After a sumptuous breakfast, we drive up to Guptkashi. The name “Guptkashi” translates to Hidden Benaras, and is derived from the legend that Lord Shiva once hid himself from the Pandavas at this location. Guptkashi is a wonderfully pleasant place to visit in the summers. The temperature never goes beyond 30 degrees. During the winter months, however, it can get considerably chilly. We make the journey via the Devprayag and Rudraprayag route, which offers us breathtaking glimpses of river Alaknanda and Mandakini. One interesting fact is that river Mandakini actually originates from Kedarnath, which only adds to the spiritual energy and aura that makes this entire trip special.

While driving alongside the river, we soon find ourselves at the Ardh Narishwar temple at Guptkashi. After taking some time to visit the temple and offer prayers, we check into our hotel, and take the night to recuperate.

Our destination for the day is Kedarnath, possibly the most well known and widely travelled dham in our itinerary. According to old legends, Kedarnath is the place whereLord Shiva granted the Pandavas redemption after many prayers and requests, upon the end of the Kurukshetra war. “Kedar” is one of the many other alternative names for Lord Shiva. The Kedarnath shrine boasts the entire robust Kedarnath mountain range in the background, and is situated at one of the most majestic locations possible.

Because it stands tall at 3,583 meters, the temperature witnessed at the Kedarnath shrine is almost always cold. Light to semi-heavy layers of clothing are recommended even during the summer months. During winters, the weather is so cold that it is not even widely travelled to, and because the climatic conditions can be risky, it is even avoided.

There are two main ways of reaching the Kedarnath shrine. One could either take the helicopter (Cost not included in package), for which you will be dropped to the helipad in the morning soon after breakfast. This route, though quicker, stands on the relatively expensive side. Another way to reach the shrine is by trek. You will be driven to Sonprayag, after which a local jeep to Gaurikund will seamlessly bring you to your starting point for the trek. To make your way back, you will have to follow the same route and take a local jeep to Sonprayag again. Regardless of which mode you choose to opt for, you may inform the driver about the durationof your flight or trek, so he can find a suitable place to park and pick you up the next day without any hassle. After witnessing the shrine and spending some time at the dham, we check into a hotel for the night.

We can bid prayers to the Kedarnath Ji at the time of sunrise. As soon as we step out of Kedarnath temple, we must return to Guptkashi

Stay at the Hotel in Guptkashi

Our last dham for the trip, i.e. Badrinath, is the objective of our day today. After breakfast, we drive straight to Badrinath, and check into our hotel. The maximum average temperature at Badrinath is around 18 degrees, and the minimum would be around 8 degrees. Extra layers of clothing are always required for Badrinath, regardless of the time of the year. During winters, it is mostly closed for tourists. One of the most significant holy rituals of Badrinath is taking a bath in Taptkund. After this, one may embark on sightseeing or darshan of Badrivishal, followed by the beautiful aarti in the evening. In the interim period, you may take the time to explore other popular gems of the region, namely Mana

village (Indo-Mongolian tribe inhabited), Bhimkund, Matamoorti, Vyas gufa (the cave where Ved Vyas is said to have composed the Mahabharata), and the mouth of the Saraswati river. Most of these points of interest are located within three to five kilometres of Badrinath.

After spending time at the shrine and witnessing one of the most spiritually-charged aartis you will ever witness, we stay overnight.

In the morning, after having our breakfast and freshening up; we shall drive to Haridwar. On our way, we shall visit the Yoga capital – Rishikesh. Rishikesh is a charming town with such strong spiritual vibes. The

Ganges flows in Rishikesh which lies surrounded by the Shivalik range. You can tour the town visiting Laxman Jhulla, Temples of Rishikesh, etc. Dinner and overnight stay in rishikesh

Reach Delhi by evening . Catch trains for your hometown