The sacred Char Dham Yatra began on Wednesday with the ceremonial opening of the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. The pilgrimage marks the start of a spiritually significant journey through the revered Himalayan temples.
After spending the winter months in Mukba village, the palanquin of Goddess Ganga was ceremoniously sent off to Gangotri Dham on Tuesday. It halted for the night at Bhairav Temple in Bhairavghati. Tirtha Purohit Rajesh Semwal confirmed that the palanquin would reach the temple on Wednesday morning, with the doors opening at 10:30 am amidst traditional Vedic chants and rituals.
Simultaneously, the palanquin of Maa Yamuna departed from her winter residence in Kharsali for Yamunotri Dham early Wednesday. The temple gates were scheduled to open at 11:55 am to welcome devotees.
On the occasion, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended greetings to all pilgrims. Taking to X, he posted, “Today, on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, the doors of Shri Yamunotri Dham and Shri Gangotri Dham will be formally opened for the devotees to visit. Char Dham Yatra – 2025 is going to start from today, this holy journey is a symbol of a unique confluence of faith, devotion and invaluable sentiments of Sanatan culture.”
अक्षय तृतीया पर आज श्री यमुनोत्री व श्री गंगोत्री धाम के कपाट खोले जाएंगे। आज से चारधाम यात्रा 2025 का शुभारंभ हो रहा है। माँ गंगा-यमुना आप सभी का कल्याण करें।#AkshayaTritiya pic.twitter.com/8pqNcdS3KF
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) April 30, 2025
“On behalf of the state government, all the devotees are welcomed and greeted for the Char Dham Yatra. It is our prayer that with the blessings of Maa Yamuna and Maa Ganga, may the life of all the devotees be blessed,” he added.
The portals of Kedarnath Dham are set to open on Friday, followed by Badrinath Dham on Sunday. Ahead of the opening, the Panchmukhi idol of Lord Kedarnath was ceremoniously dispatched from the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath on Monday after special prayers.
The Char Dham Yatra is considered one of the most sacred pilgrimages in India. Every year, thousands of devotees embark on this journey, which follows a traditional clockwise route through Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath—each holding deep spiritual and religious significance in Sanatan tradition.
