The Sindhu (Indus) river — counted among the holiest rivers in the Vedas — hosts the annual Sindhu Darshan Yatra at Leh in Ladakh every June. The Haryana Government gives Rs 20,000 as financial assistance to pilgrims from the state who undertake this yatra. In October 2026, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini raised the annual quota for this assistance from 50 to 100 pilgrims. This guide has the complete information on the Sindhu Darshan Yatra Scheme 2016 — how much assistance is given, who is eligible, how to claim it after the yatra, which documents are needed, and what is still unverified.
First, an important point: this scheme is NOT a free tour like the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana. Under the Sindhu Darshan scheme the government does not organise the journey in advance — pilgrims complete the yatra themselves, and claim the financial assistance afterwards. The claim must be filed within 2 months of completing the yatra. Anyone who misses this point can lose the assistance.
Scheme at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme name | Sindhu Darshan Yatra Scheme 2016 (listed on myScheme as “Sindhu Dharshan Yatra Scheme 2016”) |
| Department | Tourism Department, Government of Haryana |
| Yatra destination | Banks of the Sindhu river, Shey, Leh, Ladakh |
| Yatra timing | Every year in June (around Guru Purnima) |
| Financial assistance | Rs 20,000 per pilgrim (from October 2026, as per the Tourism Department) |
| Annual quota | 100 pilgrims per year (from October 2026; earlier 50) |
| Eligibility | Permanent resident of Haryana; yatra completed through the State/Central Government or a recognised Society |
| Nature of assistance | Claim after the yatra (reimbursement) — first the yatra, then the assistance |
| Claim deadline | Within 2 months of completing the yatra |
| Where to claim | Director, Tourism Department, Haryana, in the prescribed format Annexure A |
| Application fee | No fee is mentioned in the scheme |
| Online portal | Directions to create an online registration portal were given in October 2026; no confirmation that the portal has started as of 8 November 2026 |
| Contact | Haryana Tourism Corporation Ltd, SCO 17–19, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh — 0172-2702955 |
What is the Sindhu Darshan Yatra?
The Sindhu Darshan Yatra is an annual religious and cultural gathering on the banks of the Sindhu (Indus) river at Leh in Ladakh. The Sindhu is regarded as the mother river of Indian civilisation — the hymns of the Vedas are believed to have been composed on its banks. Every year in June, around Guru Purnima, pilgrims from across India gather at Sindhu Ghat to worship the river and affirm the message of national unity.
The yatra began in 1996, when the then Home Minister L. K. Advani launched the Sindhu Darshan Abhiyan; the first yatra was held in 1997. It has been held every year since. In 2026 it completed 30 years — and was celebrated for the first time as the Sindhu Kumbh.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Venue | Sindhu Ghat, Shey, Leh, Ladakh — on the banks of the Sindhu river |
| River | Sindhu (Indus) — originates in the Mansarovar region of Tibet |
| Timing | Every year in June, around Guru Purnima |
| Started | Sindhu Darshan Abhiyan in 1996; first yatra in 1997 |
| 2026 edition | 30th edition + first Sindhu Kumbh, 22–27 June 2026, Sindhu Ghat, Leh |
| Organiser | Sindhu Darshan Yatra Samiti |
| 2026 inauguration | On 23 June 2026 by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena; ambassadors from 8 countries attended |
How Much Financial Assistance is Given?
The Haryana Government currently gives Rs 20,000 as financial assistance to each eligible pilgrim who undertakes the Sindhu Darshan Yatra. This was stated by the Tourism Department’s Commissioner and Secretary, Dr Amit Agrawal, at a review meeting on 22 October 2026 at the Haryana Civil Secretariat, chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. In the same meeting, the annual quota was raised from 50 to 100 pilgrims. The announcement also said the per-pilgrim amount would remain unchanged despite the quota increase — meaning Rs 20,000 was already the current rate.
Please note: the original 2016 scheme text said the assistance was “50% of actual expenditure or Rs 10,000, whichever is less”. The October 2026 announcement only says “Rs 20,000 per pilgrim” — it does not confirm whether the old 50% condition still applies. This guide gives Rs 20,000 as the current amount; do confirm the 50% condition with the Tourism Department before filing a claim.
