PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun The Tourism and Religious Affairs minister Satpal Magaraj has said that considering the huge response it is eliciting, the Char Dham Yatra this year is set to create a new record of pilgrim arrival. In a statement on Thursday, Maharaj said that more than 30 lakh pilgrims have so far registered for the Yatra and about nine lakh devotees have visited the Char Dhams. The minister said that the trend of the bookings at the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) guest houses is also encouraging. He informed that the devotees had started making online bookings for GMVN guest houses located on the Chardham Yatra routes from February 16, 2026 and till now bookings worth Rs 9,94,0124 have been made. The minister appealed to the pilgrims visiting the State for the Yatra that they should follow the government guidelines to make their journey safe and smooth. He said that online registration is available at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in or the TouristCareUK mobile app while the offline registration is available at counters in Rishikesh, Haridwar and Vikasnagar. The minister said that the QR codes will be scanned at checkpoints during the journey and the unregistered travellers will be turned away. The minister advised that the pilgrims above 50 years of age should undergo health screening at the health screening centre. He added that the pilgrims suffering from asthma, heart ailments or high blood pressure should only consult a doctor before embarking on the Char Dham Yatra. The minister cautioned that since Kedarnath and Badrinath are located at high altitudes the pilgrims should stay on the way to them for two to four days to get acclimatized. He added that the making video reels with mobile phones is prohibited in the temple complexes. Maharaj said that the pilgrims should maintain cleanliness and avoid carrying plastic during the Yatra.