Dehradun, Uttarakhand – As the Char Dham pilgrimage draws to a close for the winter months, the stream of worshippers shows no signs of dwindling. Thousands are still making their way to the revered shrines of Kedarnath and Badrinath, and the combined footfall across the four Char Dham sites plus Hemkund Sahib has now crossed the six‑million threshold – a record‑breaking figure.

The Badrinath Temple is scheduled to lock its gates on 16 November, marking the formal end of the pilgrimage season for the colder period. After the closures, devotees will be guided to the designated winter sanctuaries that serve the four sacred destinations.

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 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 that officials are working closely with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to ensure a smooth pilgrimage experience, pointing out a “significant rise” in devotees this year.

Chief Minister Dhami welcomed the six‑million milestone, describing it as proof of the deep reverence people hold for Uttarakhand’s holy sites.

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

Visitor Numbers for Each Shrine

Official tallies for the five sacred locations 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 standing as a premier spiritual hub and highlight the urgent need for effective crowd management, reliable transport, ample medical support and robust safety protocols throughout the pilgrimage season.

As the Char Dham Yatra moves toward its winter conclusion, devotees continue their journeys, seeking blessings at these sacred grounds. Authorities remain committed to facilitating a seamless pilgrimage while preparing for the seasonal shutdown of the temples.

Note: The pilgrim statistics and temple‑closure dates mentioned above are drawn from official releases and have not been independently verified.