Amount History — From Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000
The assistance amount under this scheme has changed over time. The full history is as follows:
| Period | Assistance | Annual quota | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2015 | 50% of actual expenditure or Rs 10,000 (whichever less) | 50 pilgrims | PTI / Haryana Government announcement — first sponsorship of 50 pilgrims |
| 2016 | 50% of actual expenditure or Rs 10,000 (whichever less) | 50 pilgrims | Scheme formally notified as “Sindhu Darshan Yatra Scheme, 2016” |
| May 2026 | Rs 10,000 per pilgrim (as per the CM’s statement) | 50 pilgrims | The Tribune, 15 May 2026 — Rs 10,000 under the “Swarn Jayanti Sindhu Darshan Scheme” |
| October 2026 | Rs 20,000 per pilgrim | 100 pilgrims | Statement of the Tourism Commissioner; CM doubled the quota (22 October 2026) |
The exact date of the change from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 could not be verified — Rs 10,000 was still being reported in May 2026, and Rs 20,000 was reported in October 2026. So the change happened sometime between May and October 2026; no estimated date is given in this guide.
Eligibility — Who Can Apply?
As per the scheme guidelines, these conditions must be met to claim the financial assistance:
- Must be a permanent resident of Haryana — residents of other states cannot claim under this scheme.
- The yatra must have been completed through the State Government, Central Government or a recognised Society — a wholly private journey can be claimed only if its completion certificate is available.
- A yatra completion certificate must be submitted — this certificate is issued by the government or society through which the yatra was undertaken. No claim is accepted without it.
- Financial assistance is given to a pilgrim only once — anyone who has already received this assistance once cannot claim it again.
Age and income limits: no age limit or income limit is mentioned in the Haryana scheme text — neither a minimum nor a maximum age, nor any income condition. This is stated clearly because similar schemes in other states do carry such conditions (for example, in Madhya Pradesh income-tax payers are not eligible) — those conditions do NOT apply to Haryana’s scheme.
Who is Not Eligible?
- Anyone who is not a permanent resident of Haryana — residents of other states cannot claim under Haryana’s scheme.
- Anyone who does not have a yatra completion certificate — no claim is accepted without it.
- Anyone who has already received this financial assistance once — the once-only rule applies.
- Anyone who has not undertaken the yatra at all — assistance cannot be claimed without completing the journey; this scheme is not an advance payment before travel.
- Anyone who files the claim more than 2 months after the yatra — the claim window will have expired.
When is the Yatra Held?
The Sindhu Darshan Yatra is held every year in June, around Guru Purnima. In 2026, the 30th edition was held from 22–27 June 2026 at Sindhu Ghat, Leh — celebrated for the first time as the Sindhu Kumbh. The 2026 yatra is over.
| Year | Event | Status (as of 8 November 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Sindhu Darshan Utsav, June | Held |
| 2025 | Sindhu Darshan Yatra, June | Held |
| 2026 | 30th edition + first Sindhu Kumbh, 22–27 June 2026 | Held — the 2-month claim window ended ~27 August 2026 |
| 2027 | June 2027 (dates not announced) | Wait for the dates to be announced — no estimated date is given in this guide |
If you travelled in 2026, please note: if you went on the 22–27 June 2026 yatra and have not yet claimed, the 2-month window has passed. Whether a late claim will be accepted can only be confirmed by the Tourism Department — no guess is given in this guide. The next yatra will be in June 2027 — this guide will be updated as soon as its dates are announced.
How to Claim?
The most important point about this scheme is that the assistance comes after the yatra, not before it. First complete the journey, then file the claim. The claim must be filed within 2 months of completing the yatra, in the prescribed format (Annexure A), with the Director, Tourism Department.
Caution about the SARAL portal: some websites say “apply online via the Antyodaya-SARAL portal”, but no SARAL service for this scheme could be verified. On the contrary, in October 2026 the Chief Minister only directed officials to create an online registration portal for these three pilgrimage schemes — which means no such portal had started yet. So this guide does NOT give a SARAL apply process — the verified route is the offline claim. The guide will be updated as soon as the portal starts.
Claim Process — Step by Step
The complete claim process after the yatra is as follows:
- Complete the yatra: undertake the Sindhu Darshan Yatra through the State Government, Central Government or a recognised Society. Keep all travel bills, tickets and receipts safely — proof of expenditure will be needed for the claim.
- Get the completion certificate: obtain the yatra completion certificate from the government or society through which you travelled. This document is mandatory for the claim.
- Fill Annexure A: fill the application in the prescribed format (Annexure A) — applicant’s name, father’s/husband’s name, date of birth, complete present address, photograph and other details. The format is available with the scheme document on the Haryana Tourism Department website.
