Char Dham Yatra 2024 began on May 10. And ever since then, there has been a massive rush of pilgrims, especially over the last few weeks. In fact, as per reports, a record 24.6 lakh people have visited Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri in just 40 days. The crowd congestion had been so bad that videos and pictures of devotees waiting for hours on a narrow hillside in Yamunotri went viral a few days back.
Massive Pilgrim Rush At Char Dham
The Char Dhams in Uttarakhand – Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri – are four of the holiest sites for Hindus. The much-awaited yatra on this route opens for around six months in a year and people from all over the country travel to pray and visit the famous temples here. This year, the Char Dham yatra saw a massive rush!
The yatra opened for devotees on May 10 and the massive rush has been worrying for the authorities. In fact, on May 20, the Haridwar Police had to temporarily suspend the offline registration for the Char Dham Yatra to control the crowd. In another incident, on the opening weekend of the Char Dham Yatra, NDTV reported a crowd congestion in Yamunotri. The rush was so intense that hundreds of devotees had to wait for more than two hours on a narrow hillside path to reach the temple. This has led to many people questioning the crowd management strategies of the local authorities.
Also Read: OYO Witnessed A 206% Rise In Bookings For The Char Dham Yatra
Char Dham Yatra 2024 Sees Record Visits In 40 Days
According to data shared in an NDTV report, more than 24.60 lakh devotees have visited the Char Dham over the last 40 days. These record visits have put a lot of pressure on the local authorities who are making efforts to provide every possible facility to the pilgrims. From adequate drinking water and stay arrangements to food and medical assistance, the Uttarakhand government and authorities are putting a lot of effort into providing it all to the devotees visiting the Char Dhams.
The Char Dham Yatra is open till November (dates varying as per site). So, if you’re planning to visit these holy shrines, make sure you plan your visit in a way to avoid as much crowd as possible. Overcrowding these places can be harmful to nature and the locals residing there, so be mindful of how you travel.
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