k - 13kper person.
We met some people from other travels - they had come in 2 buses (don't remember the exact name - something by name ananda vihari - bangalore based and they have there office in near prasanna theatre somewhere near magadi road). they were serving really tasty food and had real good udupi cooks. Food was really good....(tried it). They just organise one trip per month itseems.

Cheers!

Hi All
I am southey but consider myself something of an expert re Chardham as I have done it 4 times.My impressions are GMVNL is OK and hassel free.But some of their rest houses like in Janak Chatti are patheic.I amnot repeat Not promoting any one.But I prefer Skylark Adventure Tours at Haridwar.The people give you good service.Good car, book acccomodatioon of you choice and provide you with a guide if you want.You must stick to local food and everythig is Veggie of course.One more thing from my experience add an extra day between Gangotri and Kedar.