Char Dham Yatra Registration Now Needs an Aadhaar-Linked Biometric Check, With This Season Closing Out by Late November

Registration for the Char Dham Yatra, the pilgrimage circuit to Uttarakhand's Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines, remains free and mandatory for every pilgrim in the 2026 season, and this year's process has tied it more closely to biometric identity checks. Aadhaar has been positioned as the primary document for registration, meant to support biometric deduplication of the pilgrim list, though the state's tourism authorities have said alternatives such as a voter ID, PAN card or passport can still be used where a pilgrim does not have one.

How registration works

Pilgrims can register through the official portal at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in, the Tourist Care Uttarakhand mobile app, or by sending a WhatsApp message to the state's dedicated yatra number. Beyond the online step, biometric verification can also take place at physical checkpoints along the route, a system introduced after the 2013 Kedarnath flood disaster to keep a clearer record of who is travelling through the region at any given time.

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A season already heading towards its close

With Kedarnath's temple portals scheduled to close for winter on 23 October, around Bhaiya Dooj, and Badrinath's following on 25 November, pilgrims planning a 2026 visit are working with a narrowing window; Gangotri and Yamunotri typically close earlier in the same period. Registration slots and accommodation along the route tend to tighten further as these closing dates approach.

What to check before travelling

Requirements around documents, biometric checkpoints and helicopter booking quotas have shifted through the season, and official confirmation should always take priority over third-party booking sites. Pilgrims should confirm current registration rules, each shrine's exact closing date and any weather-related route restrictions directly with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board before travelling.

Traveller tips

• Register only through registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in, the official Tourist Care Uttarakhand app, or the state's WhatsApp registration number.
• Carry Aadhaar where possible; a voter ID, PAN card or passport is accepted as an alternative if unavailable.
• Confirm each shrine's exact winter closing date before finalising travel, since Gangotri and Yamunotri typically close ahead of Kedarnath and Badrinath.
• Book helicopter and pony services only through official counters, given past restrictions on ticket numbers during the season.