In 2019 Uttarakhand government approved a new bill which created Char Dham Devasthanam Board by calling off the Uttarakhand Char Dham Shrine Management Bill. The bill was aimed at bringing the Char Dham of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri and 49 other temples under the purview of a proposed shrine board.
The bill was passed in the Assembly and became the Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Act, 2019.
The Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam authority oversees temple administration, crowd management, and pilgrim facilities to ensure smooth conduct of the annual yatra season.
Under the same Act, the Chief Minister is the chairman whereas the minister for religious affairs is the vice-chairman of the board. Two MLAs of Gangotri and Yamunotri are members on the board along with the Chief Secretary. A senior IAS officer is the Chief Executive Officer.
Under this board, at present there are 53 temples, including four shrines of Char Dham – Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri – and other temples located around these shrines.
The shrine board is the highest governing body for the management of the temples with powers to frame policies, make decisions to give effect to the provisions of this Act, of budget formulation and to sanction expenditure, among others. The board may also give directions for the safe custody, prevention and management of funds, valuable securities, jewellery and properties vested in the temples.
There are 58 other temples in Uttarakhand which comes under Char Dham area. Following are some of the temples/pilgrimage places which are under Devasthanam board.
Earlier, the Shri Badrinath-Shri Kedarnath Act, 1939 was in place for the management of two shrines – Badrinath and Kedarnath – and 45 temples by Shri Badrinath- Shri Kedarnath Mandir Samiti. The Samiti was chaired by a government appointed person whereas an official of all India service used to be the CEO.
Earlier, All the decisions related to utilization of the donations, funds and development works in and around those 45 temples including Badrinath and Kedarnath were taken by that committee and the government did not intervene into it.
This board has faced many protests from various priests and pandas. People holding different responsibilities in the Char Dham temples came under the banner of the Char Dham Mahapanchayat Hakukdhari to raise voice against the Bill. Pandas, Dimris and others who run dharmshalas and shops at the Badrinath and Kedarnath shrines staged protests in Dehradun. They alleged that with the shrine board, the government will get control of the entire area and donations.
Following is the list of Devasthanam Management Board Members (as of 9 June 2021)
Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister Uttarakhand
Chairman
Shri Satpal Maharaj, Tourism Minister Uttarakhand
Vice Chairman
Shri Mahendra Bhatt,
Member
Shri Sukhbir Singh Sandhu (IAS),
Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand : Member
Shri Amit Negi (IAS),
Secretary, Medical Health and Medical Education, Uttarakhand : Member
Shri Dilip Jawalkar (IAS),
Secretary Tourism, Uttarakhand : Member
Shri Ravinath Raman (IAS),
CEO
Shri Shrinivash Posti,
Member
Shri Ashutosh Dimri,
Member
Shri Govind Singh Panwar,
Member
Shri Anant Ambani,
Member
H.H. Maharaja Shri Manujendra Shah Sahib,
Member
Shri Kripa Ram Semwal,
Member
Shri Jayprakash Uniyal,
Member
Shri Mahendra Sharma,
Member
*Note: The above list was updated on 20 September 2021
8 Members added in Devasthanam Board
In the midst of the demand for reconsideration regarding the Uttarakhand Chardham Devasthanam Management Board, the government has nominated eight members to the board. These include three industrialists and five pilgrimage priests.
Industrialists Anant Ambani, Sajjan Jindal and Mahendra Sharma have been made members on the board in the category of donors having special interest in Hindu religious matters. Along with this, the five teerth priests who have been included as members in the board to represent the priests and hereditary priests, include Srinivas Posti, Jaiprakash Uniyal, Kriparam Semwal, Govind Singh Panwar and Ashutosh Dimri.
Head Office
Saket, Lane No-7,
Canal Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Office related Enquiry - 0135-2741600
General Enquiry & Online Prasad Services - will be updated soon
Pilgrims Help Line for Shri Kedarnath Temple - will be updated soon
Pilgrims Help Line for Shri Badarinath Temple - will be updated soon
Online Services/International Pilgrims Help Line : will be updated soon
Media Related Quarry - will be updated soon
Publicity Office Rishikesh - 0135-2430261
Shri Narsingh Temple Joshimath - +91-1389-222083
Official Website of Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board: badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in
Below are some frequently asked questions to guide on Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board:
Q: What is the Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board?
A: The Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board (CDMB) is a government-authorized body set up to manage and maintain the administration, infrastructure, and services at the four key pilgrimage sites of the Char Dham Yatra — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The board works to ensure smooth pilgrimage experiences for devotees by improving facilities, crowd management, and overall yatra safety.
Q: Why was the Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board formed?
A: The Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board was formed to bring uniformity and efficiency in the management of Char Dham temples and related services. Earlier, multiple authorities managed different parts of the yatra. CDMB centralizes planning and implementation of development works, welfare activities, and temple administration to provide better facilities to pilgrims and streamline overall operations.
Q: Which temples are managed by the Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board?
A: The Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board primarily oversees the management of the four major shrines of the Char Dham Yatra — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. It also manages other associated temples and pilgrimage sites along the yatra route as per government notification, ensuring upkeep of infrastructure, toilets, pathways, and basic amenities for pilgrims.
Q: How does the Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board help pilgrims?
A: The Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board helps pilgrims by improving facilities like parking areas, rest zones, clean drinking water, bathrooms, emergency medical care, and better crowd control measures at key locations. Through systematic planning and resource allocation, CDMB works to create a safer and more comfortable pilgrimage experience for everyone, including senior citizens and first-time travelers.
Q: Does the Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board handle registration and permits?
A: Yes, the Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board plays a role in coordinating pilgrimage registrations and permits for the Char Dham Yatra. While online registration (such as for Kedarnath and Badrinath mandates) is carried out through designated government portals, CDMB supports the process by ensuring that key checkpoints and validation systems are in place along the yatra route.
Q: How does the Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board maintain temple facilities?
A: The Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board maintains temple facilities by allocating funds and resources for regular cleaning, repairs, sanitation, road and pathway improvements, drinking water supply, waste management, and accommodation support where applicable. The board works with local authorities and volunteers to enhance the infrastructure and keep the pilgrimage sites well maintained throughout the yatra season.
