51 Lakh Pilgrims, One Historic Season: Inside Char Dham Yatra 2026

The Char Dham Yatra 2026 has crossed a major milestone, with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirming that the pilgrimage's first phase has been the most successful on record. Speaking after offering prayers at Shri Badrinath Dham, Dhami said nearly 51 lakh devotees completed darshan across the four sacred shrines before the second phase began following the monsoon break.
For anyone planning a Char Dham Yatra package this season, here's what the latest figures and government updates mean for your trip.

Char Dham Yatra 2026: Pilgrim Numbers So Far

According to Uttarakhand government data released on September 15, more than 50.56 lakh pilgrims had visited the Char Dham shrines and Hemkund Sahib by the evening of September 14, against over 66 lakh total registrations for the season. The shrine-wise breakdown:

Shrine	Pilgrims (as of Sept 14)
Yamunotri	7,08,407
Gangotri	7,89,773
Kedarnath Yatra	14,98,544
Badrinath Yatra	17,36,619
Hemkund Sahib	3,22,817

Kedarnath and Badrinath continue to draw the highest footfall, reaffirming their place as the most sought-after stops on the Char Dham circuit.

What's Changing in Phase 2 of the Yatra

CM Dhami confirmed that the state is prioritising smoother travel, organised darshan queues, and continuous monitoring of high-traffic and sensitive zones along the yatra routes. The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has also been working on:

• Upgrades to the temple committee's official website and yatra SOPs
• Expanded CCTV coverage at shrines and subordinate temples
• Improved crowd management and transparency in offering collections
• Restoration proposals for the Tungnath and Omkareshwar temples in Ukhimath

Badrinath Master Plan Update

Work on the Badrinath Dham master plan, aimed at modernising pilgrim infrastructure while preserving the shrine's sanctity is progressing steadily, despite a narrow six-month construction window dictated by the region's high-altitude climate.

Plan Your Char Dham Yatra with Trip To Temples

With record pilgrim numbers and Phase 2 now underway, early planning is more important than ever. Trip To Temples offers curated Char Dham Yatra packages by departure city, guided darshan arrangements, and end-to-end travel support across Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.

Explore Chardham packages here.