The Chardham Yatra, which commenced on April 19, has reached its zenith. Currently, a massive number of devotees are arriving daily to seek *darshan* (sacred viewing) at the four holy shrines. Since the very inception of the pilgrimage, an unprecedented surge of devotees has flooded the Chardham sites, creating a remarkable confluence of faith, enthusiasm, and spiritual energy throughout the entire region. As of May 1, a total of 546,000 devotees have visited the Chardham shrines.
The portals of the Gangotri and Yamunotri Dhams were the first to open on April 19. Focusing on these specific shrines, Yamunotri has so far welcomed over 80,000 devotees. On Friday, May 1, more than 8,000 devotees arrived at Yamunotri Dham. Similarly, regarding Gangotri, 80,299 devotees have offered their prayers there to date. On Friday, approximately 7,800 devotees reached Gangotri Dham.
Turning to Kedarnath Dham, its portals opened on April 22. As of today—May 1—over 261,000 devotees have sought *darshan* at this shrine. On Friday alone, more than 17,000 devotees arrived at the abode of Baba Kedar. To date, Kedarnath Dham has received the highest number of visitors among all four shrines.
Meanwhile, at Badrinath Dham, over 124,000 devotees have so far sought the blessings of Lord Badri-Vishal. On Friday, more than 16,000 devotees arrived at Badrinath Dham.
Among the four shrines, the pilgrimage to Kedarnath Dham is considered the most arduous. Consequently, special arrangements have been implemented there to ensure the safety and comfort of the devotees. The administration has undertaken a comprehensive deployment of security and relief forces along the Kedarnath pilgrimage route—spanning locations such as Sonprayag, Gaurikund, Junglechatti, Bheembali, Chhoti Lincholi, Lincholi, Rudra Point, the Base Camp, and the Kedarnath Helipad, extending all the way to the shrine itself. A rapid response mechanism has been established, coupled with vigilant surveillance at every sensitive point.
Prioritizing the safety of pilgrims above all else, more than 534 personnel from various departments are providing round-the-clock services. These personnel include members of the Police, Fire Services, SDRF, NDRF, Home Guards, PRD, Yatri Tourism Mitras, the Mule Task Force, Aapda Mitras, and other support teams. Additionally, three platoons and one section of the PAC have been deployed to provide supplementary security.
The district administration has appealed to pilgrims to strictly adhere to the guidelines issued for the pilgrimage. They are urged to stay updated on weather conditions and cooperate with the administration to ensure that this sacred journey to Baba Kedar remains safe, smooth, and memorable for everyone.
