Char Dham pilgrimage to start today with Gangotri, Yamunotri portals opening

Dehradun: The annual pilgrimage of Char Dham 2025 was set to begin on Wednesday with the opening of the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri, as rituals took place on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya in Uttarkashi district. The doors of Kedarnath are scheduled to open on Friday, followed by the opening of Badrinath on Sunday.
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said facilities from road transport to helicopter and horse-mule services had been arranged to ensure a smooth journey for pilgrims. He added that the animal husbandry department had been directed to deploy only healthy horses and mules after thorough health checks, with ongoing examinations planned along the trekking routes.
This year, over 4,300 horse-mule operators were set to provide services on the Kedarnath and Yamunotri trekking routes. Pilgrims travelling to Kedarnath Dham undertake an approximately 18km trek from Gaurikund. So far, 2,493 operators had registered more than 5,000 horses and mules for Kedarnath Dham, with the animal husbandry department issuing fitness certificates after health examinations.
Animal hospitals were established at Sonprayag, Gaurikund, Linchauli and Kedarnath, with five doctors and seven paravets deployed. Additionally, hot water facilities were arranged at 13 locations along the Kedarnath trekking route.
For Yamunotri Dham, over 3,700 horses and mules were registered. A temporary animal hospital was set up in Jankichatti to offer examination, vaccination, medical aid and treatment for animals used in the Yamunotri yatra. Four veterinarians, four livestock extension officers and two livestock assistants were deployed, while six geysers were installed along the route.
To manage pilgrim services, five prepaid booking counters were set up for Kedarnath at Sonprayag, Gaurikund, Bhimbali, Linchauli and Rudra Point. For Yamunotri, a prepaid counter was established by the district council at Jankichatti. Numbered jackets were issued to horse-mule operators for Yamunotri, and only one round trip per day was permitted for each operator.