A 20-day delay in the start of the Char Dham Yatra at Kedarnath Dham has caused a large number of pilgrims to visit, leading to higher costs for the journey. Usually, the yatra begins on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya in mid-April, but this year it started on May 10 due to the delay. Many people are traveling during their summer vacations, causing a surge in visitors and making hotels in the area fully booked. Pilgrims are now paying Rs 10,000 more than usual for the trip.
Ashok Jagtap, who organizes pilgrimages to Kedarnath every year, had to increase the cost of the trip from Rs 38,000 to Rs 45,000 per person this year due to the higher expenses caused by the delay. The doors of Kedarnath Dham, a sacred site dedicated to Lord Shiva, opened on May 10 and will remain open until Kartik Purnima in November. The Uttarakhand government now requires pilgrims to register for the yatra to keep track of the number of people participating.
The registration process can be done online at https://registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in/ or in person at Rishikesh. For those using public transport, registration can be completed at Gaurikund, the starting point of the yatra. Police check posts have been set up to assist pilgrims with the registration process.
