Dehradun, Since the break of day, the once empty corridors of the Chardham Registration Office in Rishikesh is now teeming with life. Long, unending queues of pilgrims of all age groups, from all over the country as well as foreign shores have started to arrive in droves to partake in what is defined as ‘once in a lifetime pilgrimage.

The numbers have already reached promising figures with over a thousand foreign tourists registering within days of the Yatra beginning. Yamnotri and Gangotri being the first to open for pilgrimage yesterday i.e. 7th of May,  followed by Kedarnath Shrine opening on 9^th May  and Badrinath throwing open its portal to devotees and pilgrims on 10th of May. The Chief Minister of the State Trivendra Singh Rawat, ensured everyone’s convenience and safety, adding “with the opening of the Gangotri and Yamunotri temples on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, the Chardham Yatra begins, Uttarakhand is ready to welcome the Yatris.”

After being closed for nearly six winter months, the shrines of Uttarakhand also known as the famous ‘Chardham’ or ‘four shrines’ re-open their portal this May, along with temples off-the-beaten path, such as Tungnath, Madmaheswar, Rudranath opening within two weeks from today. Along with the famous-four, the Sikh pilgrimage site of Hemkund Sahib will be the last to open its portal on the 25^th of May.

Traditionally, the world-famous Chardham pilgrimage comes to a halt around November when the shrines become inaccessible due to snowfall in the long cold, winter months. Following Spring, around Basant Panchami, the dates for the re-opening of the shrines are announced as per ancient rites and rituals.

The State administration is making sure that facilities and road safety norms are in place for tourists, visitors and pilgrims making their way from home and abroad arriving in droves in the hill-state of Uttarakhand or ‘Devbhoomi’ as it is rightly called.

Char Dham Yatra Final Photometric Registration Report on 8/5/19:

1 .Bus Stand Rishikesh = 2557
2. Rahi Motel Haridwar= 175
3. Rly. Station Haridwar= 349
4.Dobata = 702
5. Hina = 196
6.Phata= 241
7.Sonprayag= 674

Total Pilgrims registered until 8th may morning = 4894

Grand total from 25th april to 8th may 2019 = 10,764

Total Foreigners = 1063

Dehradun, Closed for nearly six winter months, the shrines of Uttarakhand, better known as the Chardham will re-open their portals for pilgrimage in less than three weeks.

Yamnotri, Gangotri Shrines will be the first to open their portals on the 7^th of May, at 11:30 a.m. followed by Kedarnath on the 9^th of May  at 5.35 a.m. and then Badrinath shrine at 4:45 a.m. on the 10^{th of} May.

The Sikh pilgrimage site of Hemkund Sahib, tucked away it into the mountains, will be the last to open on 1st of June, with the work to clear seven feet of snow enroute to the shrine to begin from 28th of April. Along with these famous-four, off-the-beaten Chardham route temples dedicated to Lord Shiva such as Tungnath will re-open on 10^th of May, followed by Rudranath on 19^th and Madmaheswar on the 21st of May with the world famous Valley of Flowers to reopen on 1st of June as well.

Located in the inner reaches of Rudraprayag and Chamoli district these off-the-beaten-track temples are visited by thousand of tourists and pilgrims alike when they reopen for pilgrimage, each year. Nestled in one of the most picturesque environs, these temples  fall under the panch-kedar and hold reverence amongst local habitants and outsiders, too.

Traditionally, the annual world-famous Chardham pilgrimage comes to a halt close to Diwali, before the shrines become inaccessible due to heavy snowfall in the long winter months. Following spring, around Basant Panchami, dates for the re-opening of the shrines are announced as per ancient rites and rituals giving people ample time to plan their pilgrimage into the hill districts of Uttarakhand.

The Uttarakhand State administration has been working overtime, even in the heart of severe winter, under the watchful eye of the Centre to ensure that facilities and all-weather-road safety norms are in place before pilgrims from home and foreign shores start arriving in droves in ‘Devbhoomi’ as the hill-state is rightly called, to partake in what is considered, a pilgrimage of a lifetime.

Chardham Opening dates:

Yamnotri : 7^th May

Gangotri : 7^th May

Kedarnath: 9^th May

Badrinath : 10^th May

Off-the-beaten-track temples:

Tungnath: 10th May

Rudranath :19th May

Madmaheshwar: 21st May

Hemkund: 1st June