Char Dham in Himalayan winter? How Uttarakhand is making it possible
India TodayEvery year, the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand draws millions of pilgrims to the Hindu shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath nestled in the upper Himalayas. The annual tradition marks the Winter Char Dham Yatra, a pilgrimage promoted by the Uttarakhand government to sustain religious tourism during the colder months. The Uttarakhand government inaugurated the Winter Char Dham circuit on December 8, with chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s active involvement helping galvanise interest. Beyond spirituality, the Winter Char Dham Yatra plays a crucial role in boosting local economies and drawing attention to the lesser-known winter pilgrimage centres of Uttarakhand. By promoting the Winter Char Dham Yatra, the Uttarakhand government is also aiming to make religious tourism an uninterrupted affair throughout the year.