Badrinath town in Uttarakhand has experienced uninterrupted snowfall for over two days since Friday evening, covering the sacred Badrinath Dham in a two-inch layer of snow. This revered site, one of the Char Dham pilgrimage destinations, transformed into a picturesque winter landscape, as captured in visuals reported by ANI.
The ongoing snowfall adds to the seasonal beauty of Badrinath, signaling the arrival of winter. Authorities recorded two inches of snow in the temple town during the persistent snowfall.
As per earlier announcements, the portals of Shri Badrinath Dham are scheduled to close for the winter season from November 18. The doors were opened for devotees on April 27 earlier this year, marking the beginning of the pilgrimage season.
Uttarakhand Police Headquarters reported that by October 16, the number of pilgrims visiting Char-Dham had surpassed 50 lakhs, with approximately 5,40,000 vehicles reaching the pilgrimage sites. The pilgrimage season saw significant footfall, with over 17,8000 devotees visiting Kedarnath Dham, 15,9000 visiting Badrinath Dham, 8,46,000 pilgrims at Gangotri, 6,94,000 at Yamunotri, and over 1,77,000 devotees at Hemkund Sahib.
The portals of Shri Gangotri Dham are scheduled to close for winter on November 14, followed by the closure of Shri Yamunotri Dham on November 15, according to an official statement from the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee. The changing weather and imminent closures mark the conclusion of this year’s pilgrimage season in the sacred Char Dham circuit.