Overview
Every pilgrim going to Kedarnath must register for the Char Dham Yatra before travelling, children included. Registration is free, and the only official site is run by Uttarakhand Tourism. This guide covers online registration first, then the counters along the route, then the questions pilgrims ask us most.
The government portal charges nothing. Websites and agents asking for a "registration fee" are not official — check that the address ends in .uk.gov.in before you type any personal details.
Option 1 — Online registration
Register on the official portal, registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in. It takes about ten minutes for a family.
Sign up with a mobile number and verify it with the OTP the portal sends.
Start a new tour, pick your travel dates and select Kedarnath (add any other dhams you are visiting).
Enter each traveller's name, age and contact details, with a photo and a photo ID such as Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence. Each person, including children, is registered individually.
Once submitted, the portal issues a registration letter with a QR code for your group. Download it and keep it on your phone.
Keep a printed copy as well. The QR code is checked at points along the route, and you will need your registration number (URN) to book a helicopter.
Option 2 — Offline registration
If you cannot register online, counters open along the route a few days before the yatra season begins.
Haridwar (railway station, Rahi Hotel), Rishikesh (ISBT, RTO office) and, on the Kedarnath road, Guptkashi, Phata, Sonprayag and Gaurikund.
Carry the original photo ID of every pilgrim in your group. Counters get long queues in May and June, so allow time, and register online if you can.
Pilgrims without a valid registration can be stopped at checkpoints at Sonprayag and on the route. Sort it out before you leave home.
FAQ
Yes. Registration on the official portal and at government counters costs nothing.
Online registration is usually issued as soon as you submit. At a counter it depends on the queue — anywhere from minutes to a few hours in peak season.
Yes. Every pilgrim must be registered individually, whatever their age.
Yes, at the offline counters in Haridwar, Rishikesh, Guptkashi, Phata, Sonprayag or Gaurikund. Online registration before you travel is still quicker.
No. Registration is a travel record for the yatra. Your stay is booked separately, and darshan is in the queue at the temple.