Accomodation in Char Dhama
Along the Char Dhama route there is no shortage of places to stay, but many of them lack modern ameties. For what you get, the accommodations along the Char Dhama Yatra are the worst value in all of India. Except for the tourist bungalows it is difficult to find a clean place and a clean sheet just does not exist. The Garwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN), a UP government undertaking known as the Nigam, runs good tourist bungalows and lodges. They are by far the best places to stay, but should be booked at least a week in advance (especially in June) at their offices in Rishikesh or Delhi. Unless you are taking one of their tours, it may be difficult to get a room in one of the tourist bungalows.
Food in the mountains is more expensive than normal, because transportation is expensive. Badrinath has a few decent places to eat, but for the most part all the places are really basic.
You can usually get bottled water along the route. In Hanuman Chatti, on way to Yamunotri, it may not be possible to get bottled water.
Where To Stay in Yamunotri
Yamunotri is a small town of about 100 buildings. Most of the places are very basic. In Yamunotri there are several dharamsalas to stay at. The Njgam Tourists Bungalow, up the hill to your right as you enter the town, has dorm beds. You can expect a basic double room in Yamunotri. It is not such a big town, and most people stop for the night on the way up at Janakichatti.
On the way from Hanuman-chatti to Yamunotri, is the town of Janaki-chatti. Just past the halfway point, there is a Nigam Tourist Rest House has dorm beds. The Hotel Ganga Yamuna has good rooms. There are several other Private inns in Janaki-chatti. A decent room. In Janaki-chatti there are just basic food places. Janaki-chatti is a much nicer town for staying the night than Hanuman Chatti.
There is a Nigam Tourist Bungalow with rooms a night in the town of Sayana-chatti, two-thirds of the way to Yamunotri from Rishikesh. It is usually fully booked.
A flashlight (torch) is needed because many of the places do not have electricity. Most of the places, however, will supply candle.
Where To Stay in Gangotri
Gangotri is divided into two areas, which are on either side of the river. Most of the nicer places are on the opposite side of the river from the temple and bus stop. Most of the places in town are fairly basic and can be totally bked by the late afternoon. Later in the day you may have to take whatever you can, at any price. If you plan to stay for a few days, you can take whatever is available the first night and get a nicer room the next morning. You should expect to pay more here than other places in India.
The best place in town is the Nigam Tourist Lodge, near the bus stand, which has dorm beds and rooms. It is best to book a room here a week in advance. The popular Ganga Niketan, by the bridge and across the river, has double rooms. It is a decent place. The Birla MangalNiketan, near Ganga Niketan, has big rooms with attached bath. There are many basic no-name places in town.
Meat is banned in Gangotri. The open air eating place at the Ganga Niketan and the Manisha restaurant, pass the bus stand going out of town, are decent places. There are just basic eating places here.
Where To Stay in Kedarnath
The Nigam Tourist Bungalow has rooms, but you have to book in advance. There are also dharamshalas and the Birla Guest House. The Bharat Seva Ashram, a large red building left of the temple, is a nice clean place with rooms. There are a number of private no-name lodges. Rooms are typically a night for a decent room. Rooms are expensive for what you get.
There are some basic places to stay at Rambara, at the halfway point walking up to Kedarnath. Food in Kedarnath is basic and expensive, as it all has to be brought up by horseback.
Where To Stay in Badrinath
During June, Badrinath can be a very crowded place, and it can be difficult to find a room at any cost. So if comfort is important to you, it is best to book a room at the GMVN Tourist Bungalow in advance. When you arrive late in the day, people will come and offer you a room. It could be a good idea to accept their offer rather than searching for three hours for a room. In Badrinath you can expect to pay at least double the price a similar room would cost anywhere else in India. During the weekends in June it will be difficult to find a room than at other times.
The Badrinath's Temple Committee manages some pilgrim guest houses. The Modi Bhavan has rooms and the Gujarat Bhavan is slightly pensive. They are close to the river, on the opposite side of the river from the temple. You can book rooms for these guest houses at the Information Centre, at the main intersection in town not far from the gueshouses and the bridge. You can also book rooms in advance at the Badrinath Temple Committee offices in Delhi or Rishikesh.
The Hotel Garhwal, near where the bus let you off.
There are over 30 dharamshalas in Badrinath. The Paramarth Lok is a large well-maintained ashram Iike a lodge. Some rooms have attached bath, and double rooms. During the busy season there is a good this is a good chance that this place will be fully booked.
The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Tourist Bungalow has dorm beds. It is the best place in town. The GMVN has a cheaper lodge on the same road where the buses stop. It has rooms with common bath. It is best to book both of these places at least a week in advance at their office in Rishikesh.
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