Dehradun, Uttarakhand – As the Char Dham Yatra draws to a close for the winter months, pilgrim traffic shows no sign of abating. Tens of thousands continue to make the arduous ascent to Kedarnath and Badrinath, while the combined footfall across the four Char Dham shrines and Hemkund Sahib has crossed the six‑million threshold – an unprecedented figure.

The sacred precinct of Badrinath is scheduled to shut its gates on 16 November, marking the official onset of the winter pause. After the closure, worshippers will be directed to the designated winter sanctuaries that serve the four holy sites.

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

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

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

The state administration is actively upgrading the pilgrimage corridor — strengthening road infrastructure, expanding medical facilities, fine‑tuning traffic management and bolstering security measures to make the journey safer and more comfortable for all.

Visitor Numbers at Each Shrine

Official tallies for the five holy sites stand 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 urgent need for effective crowd management, reliable transport, ample medical services and rigorous 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 statistics and temple‑closure dates referenced above are drawn from official releases and have not been independently verified.