Dehradun: Preparations for the famous Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand have reached the final stage. Keeping the convenience and safety of devotees in mind, the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee has taken several important decisions this year.
The pilgrimage for 2026–27 will begin on April 19, coinciding with the holy occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. On this day, the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri will open. Kedarnath will open on April 22, followed by Badrinath on April 23.
Committee chairman Hemant Dwivedi stated that to make the pilgrimage more disciplined and peaceful, certain restrictions will be imposed. Entry of people engaged in filming or broadcasting within a limited temple area will be prohibited. Mobile phones and cameras will not be allowed inside the temple premises.
Special counters will be set up outside the temple for devotees to safely deposit their phones and electronic devices. No one will be allowed to carry phones into the sanctum, and even the chairman himself will follow this rule.
He emphasized that pilgrimage and general tourism are different, and these measures aim to preserve the sanctity and spiritual environment of the pilgrimage.
A proposal to establish a welfare fund for priests has also been approved, along with improvements in temple infrastructure and facilities.
There is significant enthusiasm among devotees this year. Between March 6 and March 16, more than 617,853 devotees registered for the pilgrimage.
During the winter pilgrimage period as well, more than 50,000 devotees visited the winter worship sites. Over 20,000 devotees visited Yog Badri at Pandukeshwar and the Narsingh Temple at Joshimath, while more than 31,000 devotees visited the Omkareshwar Temple at Ukhimath, the winter seat of Kedarnath.
The committee stated that all preparations will be completed on time to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage experience for all devotees.
