Rishikesh sits right where the Ganga leaves the mountains, a quieter and greener place to begin than the plains. From here one dham is three nights away.
Many pilgrims, and almost every yoga traveller, already know Rishikesh: the ashrams, the Triveni Ghat aarti, the bridges across a fast green Ganga. What fewer realise is that it is also the natural starting point for the mountain shrines. The highway to both Badrinath and Kedarnath passes straight through town, and the road to Gangotri and Yamunotri is close by.
Our Ek Dham Yatra from Rishikesh is priced the same as the Haridwar package but starts 25 km further up the valley, which shaves a little off the first day's drive. Pick-up can be from Rishikesh railway station (Yog Nagari), Tapovan, Laxman Jhula, Ram Jhula or Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun, which is about 35 km away.
Image space images/rishikesh.jpg 800 × 600 pxRishikeshImage space images/badrinath.jpg 800 × 600 pxBadrinathImage space images/kedarnath.jpg 800 × 600 pxKedarnath
Prices from Rishikesh, 2027 season
Per-person estimates for four travellers sharing a vehicle and twin or triple rooms. Ask for a quote for two, three or more than six people; the vehicle changes and so does the price.
Trip from Rishikesh
Nights / Days
Budget
Deluxe
Luxury
Badrinath Yatra
3N / 4D
₹8,500
₹12,000
₹18,500
Kedarnath Yatra
3N / 4D
₹8,500
₹12,500
₹19,500
Gangotri only
3N / 4D
₹8,500
₹12,000
₹18,000
Yamunotri only
3N / 4D
₹8,500
₹12,000
₹18,000
2027 estimates; the final price depends on dates, hotel category and group size. Kedarnath helicopter shuttle, pony and palki are not included.
Leave Rishikesh at first light along the Ganga, with white-water rafting beaches below the road. At Devprayag the Bhagirathi meets the Alaknanda, and from here you follow the Alaknanda all the way to its source. Karnaprayag and Nandprayag pass by in the afternoon, and you reach Joshimath at dusk.
Day 2
Badrinath and Mana village
45 km2 hoursNight: Badrinath
The road climbs through a deep gorge to the wide valley of Badrinath, set between the Nar and Narayan ranges. After a bath in the hot Tapt Kund, join the queue for darshan of Badri Narayan. Spend the afternoon at Mana, 3 km ahead, to see Vyas Gufa and the Saraswati thundering under Bhim Pul.
Day 3
Down to Srinagar Garhwal
160 km6–7 hoursNight: Rudraprayag / Srinagar
Begin with an early darshan or rites at Brahma Kapal. Then wind down the valley, stopping at Vishnuprayag or Nandprayag if you like. Overnight in Rudraprayag or Srinagar.
Day 4
Return to Rishikesh
about 140 km5–6 hoursNight: Tour ends
A shorter final drive brings you to Rishikesh by lunchtime. Spend the afternoon on the ghats or catch the evening Triveni Ghat aarti before you head home.
Kedarnath: 3 nights / 4 days
Day 1
Rishikesh to Guptkashi
about 175 km6–7 hoursNight: Guptkashi
Drive up the Ganga past Devprayag and Srinagar Garhwal to Rudraprayag. Turn into the Mandakini valley, passing Agastyamuni, and check in at Guptkashi in the afternoon. Keep your registration and ID handy for checks on the way.
Day 2
Climb to Kedarnath
30 km drive + 16 km trek7–9 hoursNight: Kedarnath
Your driver drops you at Sonprayag; shared jeeps run on to Gaurikund. Climb the 16 km path on foot, by pony or by palki, or board your IRCTC shuttle if you have one. At the top, the evening aarti against the snow peaks stays with most pilgrims for life.
Image space images/kedarnath-trek.jpg 1200 × 675 px
Day 3
Darshan and return to Guptkashi
16 km trek + 30 km driveFull dayNight: Guptkashi
Take darshan in the early morning. Visit the Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi and, if time allows, Bhairavnath temple above the town. Walk down to Gaurikund and drive back to Guptkashi.
