🛕 Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra 2026 — Dates, Registration & Complete Guide

📅 All dates below are for the year 2026. Always reconfirm current-year dates and rules on the official Uttarakhand government portal before you travel.

Registration is FREE and mandatory — done on the official Uttarakhand government portal (registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in) or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app, with offline counters at Haridwar and Rishikesh (roughly 60% online / 40% offline).

1. Open the official Uttarakhand government Char Dham registration portal (registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in) or the official Tourist Care Uttarakhand mobile app.
2. Create an account and verify your active mobile number with the OTP sent to it.
3. Enter each pilgrim’s details exactly as on the Aadhaar card — name, age, gender and Aadhaar number (mandatory for 2026).
4. Select your dhams (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath) and your planned travel date for each.
5. Add an emergency contact and a valid email address, then upload a recent passport-size photo if requested.
6. Submit the form and download/save your Yatra Registration Number (registration is FREE — never pay anyone for it).
7. Carry the registration QR/slip (printed or on your phone) and your Aadhaar for verification at the route check-posts.

• Valid Aadhaar card for every pilgrim (mandatory for 2026)
• Recent passport-size photograph
• Active mobile number for OTP and yatra alerts
• A working email address
• An emergency contact name and number
• Pilgrims above 55 or with health conditions should carry recent medical reports / a fitness check

The traditional order is: Yamunotri → Gangotri → Kedarnath → Badrinath. If time is short, many pilgrims choose the Do Dham (Kedarnath + Badrinath) option.

• Day 1–2: Arrive Haridwar / Rishikesh — collect your registration confirmation and acclimatise.
• Day 3–4: Travel to Yamunotri and take darshan of Goddess Yamuna.
• Day 5–6: Proceed to Gangotri for darshan of Goddess Ganga.
• Day 7–8: Reach Kedarnath (trek or helicopter) for the Shiva Jyotirlinga darshan.
• Day 9–10: Travel onward to Badrinath for darshan of Lord Vishnu, then return.

The most favourable windows are late April to June (clear skies, pleasant days) and September to early November (post-monsoon, crisp mountain weather). July–August brings heavy monsoon rain and landslide risk on the hill roads. Nights are cold at altitude — pack warm layers and keep a buffer day for weather or road delays.

• All four dhams sit above 3,000 m — spend a day acclimatising at Haridwar/Rishikesh before going higher.
• Climb slowly, stay hydrated, and avoid alcohol; descend if you feel breathless, dizzy or have a persistent headache.
• Carry any personal medicines plus a basic kit; pilgrims over 55 or with heart/lung/BP conditions should get a fitness check first.
• Mornings are cold and weather changes fast — start early and keep a buffer day for road or weather delays.

• Warm layers, a windproof jacket, gloves, cap and a rain poncho
• Comfortable trekking shoes with good grip and a walking stick
• A small daypack, refillable water bottle and dry snacks
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm and a basic first-aid kit
• Power bank, torch, and your Aadhaar + registration slip in a waterproof pouch

Helicopter shuttle services to Kedarnath operate from the Guptkashi, Phata and Sirsi helipads and are booked only through the official IRCTC HeliYatra portal. A valid Char Dham Yatra registration number is required before you can book. Beware of touts and fake websites — book only on the official government portal. Yamunotri, Gangotri and Badrinath are reached mainly by road plus a short trek.

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