Char Dham Yatra 2023 Begins: Join the Spiritual Pilgrimage in India

“The Char Dham Yatra for 2023 will begin accepting registrations starting from February 20th. Both online and offline registration options will be available.”

“Preparations for the Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand have begun. The first meeting, led by Garhwal Commissioner Sushil Kumar, was held in Rishikesh to discuss previous problems and make arrangements for the yatra season.”

“The Char Dham Yatra 2023 has announced the official start date for the journey, including the opening of doors for all four Dhams.”

“The registration for Char Dham Yatra 2023 will start from February 20th and will be available through both online and offline systems. Travel information will be provided to other states through correspondence. The offline registration process will be improved and facilities at the Pipalkoti, Helang, Pandukeshwar, and Govind Ghat stops will be increased. To avoid issues faced last year, a single app from the Transport and Tourism Department will be used for registration.”

The fare for Char Dham Yatra 2023 may see a 10% increase, which will be decided in a meeting on February 14th.

The Garhwal Commissioner expressed concern over the lack of visible arrangements made by the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee at Badrinath and Kedarnath during the Chardham Yatra. Passengers are not receiving equal darshan time with some only receiving 4 minutes. He has instructed the temple committee to create a standard operating procedure.

In the meeting, it was agreed to use only one app for travel registration instead of two separate apps from the Tourism and Transport Department. The electric poles obstructing the road from Rishikesh, NH 58, to Nataraj Chowk must be removed quickly. JCBs should be placed at landslide-prone areas during the journey and the mobile number of the responsible JE, AE, and station in charge should be posted. The meeting was attended by district magistrates and officers from various departments, including the SSP.

The Chardham Yatra will feature 1600 buses under rotation, with 1100 already available. All transport companies will participate in the rotation and no exemptions will be made. An additional 50 buses will be provided by roadways and 50 from KMOU. 150 new buses will also be introduced. A Transport Tax Officer will be appointed to monitor the number of buses and passengers during the Yatra. To resolve issues with online bus checking last year, the connectivity problem at travel check posts will be addressed. The Garhwal Commissioner emphasized the need for coordination between the number of registered passengers and vehicles.

The president of Uttarakhand Transport Federation, Sudhir Rai, expressed his concern about the disruption caused by the permit granted for Shrimad Bhagwat Katha during the peak of Char Dham Yatra in Badrinath by the Chamoli district administration. He requested the Garhwal commissioner to not allow the performance. The commissioner instructed the DM Chamoli. When asked about installing dustbins, the commissioner stated that it is not feasible and that the directives from the center must be followed.

Sanjay Shastri, the Chairman of the Joint Rotation Travel Arrangement Committee, suggested the appointment of a nodal officer to oversee the operation of buses during the Char Dham Yatra. This nodal officer would be responsible for guiding the officers in Dehradun, Tehri, and Pauri districts and ensuring the smooth flow of buses. Shastri also mentioned that during the previous Char Dham Yatra, 50 buses were stopped at Bhadrakali and Brahmpuri barrier due to a surge in the number of pilgrims visiting the Dhams.

The token system will be put in place to make the Chardham Yatra more manageable for devotees. Tokens will indicate when a devotee is able to have darshan, reducing the crowds in the dhams and allowing for more time for shopping and other activities.

The Chief Secretary, Dr. SS Sandhu, mentioned that they are considering the option of providing direct helicopter services from Dehradun to Kedarnath.

Last year’s Chardham Yatra saw a record-breaking turnout of over 46 lakh pilgrims, two years after the end of the Corona pandemic. This was the first time such a high number of people visited the Char Dhams, and the Yatra ended with the closure of the Badrinath temple doors on November 19th.

Last year, a record number of devotees visited the Char Dhams. 17,60,646 pilgrims reached Badrinath, 624,451 reached Gangotri, and 485,635 reached Yamunotri. The Kedarnath Yatra saw a record of more than 15 lakh pilgrims, with a total business of 211 crores.