badrinath

kumaran

hi friends ,

we are a family of 3 adults plus 2 kids , 12 and 10 and infant , 3 years , looking forward to travel to travel to badrinath via haridwar , rishikesh end of august . since from south , not quite familiar with uttaranchal . Can someone guide us .

We would prefer to hire a vehicle for 6/7 days till we take the train from dehradun to delhi on the lastleg .

It appears at the moment that VOF is not quite feasible as one of the adults is around 60 . instead we would prefer to include mussorie and gangotri if possible .

thanks

shashank.aggarwal

I am not sure what exactly you are trying to ask..if you can be more specific you will get good advice (and confusing ) over here.

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kumaran

Hi , thanks for the reply sorry for being vague .

I would like advice on a proposed itinerary as below for transport , stay and suggestions for places to visit .

1. Day 1 - Haridwar .
2. Day 2 - Haridwar - Rishikesh - Rudra prayag .
3. Day 3 - Rudraprayag - Joshimath -Badrinath .
4. Day 4- Badrinath - return .
5. Day 5 - Mussoorie .
6. Day 6 - Mussoorie - Dhanolty .
7. Day 7 - Dehradun - Delhi in the evening .

Would this be too taxing to undertake with children as the wish is to combine pilgrimage with leisure .

Are we missing something that could be added enroute either way . suggestions pls and places to stay .

as i mentioned earlier we proposeto take a car on hire from haridwar , perhaps a innova .not to miss out , concerned about the rains playing spoilsport . thanks .

milan

Wow, that sounds like an intense itinerary! If I were you I would schedule at least one day somewhere to just hang out...

Hours and hours on windy Himalayan roads can be remarkably boring, especially with kids.

kumaran

Thanks Milan for the reply . Right . it would be too hectic on the meandering roads . so decided to stay at joshimath on day 3 and enjoy the Auli slopes before proceeding to badrinath .

Also i just found that one can travel from rudraprayag via tehri to Dhanolty / mussoorie which could save hours . this should allow 2 days in mussoorie / dehradun . hope this would make it a bit relaxed .

kumaran

Hi any one would care to give some inputs pls . thanks

kumaran

Also understood that there is a road to Chamba/dhanaulti from rudraprayag . Any idea how long it would take to reach from joshimath to chamba via tehri district . thanks

Vidugoyal

Dear Kumaran,

if I guess right you are 3 Adults + 2 Kids of 12 7 10 and one Infant of 3 Years.

As an Avid traveller to Chardham (go every year, though in a Haste) i would suggest as follows:

1. Before Proceeding for the hills you should be over with Hardwar and Rishikesh Darshan, Hence Keep one day for Hardwar and RIshikesh and stay overnight at Rishikesh to start early in the Morning for the Hills.

2. I suggest (in case you have not yet booked your return) that you should take Badrinath and then Gangotri that would be easier for the Aged Person you have in the crew as these two destinations are motorable.

3. Dont worry about the tiring Journey, the Non Polluting atmosphere of the Hills would not let you feel tired (i swear), just be carefull with the little one.

4. Day One Start from Rishikesh/ Hardwar 4.30 or 5.00 AM in the Morning (Mornings are good to start) you would cross Muni Ki Reti - Kauduiyala - DevPrayag(see the river meet - could go to the Temple, though I never went as Uttaranchal is scattered with dozens of temples)- Maletha - Kitri Nagar - Srinagar - Rudraprayag - Gochar - Karnprayag - Nand Prayag - Chamoli- Pipal Kothi (have lunch or snacks at annapurna) - Helang- Joshimath (Just went to Badrinath in 3rd week of May 2007 the roads from Pipal Kothi to Helang and onwards to Joshimath was Bad but the BRO was working on it, hope they have done the patch work till now)

By Innova and a good driver with an average of 20-30 KM per hour and 2/3 short breaks this ride should get you to Joshimath by 10 -12 hours, hence you would be in Joshimath by a graceful time to retire.

Day 2: Make it a point to take the first gate at 6.30 AM hence you should be out of the Hotel by 6.00 AM - you will have to cross Govind Ghat - Vishnu Prayag - Pandukeshwar(Small Stopover for passing of the descending vehicles - Reach Badrinath (3000+ above MSL wow ) by 10 AM positively.

Day 2 (Cont..) Suggest you to check in the Hotel and since you would be pretty fresh head for MANA Village which is 3 KM from Badrinaths and trek to the origin of Saraswati River, Bhim Pul etc. you would be done by 3.00 PM positively.
Come back to Hotel Take some rest and prepare for Aarti and Mandir Visit - Evening Visit Mandir and do the Puja etc. etc And Over Night at Badrinath.

Day 3 Could stay one day at Badrinath but its not a touristy place to stay and you should explore Uttaranchal as much as you can. If you have to do the Morning Ritual or any other Puja you should do it early in the morning and take the
gate of 9.30 AM (or if no puja then 6.30Gate) You are heading towards Gangotri with a view to travel as near to Gangotri to reach your hotel in a resonable time (start early to reach early) return to Rudraprayag as per the old route (if you had more days in hand you could have come via Chamoli- Gopeshwar- Mandal- Chopta (tungnath trek) - Ukhimath- Kund - Augustmuni- Tilwara.) and then take a diversion to TIlwara- and head for Chirbatia - Ghansali - Gadolia - Tehri - Dharasu Bend (this is the junction for Yumnotri and Gangotri)- Uttarkashi - Maneri Dam - Mala - Bhatwari - Jhala - Harsil (you find ample Bed and Break fast type rooms enroute very inexpensive but do not expect luxury)You would have had travelled 160 KM upto Rudraprayag and 160 Upto Uttarkashi (i would suggest have your things purchased from Uttarkashi and proceed around 15/ 20 KM to stay for the night (i Stayed in Hotel Ganga View on the Right Hand side with tents @ 150 per night and 4 bedded room @ 250 per night)

Day 4 Again Start Early in the Morning and reach Gangotri which is going to take 3/4 Hours. Do the Puja Etc. and you have 2 options either stay overnight in Gangotri if you get accomodation or else if you wish to see mussoorie head back on the same route and reach as far as possible on the same route upto Tehri (you would not be able to reach Tehri but try to reach as far as possible on that route)

Day 5 Dont Start early as you are just 5 Hours from Mussoorie - From Tehri follow directions to Chamba (a very beutiful place - Though uttarakhand is nature beauty in abundance)- Dhanaulti - Mussoorie Explore Mussoorie

Day 6 Free day in Mussoorie and could leave mussorie in the afternoon to reach Hardwar by evening

Day 7 Free At Hardwar and in Evening catch your train to Delhi

I have been quite in a Haste for the fisrt leg as you have very less days in hands though I also do not get vacations more that 4/5 days and so i do it this way.

Tell me if i could be of any other assistance.

Have a Great Trip and do inform the forum about it.

GOd Bless

Vidu

kumaran

Dear Vidu , thanks for the detailed reply . Grateful and shall surely give an account of our travels on return .

mobilerug

A nice descriptive itinerary by Vidu.

I would like to know whether conveyance is available for the routes:
1. Gourikund to Chopta
2. Chopta to Badrinath

I do not want to hire a car from Haridwar and would like to travel by bus/shared jeep/car.

I am planning to visit Haridwar - Gourikund - Kedarnath - Chopta - Badrinath - Rudraprayag (via Joshimath/Auli) - Haridwar in last week of June 2008.

Can anybody help me out about the availability of conveyance if I do not wish to book a car for the whole trip?