Char Dham Yatra to start from today; state government issues new SOP

The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand is all set to start from today (September 18, 2021), after remaining in suspension for a long time due to COVID-19 crises. As per the reports, the Uttarakhand Government has now issued a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to start the yatra from September 18 with strict adherence to COVID-19 norms. This move comes after a day the Nainital High Court lifted the ban on Char Dham Yatra and allowed only fully COVID vaccinated people to undertake the annual pilgrimage, with a mandatory COVID-19 negative report.

Reports have it that the court also imposed a daily limit on the number of pilgrims visiting the Himalayan shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath temples, and stated that devotees need to follow strict COVID-19 protocols. As per the latest SOP issued by the state government, 800 pilgrims have been fixed for Kedarnath, over 1000 pilgrims for Badrinath, 400 for Yamunotri, and 600 for Gangotri. Pilgrims who have not received their first or the second dose of COVID vaccine, a RT-PCR negative report (within 72 hours of arrival) would be required for visiting the four revered shrines. However, those arriving from Maharashtra, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, where an increase in the number of COVID cases has been registered in the past few weeks, only those pilgrims who have a RT-PCR negative report, and completed 15 days after double dose vaccination, would be permitted.

All pilgrims would be required to register themselves at the Smart City portal, and get an e-pass for the pilgrimage, which will remain valid for a period of two days.
Also, as per the SOP, pilgrims will not be allowed to stay more than a single night at a dham, whereas bath in the kunds (hot water enclosures) near the temples will also not be permissible.