Rishikesh: Preparations for the 2026 Chardham Yatra have already begun. A large and important meeting regarding the Chardham Yatra 2026 was held at the Chardham Yatra Transit Camp in Rishikesh, with all officials arriving at the transit camp to participate. The meeting on the Chardham Yatra 2026 was chaired by Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey. IG Garhwal Rajiv Swaroop also participated in the meeting. The meeting focused on the management and control organization of the Chardham Yatra.
The Garhwal Commissioner questioned officials from all departments involved in the Chardham Yatra regarding various aspects. He also gave instructions to improve arrangements for the upcoming Chardham Yatra. Detailed discussions were held with the District Magistrates and senior police officers of the Garhwal division regarding the arrangements. The Garhwal Commissioner emphasized the importance of maintaining proper arrangements during the pilgrimage season, and the IG Garhwal instructed that security arrangements in the Chardham area be taken seriously.
Key points of the meeting:
- Review of experiences from the previous pilgrimage and discussion on areas needing improvement.
- Detailed analysis of which arrangements worked well during the last pilgrimage and where there were shortcomings.
- Emphasis on strengthening the infrastructure for the Chardham Yatra.
- Topics included the condition of pilgrimage routes, repair of roads and bridges, availability of health facilities, ambulance services, drinking water, toilets, parking, and crowd management.
After the meeting, the Garhwal Commissioner stated that millions of devotees visit Uttarakhand’s important Chardham Yatra every year. All officials have been instructed to take care of the facilities for the devotees and to perform their duties honestly. Officials from all departments involved in the Chardham Yatra have been instructed to complete their preparations for the pilgrimage well in advance. These preparations primarily include instructions for better management of traffic, drinking water, accessible toilets, parking, road repairs, security, health and transportation services, as well as accommodation for the pilgrims.
Those who attended the meeting included:
- Stakeholders associated with the pilgrimage.
- Temple priests, hotel associations.
- Representatives from Dandi-Kandi (palanquin bearers), chopper associations, and transport services.
- Officials from the concerned districts.
Feedback was taken from all of them during the meeting. Emphasis will then be placed on creating a better system. Proposals have also been sought from the district level. It is noteworthy that more than 5 million pilgrims visited Uttarakhand during the last Char Dham Yatra. This time, even more pilgrims are expected, and a roadmap is being prepared accordingly.
