Yulla Kanda Yatra from Haridwar & Rishikesh

A tirth-to-tirth yatra that starts on the banks of Maa Ganga and ends at Kanha’s lake in the sky. Pickup in Haridwar or Rishikesh.

Yatra highlights

• ✦ Pickup from Haridwar or Rishikesh by our team
• ✦ Darshan at Yulla Kanda — world’s highest Krishna temple (3,895 m)
• ✦ Kinnauri cap floating ritual on the sacred lake
• ✦ Evening aarti at Bhimakali Temple, Sarahan
• ✦ Alpine camping with bhajan sandhya

Day-wise itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1

   Haridwar / Rishikesh → Dehradun → Paonta Sahib → Shimla

   ≈280 km · 8–9 hrs

   An early pickup after the Ganga darshan, then the drive via Dehradun and Paonta Sahib to Shimla.

   Overnight: Hotel, Shimla

2. 2

   Day 2

   Shimla → Narkanda → Rampur → Sarahan

   ≈170 km · 6–7 hrs drive

   Drive through apple country past Kufri and Narkanda, then descend to the Sutlej at Rampur Bushahr. Reach Sarahan, gateway to Kinnaur, in time for the evening aarti at the ancient Bhimakali Temple with its tiered wooden pagoda roofs.

   Overnight: Hotel, Sarahan

3. 3

   Day 3

   Sarahan → Jeori → Tapri → Yulla Khas

   ≈70 km · 3 hrs drive · 2,985 m

   Enter Kinnaur along the dramatic Sutlej gorge on NH-5. At Tapri turn up the Rora Valley road to Yulla Khas village, the base of the trek. Afternoon acclimatisation walk among slate-roofed Kinnauri houses and apple orchards, followed by a trek briefing and gear check.

   Overnight: Kinnauri homestay, Yulla Khas

4. 4

   Day 4

   Trek: Yulla Khas → Yulla Kanda Camp

   ≈10 km · 6–7 hrs trek · ~3,700 m

   Begin early with “Jai Shri Krishna”. The trail climbs through deodar, oak and rhododendron forest, then opens into wide alpine meadows with views of the Kinnaur Kailash range. Packed lunch on the way. Reach camp, about 2 km below the temple, for hot tea, evening bhajan and dinner under the stars.

   Overnight: Alpine camp (twin/triple tents)

5. 5

   Day 5

   Darshan at the World’s Highest Krishna Temple · Descend

   ≈2 km up + 12 km down · 7–8 hrs

   A pre-dawn climb brings you to the sacred lake at 3,895 m, with Shri Krishna’s temple on its island. Take darshan, do the lake parikrama and join the local custom of floating a Kinnauri cap upside-down on the water: if it floats across, the year ahead is believed to be blessed. Descend to Yulla Khas by afternoon.

   Overnight: Kinnauri homestay, Yulla Khas

6. 6

   Day 6

   Yulla Khas → Shimla

   ≈240 km · 8–9 hrs

   Return drive along the Sutlej valley.

   Overnight: Hotel, Shimla

7. 7

   Day 7

   Shimla → Haridwar / Rishikesh drop

   ≈280 km · 8–9 hrs

   Drive home, reaching Haridwar in time for the evening Ganga aarti if time allows.