Chardham Tour in July

Hello,

We are planning to visit the following places in July 09. I am wondering about the weather during July. Please advise.

Delhi
Chardham Tour
Shimla
Varanasi
Kathmandu, Nepal

Thanks.

I've never been to Nepal. All the rest are stinking hot , except Shimla I think, which is just hot. Varanasi was really humid, as per the monsoon, last year when I was there.
Dehli can be oppressively hot.
A feeling of no air. Big city Summer.

Well what do you need to know about Char dham in July, weather in July, how many people, how will you travel?

We are 3 people and planning to have a private car with driver. We can't travel before or after July, so we have no choice. I was wondering if the weather in July is rainy, hot, humid, and also if there are chances of road closure. I would appreciate any help.

Thanks.

You will be travelling during the peak monsoon season in north india and especially char dham.

Has anyone traveled over there during July? What is the experience? Any problems with road closure, etc.?

It's really humid in July. It's the middle of summer, I don't think road closures would be a problem.

Dehli, chardham varanasi are extremely hot and humid. Shimla a little less so, but still hot.
Varanasi is about 105f. Dehli, probably a bit hotter and more "close", it's inland.
shimla, maybe 80-90f.
It's like Baton Rouge at the height of summer.
Walking more than a few hundred metres will result in you sweating heavily.
Head protection is a must, light cotton clothing is probably the best way to stay cool, along with air conditioning.
Hope this helps.

Well if you could share your itinerary with dates it would help in replying a little more accurately.

Here is what I am planning:

July 1 - 15 Shimla, Mussoorie and Chardham Yatra (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Badrinath, Kedarnath)
July 15 - 20 Varanasi; Kathmandu, Nepal

Thanks.

Any particular reason for Shimla? even Mussoorie, they tend to be extremely busy at that period, whereas the char dham, although also in Yatra season, could be done very comfortably and unhurriedly in the 2 weeks allocated, with excursions/stops in the circuit.

Well, I would like to make the most out of this tour as we don't get to visit india too often, and those are well known hill stations in the area that we can spend some time on. Thanks.

Day-01: Arrival Delhi
Day-02: Journey to shimla
approx.-343 kms/ 10 - 12 hrs journey.
Day-03: Shimla
Day-04: Manali
approx-280 kms/ 9 -10 hrs)
Day-05: Manali
Day-06: kullu
proceed to Kullu (49 Kms)
Day-07: Journey to simla
200 kms 5 -6 hours journey.
Day-08 : simla to dehra dhun
345 kms / 11- 12 hours journey.
Day-09 : dehradun and mussorie.
Day-10 : dehradhun to jankichatti
Day-11 : jankichatti to yamanotri and travel to uttarkashi.
Distance :jankichatti to yamanotri = 130 kms roughly 5 hours journey.janakichatti to utterkashi = 180 kms roughly 6 hours jouney.
Day-12 :utterkashi to gangotri and back to utterkashi
200 kms total journey.
Day-13 : Utterkashi to rampur/gaurikund
230 kms roughly 8-9 hours journey.
Dat-14 : Gaurikund to kedarnath and back to gaurikund.
14 kms one way trekking or with poney's
Day-15 : gaurikund to badrinath
190 kms 6-7 hours journey.
Day-15 : badrinath to pipalkoti
70 kms 3 hours journey roughly
Day-16 : pipalkoti to rishikesh
230 kms and 10 hours journey.
Day-17 : rishikesh
Day-18 : haridwar
catch a night train/bus to varanasi.
This is the minumum nof days you required for hp and chardham and plan up accordingly as to how many days you want to stay in varansi and nepal. I think you must extend your stay or skip nepal.
with regards,

OK we'll have a look at this & get back to you........

Day-01: Arrival Delhi
Day-02: Journey to shimla approx.-343 kms/ 10 - 12 hrs journey.
Day-03: Shimla
Day-04: Manali approx-280 kms/ 9 -10 hrs)
Day-05: Manali
Day-06: kullu proceed to Kullu (49 Kms)

These next days from Sultanpur/Kullu, I have you going basically East, across 3 major river valleys, excellent terrain and vista’s (at these heights) and good sightseeing here & there. Rather than your kms estimation of 700 plus, which it will be, ultimately a bore on busy roads at that time. Janki to Yamunotri & drive to UK in a day is a bit optimistic- no room for delays, the unexpected! Kilometer readings mean little, they are just rough approximations of how long a journey may take, average speed can be quite low due to a variety of possibilities.
Day-07: Kullu 35 kms approx to left for Manglaor, Ani road crossing to the Sutlej valley, stay somewhere like Narkanda, Theog. Full day drive with stops.

