Char Dham Yatra Online Registration Starts April 15

Commencing from April 15, 2024, the online registration for the revered Char Dham Yatra is set to initiate, as revealed by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB). This pilgrimage, encompassing the four sacred Dhams, along with the Hemkund Sahib, will officially commence on May 10.

According to UTDB’s Joint Director, Yogendra Gangwar, the mandatory online registration process will kick off on April 15, coinciding with the auspicious opening of the Yamunotri Dham’s portals by the temple priests on April 14. Additionally, offline registration facilities will be made available at 8-10 centers, beginning from Rishikesh and subsequently extending to Haridwar.

Preparations for the registration are currently in their final stages. Pilgrims will have the convenience of registering through various channels including the website, app, toll-free number, and WhatsApp. Gangwar emphasized that presently there are no constraints on the number of pilgrims at any Dham. However, any potential limitations will be contemplated after evaluating the registration figures.

Prospective pilgrims can complete their registrations online via the tourism website at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in, along with official WhatsApp numbers and toll-free lines which will be announced before the registration commencement date.

Gangwar advised pilgrims to furnish accurate mobile numbers during registration, and to equip themselves with appropriate attire, umbrellas, etc. Furthermore, pilgrims with medical conditions are encouraged to carry their medications and consult medical staff along the Yatra route if necessary.

In addition to this, the government has arranged helicopter services for the convenience of the pilgrims. Passengers are urged to book through the official website heliyatra.irctc.co.in to avoid any unauthorized bookings.

NS Bindra, President of Hemkunt Sahib Gurudwara Management Trust, announced the initiation of online registration for Hemkunt Sahib Yatra from April 15, with the shrine’s opening scheduled for May 25.

The route, currently blanketed in snow, will undergo snow-clearing operations starting from April 15, with assistance from army personnel and district administration authorities.

Marking the ceremonial commencement, the portals of the Gangotri shrine will open on May 10 at 12:25 pm. Meanwhile, the exact timing for the opening of the Yamunotri Dham shrine, also scheduled for May 10, will be announced on April 14 by the temple priests’ community at Kharsali.

The Kedarnath shrine’s portals are set to open on May 10, following Bhairavnath prayers on May 5 at the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath. The deity’s Panchmukhi palanquin will then depart from Omkareshwar temple on May 6 and arrive at the Kedarnath shrine on May 9.

Badrinath shrine’s portals are scheduled to open at 6 am on May 12, with the Tel Kalash yatra ceremony beginning on April 25, as disclosed by Harish Gaur, media-in-charge of the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee.

The Char Dham shrines remain closed for approximately six months annually, reopening in summer (April or May) and closing with the onset of winter (October or November). This year, the portals of the Badrinath Dham will open at 6 am on May 12.

With last year’s yatra setting an all-time record of over 5.6 million participants and over 4.6 million pilgrims visiting the four revered Himalayan shrines in 2022, this year’s pilgrimage is anticipated with great enthusiasm and reverence.