Need help for Badrinath and Gangotri tour on Nov 2012

I will book a Tavera/Xylo for the entire trip..

well, then the itinerary sounds ok

but be prepare mentally, you have to spend atleast 50% daylight on wheels

Thanks PKanti.
I am also concerned about the journey, is there any other option you suggest to make it a bit comfortable? In that case I can skip the Dhanaulti/Mussouri part. And also the plan can be modified and we can start from Gangotri! Will it be better?
And one more thing, if I am not going to book a cab for the entire trip, will it possible to hire a car from Gangotri/Badrinath sparately?

lil' better

possible, but from Uttarkashi and Joshimath..........in Gangotri/Badrinath there will be very limited option and they charge too much

Hi,
I have slightly modified the itinerary. We will be reaching Haridwar on 01/11/2012 and on return we will be leaving Haridwar on 10/11/2012(night) or 11/11/2012(Morning). So the trip will be 02/11 - 09/11/2012 (Haridwar to Haridwar). Updated itinerary:
02/11 - Haridwar to Harsil
03/11 - Harsil - Gangotri - Harsil (Not sure if we should spend a night at Gangotri. pls suggest)
04/11 - Harsil to Tehri
05/11 - Tehri to Joshimath (If possible reach Badrinath)
06/11 - Badrinath ( Visit Mana etc)
07/11 - Badrinath - Joshimath
08/11 - Joshimath to Rudraprayag
09/11 - Rudrapraya - Haridwar
On 10/11, we will spend a full day at haridwar and at night will board the train at night(if get reservation). Otherwise next morning we will take Janashatabdi and then Rajdhani from Delhi.

I have talked to few travel agent based on haridwar for car booking. They are quoting approx Rs20000 for Tavera for 8 days trip (Haridwar to Haridwar) and Rs 22000 for XYLO. Is this qoute reasonable? Should I book now or the rate will be cheaper if booked on the spot after reaching Haridwar?
Please suggest. And also suggest if any change is required in itinerary or any better place to stay?

if pre-booked, its "qoute reasonable"


yes. and its even better if you reach/start/hire car from Hrishikesh instead of Haridwar

Well, revamp your itinerary completely Subhrajit. Do Badrinath and Gangotri separately, if you want to enjoy both the places, as its simply not possible to do the itinerary the way you want to, except for the fact that yes the tour will be done. Your itinerary just allows you to have a hurried glimpse of the places, which I doubt will enable you to enjoy. And while doing the dhams, don't combine Mussoorie-Dhanaulti etc. with a view to enjoy the hill-stations from a tourists' point of view. If at all, visit Mussoorie-Dhanaulty first before going to Gangotri, lest you fail to appreciate Mussoorie as a hill-station.

There's lots to see in and around Badrinath.......the temple shrine itself, the trek to Mana village (last village on the Indian side of the border),Auli, the dual treks to Ghangaria-Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Saheb etc. and on your way back, Chopta and Tungnath.

Similarly, lots to see in and around Gangotri........the temple shrine itself, the trek to Gaumukh glacier, Harsil etc.

If at all, you may combine Gangotri and Kedarnath, but that too is exhaustive, as we found out earlier.

And if trekking is a problem as some senior people would be with you, then of-course you have little choice. In that case, work on your itinerary and revise it further. I'd advise you then to start from the Gangotri side and then move to Badrinath, rather than the other way round.

Nothing as such in Haridwar though, except for the Ganga Aarti every evening at the Har-ki-Pauri ghat, which is just celestial. The Aarti can be more appreciated after you have already been to Gangotri and seen Ma Ganga rise from the Himalayas and flow through the terrain........only then would you know why the river is revered and worshipped as Maa.

Thanks for your response.
Actually trekking is not possible for all the members as they all are around 60 yrs of age. That's why I have chosen the above itinerary. And I would also start from Gangotri and then move to Badrinath.
Is there any other must see place between these or in between Badrinath -Haridwar? I would love to be stayed at the lesser known places rather than Tehri, Rudraprayag.

Thanks for your suggestion.
Actually I will be reaching Haridwar by Janashatabdi from Delhi at 7:30 PM and next day I am planning to start for Gangotri. So, it would be little difficult to move to Rishikesh after 7:30 PM(Scheduled time). That's why I am planning to book well in advance.
Had we get the reservation on the direct train from Howrah, Rishikesh would have been the better and feasible option.

only if you get confirmed ticket

Ticket is confirmed. Upto New Delhi by Duronto and then Janashatabdi to Haridwar. Return ticket also the same. Haridwar to New Delhi by Janashatabdi and then Rajdhani from New Delhi.

Today I have booked the return ticket at 8:03am and then checked at 8:05 again and found that for almost each and every train, it went to W/L. I was too lucky!! I had a horrible experience with the IRCTC site 10 days earlier when I booked the ticket to New Delhi. My plan was to book the ticket direct to Haridwar but could not be able to log in before 8:15am by the time it went to W/L. Luckily got reservation on Duronto.
Looks like so many people are going to Garhwal at that time (between Laxmipuja and Diwali) and it seems that without pre-booking of cab and hotels, it might be a tough call!!!
Should I book the accommodation?? Please suggest..

for safe side its better to pre book........if cant I can assure you wont have to stay night under bare sky..there are lots of hotels.......dont worry

Hello! subhrajit
your ticket booking episode and selection of train is exactly same as mine.....I visited Badrinarayan last year in early oct...was there during laxmi puja....since you've aged people with you..... need to spend 2 full days in badri...will be cold out there...it's an off season ...just a point ...stay at balanand guest house...no need to book in advance ...have dal bhat in Supriya hotel ...cheap though...don't neglect your mother's wish...keep a reserve day for haridwar....don't be late..the aarti gets over by 7.30pm...

Thank you for the information. We will spend 2 full days in Badrinath and might skip Joshimath. I have a plan for Basundhara Falls as well. That will be decided after reaching Badri. I am also not going to book accommodation in advance as you all are saying that will not be an issue.

Thanks PKanti. I am not going to book any accommodation in advance. What about Harsil? I checked the GMVN site and it shows all the rooms are already booked for 3rd Nov though we will be there on 2nd. Is there any other hotel in Harsil? I prefer budget, economy room, just clean and attached bath with hot water is required.