Day 4
Guptkashi to Rishikesh
about 175 km6–7 hoursNight: Tour ends
A comfortable drive brings you back to Rishikesh by afternoon. Drop at your hotel, Yog Nagari station, Haridwar or Dehradun airport as planned.
Driving times are approximate and can stretch in peak weeks or after rain.
What is included
Included
Three nights' accommodation, twin or triple sharing
Breakfast and dinner (all meals on Luxury)
Private vehicle and hill driver from Rishikesh and back
Fuel, tolls, parking, permits, driver allowance
Pick-up from Rishikesh, Haridwar or Dehradun airport
Registration help and 24-hour support in season
Not included
Travel to Rishikesh
Helicopter, pony, palki, pithoo
Sonprayag–Gaurikund jeep fare
Special puja or VIP darshan
Lunch on Budget and Deluxe
Extra stays due to landslides
Insurance and personal expenses
Place
Room rate per night (estimate)
Type
Badrinath
₹2,000–8,000
Hotels near the temple
Kedarnath
₹2,500–6,000
Guest houses, tents, dorms
Guptkashi / Sitapur
₹2,000–6,500
Standard to deluxe hotels
Joshimath / Srinagar
Varies by category
Standard hotels
Practical tips for starting in Rishikesh
Stay the night before in Rishikesh so you can leave at 6 am. Tapovan and Laxman Jhula have plenty of rooms.
Fly in to Dehradun's Jolly Grant airport and you are only about 35 km from the start.
Register for the yatra before you arrive; it is free and checked on the road. See our registration guide.
Helicopter shuttles to Kedarnath are sold only on the IRCTC HeliYatra portal. Do not pay any other site. Our Phata helicopter guide explains how.
Choose your month. May–June is busiest; mid-September to October is clear and calm. Check best time to visit.
Guests who start in Rishikesh are often a mix of ages: a yoga retreat group, grandparents travelling with grandchildren, or friends combining a trek with a pilgrimage. That mix should guide the choice of dham.
Badrinath suits mixed groups best. The car goes all the way to the town, the hotels are a few minutes' walk from the temple, and the scenery around Mana is spectacular without any climbing. The trade-off is a longer first day on the road. Kedarnath is the more demanding and, for many, the more moving journey. The 16 km climb from Gaurikund rewards anyone who is reasonably fit, and those who are not can ride a pony or a palki at rates fixed by the local administration, which change each season.
If the group cannot agree, the honest answer is to do both: the Do Dham Yatra adds just two nights. For a gentle, road-only alternative, the Gangotri Yatra is another good option from Rishikesh.
Book your Rishikesh departure
Tell us your dham, date of arrival in Rishikesh and number of travellers on +91-99111 77951.
Review the quote with day plan, hotels and price.
Pay the advance to hold rooms and car.
Register each pilgrim online.
Start the yatra with pick-up from your Rishikesh hotel.
Ek Dham Yatra from Rishikesh: FAQ
Is the Rishikesh package the same price as Haridwar?
Yes. Both start from about ₹8,500 per person for 3N/4D on budget hotels for four travellers (2027 estimate).
How far is Badrinath from Rishikesh?
About 295 km by road, usually split with a night in Joshimath, 45 km short of Badrinath.
Which railway station is closest?
Rishikesh (Yog Nagari) station, though more trains reach Haridwar Junction, 25 km away. We pick up from either.
Can I do Kedarnath from Rishikesh in two days?
Only with an IRCTC helicopter shuttle seat from Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi, or a charter. By road and trek, plan three nights.
Can I stay an extra day in Rishikesh for yoga or rafting?
Yes, add nights at the start or end. Many guests rest a day after the yatra.
Do you also run Gangotri or Yamunotri from Rishikesh?
