Plan your yatra with care

Know before you go

• Char Dham Yatra registration is mandatory and free; register online at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in or through the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app (or at counters in Haridwar, Rishikesh, Guptkashi and Sonprayag), and carry the registration and a government photo ID.
• Temple entry: on 10 March 2026 the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC) passed a resolution that only followers of Sanatan Dharma may enter the sanctum and premises of the 47 temples it manages, including Shri Kedarnath Dham (as reported by Organiser and Curly Tales). The reports describe no restriction on the Gaurikund-Kedarnath walking path itself; check the current rule with BKTC before travelling.

Know before you go

• July-August monsoon rain brings landslides on the path and on the Rishikesh-Yamunotri highway (NH-134); in early August 2026 landslides disrupted the road, so check road status before going.
• Peak season (May-June) brings heavy crowds and pony traffic on the narrow path; book rooms in advance and start the walk early.

Know before you go

• Steep 6 km climb of about 1,100 m from Ghangaria; a study cited by Wikipedia found almost a third of pilgrims had acute mountain sickness. Ascend slowly and descend at once if symptoms worsen.
• No overnight stay is allowed at Hemkund Sahib; start early from Ghangaria and leave the lake by early afternoon (Wikipedia says by 2 pm).

Know before you go

• Altitude: four of the five temples stand at about 3,500-3,700 m, and the Rudranath trail crosses the Pitradhar ridge at about 3,900 m, the highest point of the yatra; optional Chandrashila is about 4,000 m. Climb gradually and descend if headache or breathlessness worsens.
• The Rudranath trail is steep and remote, about 20 km one way with very basic shelter; budget two days up.

Know before you go

• Several rock-fall zones between Chirbasa and Gaumukh: cross them quickly, one at a time, and early in the day.
• Large blocks of ice regularly break off the Gaumukh snout. Do not go close to the ice cave or into the river below it.

Know before you go

• Altitude: you drive from about 940 m at Dharchula to over 4,400 m at Jolingkong. Spend a night at Gunji or Nabi first and walk slowly.
• Landslides on the Dharchula-Lipulekh road; the administration suspends permits every monsoon, and stretches can close at short notice in any month.