I will visit Kedarnath/Badrinath in October

PAPPU

I am planning to visit Kedarnath and Badrinath in the first week of October (from 4th Oct to 10th Oct). I would like to hear from knowledgable persons regarding the weather conditions during that period. What would be the day and night temp. in kedarnath and badrinath during that period? Is there any chance of experiencing snow? Your valuable inputs are highly appreciated. Thank You all.

Dilliwala

Good time to go - hopefully the monsoon will be over completely. But you can and quite likely will get the odd shower. And if you're very very lucky , it might be cold enough for the rain to turn to snow one night.
Other than that - day temps 20-24 C, night temps 10-12 C.

PAPPU

Thank You for the information.

Indranil

Hello,

I like to have some experienced member's attention.

I will visit Haridwar, Kedarnath, Badrinath, and Mussoorie in the month of October this year with my family. I am giving below the full itinerary. Can any body tell me about the feasibility of this tour plan. Can we follow this itinerary?

I want to book a car (preferably an Ambassador) from Haridwar for the full trip. Is it possible? If yes, then, can any body tell me about the tariff and where should I book the car?

ITINERARY:

07th October, 2008 (6 am): Haridwar ---> Gaurikund (Night stay)
08th October, 2008 (5 am): Gaurikund ---> Kedarnath (Night stay)
09th October, 2008 (8 am): Kedarnath ---> Gaurikund (at 1 pm) --> Gopeshwar (Night stay)
10th October, 2008 (6 am): Gopeshwar ---> Badrinath (stay 2 hrs)
10th October, 2008 (10 am): Badrinath ---> Mussoorie (stay 10th night and 11th day & night)
11th October, 2008 (6 am): Mussoorie local site seeing
12th October, 2008 (2:30 am at night): Mussoorie ---> Dehradun Railway Station (To catch Janshatabdi Exp. at 5:10 hrs morning (12th Oct')

I am expecting some experienced person's response.

Thanks

Indranil

I am expecting some suggestion regarding the Itinerary. Is it affordable/ possible?

Dilliwala

WHOA, Indranil!
10th Oct - Leave from Gopeshwar, get to Badrinath, spend 2 hours, and THEN try to reach Mussoorie same night??!! Exactly what kind of distance estimates are you using here?
And what time do you expect to be leaving Badrinath, i.e. what gate-opening slots at both Joshimath and Badrinath are you targetting? Didn't know about em? I thought not.
Ok, firstly Badrinath to Mussoorie is a very long haul, almost 340 km. In other words doing it in one day from morning to night is practically impossible if you ask me, you must consider the shortened daylight hours in Oct (driving after dark is NOT advisable!!).
I did this exact route in reverse last Nov, and I cudn't even get to Joshimath, but I tend to take it easy en-route. Even so I managed over 240 km in one day, which is very good for hill roads.

Relevant for you are the following gate openings at both ends:
9 am, 11.30 am, 2 pm, and 4.30 pm (last gate). There is a forced halt half-way at Pandukeshwar for traffic from both directions.
To put it simply, I recommend staying a night at Badrinath, then you can visit Mana also. But even if you don't, then presuming you make the last gate, you will have to stay overnight in Joshimath. THEN you can leave early 11th morning and try to get to Mussoorie by evening. But then this leaves you only the 12th for sightseeing. So a rethink of your last 3 days is in order.

Ambassadors are not very popular nowadays, altho you can still get them. You'll be more comfortable in a Qualis or Sumo.

Indranil

Hi Dilliwala,

Thank you very much for your openion.

Already, I have changed my tour plan. We will stay at Badrinath one night and the next morning will start for Haridwar. Mussoorie has been trancated from the tour plan. I am explaining my changed tour-plan below. Please, check it and give your experienced openion.

ITINERARY:
07th Oct'(6 am): Haridwar --> Gaurikund (Night stay)
08th Oct'(5 am): Gaurikund --> Kedarnath (Night stay)
09th Oct'(8 am): Kedarnath --> Gaurikund(at 2 pm)--> Gopeshwar (Night stay)
10th Oct'(6 am): Gopeshwar --> Badrinath (Night stay)
11th Oct'(8 am): Badrinath --> Haridwar (Night stay)
12th oct' at 6:17 hrs. Haridwar Rly. Stn. --> New Delhi

I have already talk with some Travel Agencies and local Drivers at Haridwar and Rishikesh. They gave me the tariff for Rs. 2200/- per day for Tavera and Rs. 1400/- per day for Ambassador.

