Overview
- Pilgrimage season began Sunday, April 19, as the Gangotri and Yamunotri temples reopened after a six‑month winter closure on Akshaya Tritiya.
- The Panchmukhi Doli of Lord Kedarnath left Ukhimath and is due to reach the shrine on April 21, with the temple gates scheduled to open on April 22 at 8 am and Badrinath to follow on April 23.
- Authorities have activated 24x7 control rooms and installed about 90 cameras, including 360‑degree units with public‑address support, while DDMA teams monitor glacier‑slide risks as roughly 80% of snow clearance on the Gaurikund–Kedarnath track is complete.
- Helicopter shuttles to Kedarnath will start on April 22 under tighter controls, with eight operators flying from Guptkashi, Phata and Sersi under set flight caps and ATC‑style coordination from Sonprayag and Kedarnath.
- Access rules now include affidavits for non‑Hindus at Badrinath and Kedarnath, a panchgavya requirement at Gangotri, a welcome‑to‑all policy at Yamunotri, and bans on phones and cameras inside temple zones.