🗓️ Last updated: May 4, 2026
⚠️Critical — Do Not Skip This
Pilgrims aged 55 and above will be turned back at biometric registration checkpoints without a valid medical fitness certificate. There is no on-the-spot arrangement. Get your certificate at least 1 week before your yatra start date.
Who Needs the Medical Certificate?
❌ Must have certificate
• All pilgrims aged 55 years and above (mandatory)
• Any age with heart disease, diabetes, hypertension (strongly recommended)
• Pilgrims on blood thinners or cardiac medication
• Anyone with a history of high-altitude sickness
• Pilgrims with COPD, asthma, or respiratory conditions
✅ Certificate recommended (not mandatory)
• Pilgrims aged 40–54 with any health history
• First-time high-altitude travellers of any age
• Pilgrims who are overweight or sedentary
• Women who are pregnant or recently delivered
Exact Format — What the Certificate Must Say
Sample Certificate Format (Copy this for your doctor)
Date: [Date — must be within 30 days of yatra]
Patient Name: [Full name as on Aadhaar]
Age / DOB: [Age] years / [Date of Birth]
ID Proof: Aadhaar No. [XXXX XXXX XXXX]
"This is to certify that the above-named patient has been examined by me and is found to be physically and medically fit for high-altitude travel as part of the Char Dham / Kedarnath Yatra. The patient has been informed of the risks of high-altitude travel and has no contraindication to the same."
Current medications: [List any medications or "None"]
Blood Pressure: [Reading] | Heart Rate: [BPM]
Doctor Name: Dr. [Full name]
Qualification: MBBS [+ any specialisation]
Registration No.: [Medical council registration number]
Clinic/Hospital: [Name and address]
Signature + Stamp
Which Doctor Can Issue It?
✅Government MBBS Doctor (District Hospital, PHC)
Best option — stamp is widely accepted. Free or nominal charge. Long queue possible.
✅Private MBBS Doctor / General Physician
Most common option. Typically ₹200–500 consultation fee. Quick. Accepted everywhere.
✅Specialist — Cardiologist, Medicine, Physician
Ideal if you have a heart condition or BP. Their certification carries additional weight.
❌Ayurvedic / BAMS / Homeopathic Doctor
NOT accepted. Must be an allopathic MBBS practitioner only.
❌Dentist / BDS
NOT accepted. Dental degree is not relevant for medical fitness certification.
❌Nurse / Pharmacist
NOT accepted. Must be a licensed doctor with MBBS degree.
When to Get the Certificate
Get the certificate no more than 30 days before your yatra start date and at least 7 days before departure. Do not get it too far in advance — checkpoints may question a certificate dated 60+ days before travel.
If any correction is needed (wrong name spelling, missing information), you have time to go back to the doctor. Shiv Ganga Travels sends a reminder to all pilgrims 30 days before departure with the exact format the doctor should use.
What Happens Without the Certificate?
Biometric registration checkpoints at Sonprayag (for Kedarnath), Joshimath (for Badrinath), Barkot (for Yamunotri), and Uttarkashi (for Gangotri) check documents. A pilgrim aged 55+ without a valid medical certificate will be denied entry and must return to the nearest town.
There is no on-the-spot doctor at these checkpoints who can issue the certificate. There is no way to "explain your way through." The rule has been strictly enforced since 2023 and is even stricter in 2026 following several high-altitude health incidents in previous seasons.
We Guide All Our Pilgrims on the Certificate Process
Shiv Ganga Travels sends a pre-departure checklist 30 days before your yatra — including the exact certificate format for your doctor.