📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Atarax42
Religion
Char Dham Pilgrimage Hits 4.8 Million in 125 Days, Yamunotri Sees Record Visitor Surge
✍️ Livemint
🗓 25 Aug 2026, 08:23 AM
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The Char Dham pilgrimage has attracted 4.8 million devotees in its first 125 days, with Yamunotri registering its highest ever footfall, officials said.
The combined Char Dham Yatra, a government‑sponsored pilgrimage covering Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, has drawn 4.8 million pilgrims in just 125 days, according to data released by the Uttarakhand tourism department. This milestone underscores the rapid uptake of the scheme since its launch earlier this year.
Yamunotri, the first of the four shrines on the circuit, recorded its highest ever footfall during the same period. While exact numbers were not disclosed, officials noted that the surge surpassed previous seasonal peaks, reflecting growing interest among devotees.
Tourism officials said the record turnout is boosting local economies and prompting authorities to accelerate infrastructure upgrades, including road widening and accommodation facilities, to manage the increased crowd safely.
The Char Dham Yatra, introduced as part of a broader effort to promote religious tourism and regional development, continues to attract pilgrims from across India, reinforcing Uttarakhand’s status as a major spiritual destination.
Yamunotri, the first of the four shrines on the circuit, recorded its highest ever footfall during the same period. While exact numbers were not disclosed, officials noted that the surge surpassed previous seasonal peaks, reflecting growing interest among devotees.
Tourism officials said the record turnout is boosting local economies and prompting authorities to accelerate infrastructure upgrades, including road widening and accommodation facilities, to manage the increased crowd safely.
The Char Dham Yatra, introduced as part of a broader effort to promote religious tourism and regional development, continues to attract pilgrims from across India, reinforcing Uttarakhand’s status as a major spiritual destination.