Day-08 : Continue East and up the Tons river, tyo Arakot, Tiuni and follow it North to Mori. Stay Mori or do 36kms East to Purola. (Other accommodation on that route)

Day-09 : Easy day; Purola (or Mori) to Naugaon crossing onto Yamuna Valley. Left 9 kms North to Barkot (GMVN ) Fuel up en route to Barkot!!! Visit Ramananda Giri at Laxmi Narayan Temple (behind Tara Yatri Niwas hotel) in bazaar. Maybe see Gangnani, about 6 kms North of Barkot.

Have left out Mussoorie as going all the way down Yamuna, climing up to Muss, then via Dhanaulti to Bhagirathi valley and up to UK, seems a very long way for little pleasure, given that Muss will be very, very busy at that time - D Dun is still another hour down the hill to the heat, and you only have to come up again.

Day-10 : 7.00 am latest departure, Barkot drive Jankichatti (2 hrs or so). 9/9.30am - Walk 4kms to Yamunotri. Approx. 2/3.5 hrs for elders/kids, taking it easy. Stay Yamunotri? Or 3/4 hr visit and return to Barkot. (If u stay, next day, rested walk down to Janki, drive via Barkot to Uttarkashi)

Day-11 : Barkot, take picnic, road is via Rari Top. Stop at Rari 1 hr drive, turn right and head into the forest a few kms, find a water source. Picnic 1.5hr. Clean up drive to Uttarkashi. Fuel up 7 kms before UK at Matli!! Stock up on items needed at UK. Drive 3 kms North on Gangotri road, left turn up kaccha road to Monal Guesthouse – one of the best and excellent local owner with answers to all questions.

Day-12 : UK to Gangotri and back to UK 200 kms total journey.
Again this is rushing things but doable if you leave by 5.00 am or so & beat the majority of traffic. You might want Darshan at the Temple (Otherwise what’s the point in going, could stay by Bhagirathi at UK side) Yatra season means a queue!! How long?

Day-13 : UK cross Bhagirathi to opposite bank and take the quieter Nachiketa tal road and then via Lambgaon to above Old Tehri and onto Kirtinagar and Srinagar, now on Alakananda valley. Forward to Gaurikund. Whichever way one goes this is a thoroughly long day, a when you hit Alakanda traffic and delays will increase.

Dat-14 : Gaurikund to Kedarnath and back to gaurikund.14 kms one way trekking or with poney's. Well if you are not used to walking uphill then those 14kms will stuff you and yours. Even the ponies will make yo suffer, so physically this all can be physically demanding. Then queue’s, eating, loitering, & you want to get back down again? 2 hrs min. Running that is...

Have a think about above suggestions – I advise dropping day 17 in Rishi, give yourself a day at least, up the sleeve for exhaustion.....

Day-15 : gaurikund to badrinath190 kms 6-7 hours journey.
Day-15 :
Day-16 : badrinath to pipalkoti 70 kms 3 hours journey roughly
Day-17 : pipalkoti to rishikesh 230 kms and 10 hours journey.
Day-18 : haridwar

There may be some road closures, there will be rain, but nothing as bad as August.

It beggars belief that you would equate the temp/weather of the Char dham with Delhi and Varanasi! And Shimla, at 2150 m, is cooler than the places above 3000 metres (not feet)? Makes me wonder if you actually visited those places - some people use quilts during the monsoon, that's how much the temp drops.

Yes, that's quite workable. I suggest you pick either Shimla or Muss - two similar hill-stations in the monsoon is a waste of time, you might end up enjoying neither if it rains a lot.

Who told you that? There are not half the crowds that one sees in May and June (no school hols, for one thing?). In fact, Oct/Nov sees more tourists than does July.
I'd say the NH 58, becos of the Hemkund pilgrims, sees much more traffic than the roads to Mussoorie.