Board an evening train at Charbagh, wake up near the Ganga, and set off for the mountains after breakfast. From Lucknow, the Char Dham is closer than most people think.
Lucknow has something many cities do not: direct overnight trains to Haridwar and Dehradun. That single fact makes it unnecessary to route through Delhi. You leave after work, sleep on the train, and our driver meets you at Haridwar station the next morning to begin the Char Dham package from Haridwar.
The road distance from Lucknow to Haridwar is about 500 km via Bareilly and Moradabad, ten hours or so at a steady pace. That is a little more than we normally cover on a pick-up day, but for families who want to start from home we can send the vehicle to Lucknow and quote the extra distance. Flying to Dehradun's Jolly Grant airport is the third option, and it suits elders best.
Lucknow to HaridwarAbout 500 km by road
TrainOvernight, direct services run
FlightTo Dehradun (direct or via Delhi)
Tour length9 nights / 10 days
Total time awayAbout 12 days
SeasonLate April/May – early November
The 2026 season is closing in November 2026. This page is for the 2027 yatra; Kedarnath's date is announced on Mahashivratri and Badrinath's on Basant Panchami.
Train, flight or car from Lucknow
Option
Approx. time
Arrive at
Tour
Overnight train
10–12 hours
Haridwar or Dehradun
9N/10D
Flight
About 1.5 hours direct, longer via Delhi
Jolly Grant, Dehradun
9N/10D
Our vehicle from Lucknow
About 10 hours to Haridwar
Your home
9N/10D + 2 road days
Train to Delhi
Overnight
Delhi
11N/12D
Trains to Haridwar fill quickly in May and June, so book the day reservations open. For timing tips see our Char Dham by train guide; for flights, see Char Dham by air.
2027 estimates per person, group of four, twin or triple sharing. The final quote depends on dates, hotel category and group size. A road pick-up from Lucknow is quoted separately. Ponies, palkis and helicopter tickets are extra.
Itinerary: Haridwar to Haridwar in 10 days
Day 1
Arrive Haridwar, drive to Barkot
210 km7–8 hoursNight: Barkot
Step off the overnight train from Lucknow and meet your driver at Haridwar station. After breakfast, drive via Dehradun and Mussoorie into the Yamuna valley. You reach Barkot in the evening, ready for tomorrow's trek.
Day 2
Yamunotri
45 km + 6 km trekFull dayNight: Barkot
Drive to Janki Chatti, the last road point, and climb 6 km to Yamunotri. Ponies and palkis can be hired at the start. Take darshan, offer rice cooked in Surya Kund, and walk back down to the car.
Image space images/yamunotri.jpg 1200 × 675 px
Day 3
Barkot to Uttarkashi
100 km4–5 hoursNight: Uttarkashi
A relaxed drive to Uttarkashi. After lunch, rest at the hotel or visit the Kashi Vishwanath and Shakti temples. Early dinner before the Gangotri day.
Day 4
Gangotri
100 km each way8–9 hoursNight: Uttarkashi
Drive through deodar forests and past Harsil to Gangotri at 3,100 m. Take darshan of Goddess Ganga and see Bhagirath Shila. Stop at the Gangnani hot spring on the way back.
Day 5
Uttarkashi to Guptkashi or Sitapur
220 km8–9 hoursNight: Guptkashi / Sitapur
A long but beautiful drive via Tehri lake and Srinagar to the Mandakini valley. We choose Guptkashi or Sitapur based on your Kedarnath plan. Keep a light bag ready for one night at the shrine.
Day 6
Gaurikund to Kedarnath
16 km trek6–8 hoursNight: Kedarnath
Shared jeeps carry you from Sonprayag to Gaurikund. The trek can be done on foot, pony, palki or pithoo; shuttle helicopters fly from Phata, Sersi and Guptkashi for IRCTC ticket holders. Night near the temple after the evening aarti.
Day 7
Kedarnath darshan and descent
16 km + 30 kmFull dayNight: Guptkashi
Morning darshan at the Jyotirlinga. Walk down to Gaurikund and take the jeep to Sonprayag. Drive to your hotel and rest.
Day 8
Guptkashi to Badrinath
200 km8–9 hoursNight: Badrinath
Cross to the Alaknanda through Ukhimath and follow the river past Chamoli and Joshimath. Reach Badrinath by afternoon. Evening darshan after a dip in Tapt Kund.
Day 9
Badrinath, Mana, Rudraprayag
160 km6–7 hoursNight: Rudraprayag / Srinagar
Morning puja at Badrinath and, if you wish, pind daan at Brahma Kapal. Visit Mana village and Bhim Pul. Drive down to Rudraprayag.
Day 10
Rudraprayag to Haridwar
165 km6–7 hoursNight: Tour ends
Stop at Devprayag and Rishikesh on the way down. Reach Haridwar by afternoon for the Ganga aarti and an evening train back to Lucknow. Your yatra is complete.
Inclusions and exclusions
Included
9 nights in hotels, twin or triple sharing
Breakfast and dinner each day (all meals on Luxury)
Private vehicle and hill driver, Haridwar to Haridwar
Fuel, tolls, parking, permits and driver allowance
Station or airport pick-up and drop
Registration help and phone support
Not included
Train or flight from Lucknow
Road pick-up from Lucknow (quoted on request)
Pony, palki, pithoo or helicopter
Sonprayag–Gaurikund jeep
Lunch on Budget and Deluxe
Extra nights due to landslides
Insurance and personal expenses
At Kedarnath, all categories stay in basic guest houses or tents; elsewhere the hotel grade follows your package. More on our Kedarnath hotel page.
Practical advice for Lucknow pilgrims
Register first. Uttarakhand's yatra registration is free and mandatory; our registration guide explains it.
Kedarnath helicopter. Shuttle seats are sold only on the IRCTC HeliYatra portal; be careful of fake sites. See IRCTC helicopter booking.
Cold nights. Lucknow summers are hot, but Kedarnath and Badrinath are cold even in June. Pack thermals and a jacket.
Season. Avoid July and August monsoon; mid-September to October is the clearest window.
Shorter trips. Only Kedarnath and Badrinath? The Do Dham Yatra takes 5N/6D from Haridwar.
How to book from Lucknow
WhatsApp +91-99111 77951 with dates, group size and how you will travel from Lucknow.
Receive a day-wise quote with hotel options.
Book trains or flights to arrive the morning of day 1.
Pay the advance to confirm.
Register online and travel; the driver meets you at the station or airport.
Char Dham Yatra from Lucknow: FAQ
Is there a direct train from Lucknow to Haridwar?
Yes, direct overnight trains run from Lucknow to Haridwar and Dehradun. Check current timetables when booking, as schedules change.
What is the Char Dham package cost from Lucknow?
About ₹21,500 per person from Haridwar or Dehradun, or ₹24,500 from Delhi, for four people on budget hotels (2027 estimates). Travel from Lucknow is extra.
Can your car pick us up in Lucknow?
Yes, on request. Lucknow is about 500 km from Haridwar, so we add two road days and quote the extra distance separately.
How many days do we need?
About 12 days: one night on the train each way plus the 10-day tour from Haridwar.
Can senior citizens from Lucknow do this yatra?
Yes. Ponies, palkis and the Kedarnath helicopter shuttle reduce the walking. The helicopter Char Dham avoids treks and long drives altogether.
