Dehradun, Uttarakhand – As the Char Dham Yatra winds down toward its seasonal pause, pilgrim traffic shows no sign of abating. Tens of thousands continue their trek to the sacred precincts of Kedarnath and Badrinath, pushing the combined footfall across the four Char Dham shrines and Hemkund Sahib past the six‑million threshold – a landmark achievement.

The Badrinath Temple is scheduled to shut its doors on 16 November, marking the formal end of the pilgrimage season for the colder months. After the closures, worshippers will be redirected to the designated winter sanctuaries that serve the four holy sites.

Since its launch on 19 April, the Yatra has persisted through the monsoon, with Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri and Hemkund Sahib all reporting a noticeable rise in pilgrim numbers. Even in these final weeks, crowds remain robust.

Hemant Dwivedi, chairman of the Badrinath‑Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), noted that Kedarnath and Badrinath continue to draw large congregations. He highlighted close coordination with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to ensure a smooth pilgrimage experience, citing a “significant rise” in devotees this year.

Chief Minister Dhami welcomed the six‑million milestone, describing it as a testament to the deep faith people hold for Uttarakhand’s revered destinations.

The state government is actively upgrading the pilgrimage corridor – strengthening road networks, expanding medical services, fine‑tuning traffic flow and reinforcing security measures to make the journey safer and more comfortable for all.

Number of Devotees Visiting the Shrines

Official tallies for the five holy sites are as follows:

  • Badrinath Dham: 2,070,500 pilgrims
  • Kedarnath Dham: 1,765,520 pilgrims
  • Yamunotri Dham: 945,572 pilgrims
  • Gangotri Dham: 838,422 pilgrims
  • Hemkund Sahib: 390,696 pilgrims

These figures underscore Uttarakhand’s status as a premier spiritual hub and highlight the pressing need for effective crowd control, reliable transport, ample medical facilities and robust safety protocols throughout the pilgrimage season.

As the Char Dham Yatra approaches its winter conclusion, devotees persist in their journeys, seeking blessings at these hallowed grounds. The administration remains committed to facilitating a seamless pilgrimage while preparing for the seasonal shutdown of the temples.

Note: The pilgrim figures and temple‑closure dates cited above are based on official releases and have not been independently verified.