Dehradun: The revered Char Dham Yatra, a spiritual journey to the four sacred temples of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, has commenced today amidst heightened anticipation and new regulations. The pilgrimage, which holds immense religious significance for devotees, began with the simultaneous opening of the Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Kedarnath temples at 6:55 am. However, the Badrinath temple will welcome pilgrims starting from May 12th.
In a pioneering move to manage the overwhelming influx of pilgrims, the Uttarakhand Police and Tourism Department have introduced a cap on the daily number of visitors. This year, the daily allowance is set at 51,000 devotees, distributed as follows: 15,000 for Kedarnath Dham, 16,000 for Badrinath Dham, 9,000 for Yamunotri, and 11,000 for Gangotri. This decision comes in the wake of last year’s record-breaking attendance of 55 lakh pilgrims, which led to logistical challenges.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami marked the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya with a tweet, extending a warm welcome to all devotees embarking on the Char Dham Yatra and expressing his heartfelt greetings.
Weather Conditions Amidst the Pilgrimage
The pilgrimage sites are currently experiencing cold weather conditions, with daytime temperatures ranging from 0 to 3 degrees Celsius, dropping below freezing at night. Despite these harsh conditions, approximately 10,000 devotees have already reached Gaurikund, which is situated 16 km before Kedarnath Dham, resulting in crowded accommodations.
Surge in Pilgrim Arrivals
The number of pilgrims has seen a significant increase compared to last year’s figures of 7,000 to 8,000. Currently, all 1,500 available rooms are occupied, and the 5,545 registered mules for transportation are fully booked. Nearby Sonpur, located three kilometers away, is also at full capacity. Additionally, over 15,000 pilgrims have made their way to the cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh.
According to the Kedarnath-Badrinath Temple Committee, when Baba’s Panchmukhi Doli arrived at Kedar Dham on May 9th at 4 pm, it was witnessed by 5,000 people. To date, over 22.15 lakh devotees have registered for the Char Dham Yatra, a significant increase from last year’s record of 55 lakh visitors.
