Short answer: Registration is mandatory for every pilgrim visiting Gangotri during the Char Dham yatra. It is free, done online on the Uttarakhand government's official registration and tourist care portal (registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in) or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app. You will need ID and your travel details, and the pass is checked at points along the route.
Gangotri registration at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is registration mandatory? | Yes, for all yatra pilgrims |
| Cost | Free |
| Where | Official Uttarakhand portal registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app; offline counters in Rishikesh and Haridwar in season |
| What you need | Photo ID (Aadhaar for Indians), mobile number, travel dates, vehicle details |
| Temple opens | Around Akshaya Tritiya (April/May) |
| Temple closes | The day after Diwali (Annakut), late October or November |
How to register, step by step
- Open the official portal or app - avoid agents who charge for a free service.
- Sign up with your mobile number and verify it.
- Add every traveller with their ID details.
- Choose the dhams you are visiting and your dates. Gangotri can be chosen on its own.
- Download the registration letter / QR code and keep it on your phone and on paper.
Rules are updated every year - for example on ID verification and daily pilgrim limits - so check the official portal for the current season.
Where it is checked
Registration is checked at checkpoints on the yatra route and at the dham. Without it you can be stopped. If you are staying in Harsil, keep it handy for the drive to Gangotri.
Tips for Gangotri pilgrims
- Go early. Staying in Harsil, 25 km below the temple, lets you reach before the queues. See where to stay for Gangotri.
- Mind the altitude. Gangotri is at about 3,100 m. Older pilgrims and anyone with heart, lung or blood-pressure conditions should get a medical check before travelling.
- Carry warm clothes even in May and June - mornings at the temple are cold.
- Avoid the monsoon. July and August bring landslides on the Gangotri road.
- After closing, the goddess is worshipped at Mukhba, across the river from Harsil, through the winter.
Read Gangotri from Harsil for the temple visit, plan the drive with Delhi to Harsil by road, and book a comfortable base at Harsil Village Resort.
Frequently asked questions
Is registration required for Gangotri?
Yes. Registration is mandatory for every pilgrim during the Char Dham yatra, including those visiting only Gangotri.
How do I register for the Gangotri yatra?
Online and free on the official Uttarakhand portal registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in or the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app. Offline counters also run in Rishikesh and Haridwar in season.
Is Char Dham registration free?
Yes. Official registration costs nothing; avoid anyone charging for it.
When does Gangotri temple open and close?
It opens around Akshaya Tritiya in April or May and closes the day after Diwali, in late October or November. Exact dates are announced each year.
Where is Ganga worshipped in winter?
At Mukhba village, across the Bhagirathi from Harsil, from the closing of Gangotri until it reopens in spring.