New Delhi: The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand has witnessed an overwhelming response this year, with the number of pilgrims crossing 37 lakh since the pilgrimage season began in April. Official figures show that 37.35 lakh devotees had visited the sacred shrines by Thursday, reflecting the scale of one of India’s most significant religious journeys.
Among the four shrines, Kedarnath Temple recorded the highest number of visitors, attracting 12.61 lakh pilgrims since its opening on April 22. Badrinath Temple followed closely with 11.67 lakh devotees since opening on April 23.
The pilgrimage to Gangotri Temple drew 6.17 lakh visitors, while Yamunotri Temple welcomed 5.83 lakh pilgrims. Meanwhile, Hemkund Sahib received 1.05 lakh devotees. An additional 5,795 pilgrims completed the trek to the Gaumukh Glacier, the source of the Ganga.
On Thursday alone, 42,921 pilgrims reached the various shrines, accompanied by 4,984 vehicles. Authorities reported that more than 3.54 lakh vehicles have travelled on the yatra routes since the commencement of the season.
The pilgrimage season has also seen 198 reported fatalities among devotees since April 19. According to official data, 195 deaths were linked to medical complications and deteriorating health conditions, while three were attributed to natural causes.
Kedarnath accounted for the highest number of deaths at 95, followed by Badrinath with 59. Yamunotri reported 26 fatalities, while Gangotri recorded 18.
Authorities continue to monitor pilgrim safety and health conditions as the yatra progresses, with large numbers of devotees expected to visit the Himalayan shrines in the coming weeks.
