Record-Breaking Pilgrimage: 4.7 Million Visitors in 114 Days for Char Dham Yatra

Dehradun, August 11: Despite the challenges posed by the monsoon, the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand is set to achieve a new record this year. In just 114 days, over 4.7 million pilgrims have undertaken the journey, surpassing last year’s figures by 468,000.

As of August 10, a total of 4,702,703 devotees have visited the four sacred shrines. Last year, during the same period, the number was 4,234,147, marking an increase of 468,556 pilgrims this year.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has instructed officials to prioritize the safety of the pilgrims. The state government is managing the flow of visitors and temporarily halting the pilgrimage whenever weather conditions necessitate caution.

The Char Dham Yatra commenced on April 19 with the opening of the Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines. So far, the highest number of pilgrims, 1,612,112, have visited Badrinath, followed by Kedarnath with 1,450,116, Gangotri with 737,629, and Yamunotri with 662,347. Additionally, 240,499 pilgrims have also paid their respects at Hemkund Sahib.

On Monday alone, despite adverse weather and administrative warnings, 15,376 pilgrims visited the Char Dham. Badrinath recorded the highest single-day attendance with 9,559 pilgrims, while Kedarnath welcomed 4,170, Gangotri 1,204, and Yamunotri 443.

Dhami emphasized that the safety of the Char Dham pilgrims is the government’s top priority. He stated, “In light of the active monsoon, the disaster management department is on alert 24/7. District officials have been instructed to remain vigilant to ensure immediate relief and rescue operations in case of emergencies. Pilgrims are advised to consider weather conditions before embarking on their journey.”

The Badrinath pilgrimage, which began on April 23, has seen 350,192 more visitors compared to last year as of August 10. Comprehensive arrangements for accommodation, food, and safety have been made along the route.

Security personnel have been deployed in areas prone to landslides, and the Chief Minister is personally monitoring the situation through the state disaster control room.

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