Are tariffs are ok? Do you have any contact for car hire?

Thanks & Regards,
Indranil

Dilliwala

Indranil, good idea to drop Muss, but 11th Oct is still going to be a very, very long and tiring day, and that's without delays of any kind. If at all poss, I suggest to take the evening Shatabdi from HW to NDLS on 12th. That way you cud spend 11th night in Rudraprayag, Shrinagar or Devprayag, and have a manageable drive to HW next morning.

I don't have any taxiwala contacts but the rates are reasonable, specially with recent fuel price increase. If possible, you cud list the name/contact of the operator, so that other members cud also contact in future.

n kumar

Hi indrail,
I think badri to haridwar in one day is very tiring and if you cannot extend your stay by another day, i advice you to cover kedarnath in one day. This is my advice only.

Indranil

Hi Mr. Nanda Kumar and Dilliwala,

Thanks for your valuable suggestions.
Consedering your point I am re-thinking about my tour plan. I have reservation in Jan-shatabdi Exp. from Dehradun on 12th Oct' 2008. I will avail the train from Haridwar. So, I have to reach Haridwar on 11th evening, because, the train is at 6:17 am on 12th.

I am thinking to come Rudraprayag from Badrinath on 10th and stay at night at Rudraprayag and the next mornign on 11th will start for Haridwar. I am planning to avail 2pm gate at Badrinath to come to Rudraprayag. Is it possible to reach Rudraprayag before dark if we start from Badrinath at 1 pm? If Rudraprayag is far away, then please suggest a place.

I am giving below the changed itinerary. Please re-check and let me know, if it is feasible or not.

ITINERARY:
07th Oct'(6 am): Haridwar --> Gaurikund (Night stay)
08th Oct'(5 am): Gaurikund --> Kedarnath (Night stay)
09th Oct'(8 am): Kedarnath --> Gaurikund(at 2 pm)--> Gopeshwar (Night stay)
10th Oct'(5 am): Gopeshwar --> Badrinath
10th Oct'(1 pm): Badrinath --> Rudraprayag (Night stay)
11th Oct'(7 am): Rudraprayag --> Haridwar (Night stay)
12th Oct' at 6:17 hrs. Haridwar Rly. Stn. --> New Delhi

Thanks
Indranil

Indranil

Hi,

I am planning for night stay at Birahi on 10th Oct', and the next day start for Haridwar at 6 am. Is it possible?

Dilliwala

Indranil, it's all still too tight.
1. While you got the gate-time at Badrinath right the first time (2 pm), you later erroneously changed it (1 pm). A 2 pm departure means you can leave Pandukeshwar, after a forced halt, only at 3.20 pm. This means you'll be at Joshimath around 4 pm. If you keep going you'll be at Karnprayag at 6.30 pm, and at Rudraprayag at 7.30 pm, provided no delays. From Rudraprayag, Haridwar is 162 km, around 4.5 to 5 hours just driving.

2. I think it's no point staying at Birahi, too close to Joshimath. Better to go to Karnprayag at least.

2. I STILL think if it's possible to change your tickets, to take the evening Shatabdi from HW. Then you can spend a night at Badrinath and visit Mana too, it'll be worth it. After all, you may not be going that way again in a hurry, so why not make the most of it?

soledad

As rightly pointed out by Dilliwala,it would be nice if ever you could list the Name & Contact No. of the local tour operators/drivers operating in this region mentioned above for convinience of other members in the future.

KOUSIK MUKHERJEE

HI INDRANIL,
I did the same tour this June July. The detail like hotel, cars etc of my tour I have written in this Uttarakhand forum, title- KEDAR BADRI IN JUNE JULY ( along with some photographs).
Please read the programme & then plan your programme as you are going in peak season so you can not change your booking at hotels easily.
Always remenber that road towards Badrinath is not so easy, it takes 3 hrs to reach Badrinath from Joshimath ( only 48km) & as Dilliwala has informed you can not go to Badrinath if you reach Joshimath after 4.30 p.m.. You will have to stay that night at Joshimoth.

sorry, the title of my tour description is GREHWAL TOUR IN JUNE JULY, located in the same forum.