Who must register for the Char Dham Yatra
The official Tourist Care portal of Uttarakhand asks every traveler to register before the Char Dham and Hemkund Sahib, and to register their vehicle as well. The registration is checked at the shrines. For travelers it is free, at 0 INR. That does not make other items free, such as a green card or trip card, parking or a puja.
Registration is the first of four separate steps. The others are the darshan slot token, a puja if you want one, and your lodging and transport. A free registration does not reserve a puja and does not buy a flight ticket. It is also not a VIP pass. If you book a package, ask who completes the registration for you; our Char Dham Yatra tours page lists what to compare.
Char Dham Yatra registration online
The portal and the Tourist Care app use the same steps.
1. Create your trip
Enter your travel dates, the dhams you will visit and the days you plan to be at each one.
2. Add traveler details
Add the personal data of every person in your group. Vehicles are registered too.
3. Download the letter
Download the registration letter with the QR code. Keep it on your phone and as a print, because the checks at the shrines ask for it.
4. Carry the letter and your ID
Keep both with you on the road and at each shrine. The darshan slot token is an additional step on top of the letter.
Char Dham tours with registration support
Yatra tours and Himalaya day trips with live prices and availability.
Registration offline, in person
The points lie along the route, mainly in the plains.
| Place | Role |
|---|---|
| Haridwar | Offline registration point |
| Rishikesh | Transit camp and gurudwara |
| Herbertpur | Offline registration point |
| Nayagaon near Vikasnagar | Offline registration point |
| Pandukeshwar | Control point on the way to Badrinath |
| Badrinath ISBT, BRO Circle and Mana Parking | Darshan token points |
Do not rely on a counter being open at a particular hour. For most travelers the online route is the simpler choice, because you arrive at the shrine with the letter already in hand. Use the offline points as a backup.
Documents and special cases
What to carry and what the registration does not cover.
Documents
Carry a valid personal ID and the registration letter. Foreign visitors who book a puja show a passport and a valid visa as their ID.
Entry to the temple
New rules apply in 2026 for who may enter the temple if they are not followers of Hinduism; how they will be applied is still open. If you are not a Hindu, find out before you travel whether and how you can enter the temple.
Hemkund Sahib
Hemkund Sahib is part of the same free registration. The national park permit for the Valley of Flowers is a different step.
Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib →Puja and flights
A puja is booked on the temple committee's own service and requires a mobile number from India. A flight is booked with the operator or on the shuttle portal. Registration covers neither.
Darshan and puja →
Vehicles and drivers
The registration covers vehicles as well as people.
Vehicle registration
Register the vehicle on the same portal as the travelers. If a tour operator drives you, ask who completes this step.
Green card
The transport department describes the green card as a summary of fitness, route permit, tax, insurance and driving licence. Do not assume that every private rental car needs one, and ask the owner.
Driver hours
The transport guidance limits driver duty to 8 hours a day and asks you to check brakes, steering and tyres before the climb.
Night travel
An order for Char Dham routes bars travel and goods traffic between 22:00 and 04:00. Plan to reach your stop before dark.
Char Dham Yatra registration: frequently asked questions
Is the Char Dham registration free?
For travelers it costs 0 INR. Other items such as a green card or trip card, parking and puja are separate and can carry their own fees.
Can I register on arrival?
There are offline points in Haridwar, Rishikesh, Herbertpur and Nayagaon near Vikasnagar. Opening hours and daily capacity are not fixed, so registering online before you leave is the safer choice.
What do I need to show at the shrine?
A valid personal ID and the registration letter with the QR code. The darshan slot token is an additional step.
Does registration include a puja or a VIP pass?
No. A puja is booked separately, and registration does not reserve a puja, a flight or a faster line.
Do foreigners need a different registration?
The portal covers travelers in general. Foreign visitors should keep a passport and a valid visa with them as ID. The rules on entering the temple can change, so check them before you go.