Char Dham Yatra 2026: Opening Dates, Registration, and What to Expect

Char Dham Yatra 2026 opens on 30 April with Yamunotri and Gangotri. Char Dham Yatra 2026 began on April 19 when the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri temples opened on Akshaya Tritiya, marking the formal start of the pilgrimage season in Uttarakhand. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the opening in a public ceremony. Kedarnath opens on April 22 at 8:00 AM and Badrinath on April 23.

The Char Dham pilgrimage circuit covers four sacred shrines in the Garhwal Himalayas: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from across India undertake the yatra between the spring opening and the winter closing of the temples, typically in November.

Char Dham Yatra 2026: Opening Dates at a Glance

Temple Opening Dates 2026

Yamunotri and Gangotri opened on April 19, 2026. Kedarnath portals open on April 22 at 8:00 AM. Badrinath portals open on April 23, 2026. The opening dates follow the Hindu calendar each year, and 2026’s dates fall on Akshaya Tritiya, considered highly auspicious for new beginnings.

Online Registration Is Mandatory

The Uttarakhand government requires all pilgrims to register online before undertaking Char Dham Yatra. Registration helps manage crowd flow, especially at Kedarnath where footfall spikes sharply in May and June. You register through the official Uttarakhand Tourism portal and receive a biometric registration slip that authorities check at entry points along the route.

Pilgrims planning helicopter service to Kedarnath must additionally register through the IRCTC HeliYatra portal before booking tickets. Helicopter bookings opened on April 15, 2026, for journeys from April 22 to June 15.

Getting to the Char Dham from Dehradun

Dehradun serves as the primary gateway to all four dhams. For Yamunotri, the route goes through Mussoorie to Barkot and then Janki Chatti. For Gangotri, you travel via Uttarkashi. Kedarnath is accessible via Rishikesh and Rudraprayag to Gaurikund. Badrinath is reached via Rishikesh and Joshimath.

The newly opened Delhi-Dehradun Expressway cuts the Delhi-to-Dehradun leg to 2.5 hours, making the journey from Delhi to any Char Dham significantly faster this year.

What to Expect This Season

Uttarakhand recorded over six crore visitors in 2025. With the expressway now operational and the opening date aligned with Akshaya Tritiya, 2026 is expected to see heavy footfall from day one. Book accommodation well in advance for Kedarnath. State authorities are managing crowds with biometric checks and staggered entry timings.

Char Dham Yatra 2026 is expected to draw record pilgrims — early registration gives you the best chance of a smooth journey.

Pilgrims who want to avoid the 16-km trek to Kedarnath can book helicopter services from helipads at Phata, Guptkashi, Sitapur, or Sersi. One-day helicopter packages from Dehradun’s Sahastradhara Helipad start at Rs 1,10,000 per person.