Dehradun: The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand has witnessed an overwhelming turnout, with over 5.5 lakh devotees visiting Kedarnath in just 24 days, while total registrations for the pilgrimage have exceeded 33 lakh.
As the yatra season progresses, pilgrim inflow continues to surge, particularly at Kedarnath Dham, which has drawn the highest number of visitors.
Char Dham shrines are witnessing heavy crowds daily
Since the opening of Kedarnath’s doors for darshan on May 2, the historic shrine has been the most visited site among the four revered Dhams, which also include Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. Sonprayag and Gaurikund have become pilgrimage hubs, witnessing heavy crowds daily as travelers embark on the sacred journey.
Doors of Hemkund Sahib opened with grand rituals
Adding to the religious fervor, the Sikh pilgrimage site Shri Hemkund Sahib opened its doors on May 25 at 10 am, with thousands of devotees arriving for the sacred occasion. On the first day alone, over 4,500 Sikh pilgrims bathed in the holy Him Sarovar and paid obeisance at Darbar Sahib. The opening ceremony included the Panch Pyaras leading Guru Granth Sahib from Sach Khand, followed by Sukhmani Sahib recitations, Shabad Kirtan performances, and Ardaas prayers.
Record-breaking turnout for Char Dham Yatra
The Char Dham Yatra officially began with the opening of Gangotri and Yamunotri on April 30. Since then, the number of devotees has consistently risen, with over 13 lakh pilgrims visiting the four Dhams so far. The enthusiasm among travelers is particularly evident in Kedarnath, where pilgrim footfall has accelerated in the past few weeks.
Rudraprayag district magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar has assured that travel arrangements for Kedarnath are running smoothly, with Sonprayag, Gaurikund, and pathways to the temple well-prepared to accommodate thousands of visitors daily.
Apart from Kedarnath, Badrinath has seen over 3.7 lakh visitors, while Gangotri and Yamunotri have welcomed more than 2.4 lakh devotees. With the month of May nearing its end, officials expect pilgrimage numbers to rise even further as June approaches.
Offline registration sees huge demand
The offline registration counters for the Char Dham Yatra are witnessing immense rush, with more than 2,000 pilgrims arriving daily at Rishikesh alone. Business owners in the tourism industry are feeling optimistic, as they anticipate an even stronger influx in the coming weeks.
State has set up multiple offline registration centers
To facilitate smooth registration, the state has set up multiple centers in Rishikesh, Haridwar, Vikasnagar, Herbertpur, Nayagaon, and other locations. Additional police forces have been deployed at registration counters to manage crowd movement and ensure pilgrim safety.
Pilgrims arrive from across India
Devotees from Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh have flocked to Uttarakhand, with government authorities ensuring proper facilities and security measures for travelers. With pilgrimage numbers climbing rapidly, Uttarakhand’s spiritual tourism is expected to set new records, further cementing its status as a sacred travel destination.