- Attach documents: attach all the documents listed below, along with a declaration that you have never claimed this financial assistance earlier and will not claim it in the future.
- Submit to the Director: submit the application to the Director, Tourism Department, Haryana, within 2 months of completing the yatra — office: Haryana Tourism Corporation Ltd, SCO 17–19, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh – 160017.
- Approval and payment: the Director verifies the documents and forwards the case to the Administrative Secretary, Tourism Department, Haryana, within 15 days; the financial assistance is released after approval.
Documents Required
These documents have to be submitted with the claim:
| Document | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Identity proof | Aadhaar card or any other photo identity proof |
| Address proof | Attested copy of the Permanent Residential Certificate (Domicile) of Haryana |
| Passport-size photographs | To be pasted on the application form (Annexure A) |
| Yatra completion certificate | From the State/Central Government or recognised Society — mandatory; no claim is accepted without it |
| Travel bills / receipts | Proof of actual expenditure — needed if the 50% condition applies |
| Declaration | Declaration that you have never claimed this financial assistance earlier and will not claim it in the future |
| Bank details | Account details for payment — the 2016 format paid by Demand Draft; the current payment mode is unverified, ask the department |
| Medical fitness certificate | If asked for in the scheme guidelines (Leh is a high-altitude region, so fitness matters) |
Note: the portal’s live form is final — any additional document asked by the department at the time of the claim will also have to be given.
Claim Approval Process
After the claim is submitted, the approval process runs as follows:
| Step | What happens | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Verification | The Director, Tourism Department, Haryana, verifies the application and documents | On receipt of the application |
| 2. Forwarding | The Director forwards the case to the Administrative Secretary, Government of Haryana, Tourism Department | Within 15 days |
| 3. Approval | The financial assistance is released after the Administrative Secretary’s approval | After approval |
| 4. Payment | As per the 2016 scheme text, the assistance was issued through a Demand Draft | After approval |
Caution about the payment mode: the 2016 scheme text says the assistance was issued by Demand Draft, but whether payment is made by DBT (directly into the bank account) or still by Demand Draft today could not be verified. Do ask the department about the payment mode when filing the claim. No RTS timeline is published for this scheme, so no official figure for how long approval takes is given in this guide.
Fee, Timeline and Status Check
| Subject | Status |
|---|---|
| Application fee | No fee is mentioned in the scheme — the claim is free |
| Claim deadline | Within 2 months of completing the yatra — this is the real “last date” of this scheme |
| Approval process | Director → forwards to the Administrative Secretary within 15 days → approval → payment |
| Payment | Demand Draft as per the 2016 text; current mode unverified — ask the department |
| Status check (online) | No online status portal verified — contact the department directly |
| Status check (offline) | Tourism Department, SCO 17–19, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh — phone 0172-2702955 |
| Last date | No permanent last date — a 2-month claim window follows every yatra; the 2026 yatra was held 22–27 June 2026, 2027 dates not announced |
| Frequency of benefit | Only once per pilgrim |
Online Registration Portal — New Direction
At the review meeting on 22 October 2026, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini directed officials to develop an online registration portal for the three pilgrimage schemes — Swarn Jayanti Guru Darshan Yatra, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and Sindhu Darshan Yatra. As per the announcement, financial assistance will be given only to pilgrims registered through the portal, so that the application process is transparent and eligible pilgrims get the benefit directly.
But as of 8 November 2026, the portal’s name, link or start date has not been announced — so no portal link is given in this guide. The guide will be updated as soon as the portal starts. Until then, claims have to be filed offline — do not pay money to any unofficial link or person in the name of the portal.
Preparing for the Journey — Before Going to Leh-Ladakh
Keep these points in mind before travelling for the Sindhu Darshan Yatra:
- Mind the altitude: Leh is about 3,500 metres above sea level. To avoid altitude sickness (AMS), rest for 1–2 days after arriving, drink plenty of water and take a doctor’s advice.
- Carry warm clothes: nights in Leh are cold even in June — carry warm clothes, sunscreen and sunglasses.
- Keep every bill and receipt: keep all travel tickets, hotel and transport bills safely — proof of expenditure will be needed for the claim.
- Get the completion certificate during the yatra: obtain the yatra completion certificate while you are there — it can be difficult to get later.
- Carry identity proof: carry your Aadhaar card and copies of your Haryana domicile certificate.
- Remember the claim deadline: the claim has to be filed within 2 months of returning — do not delay.
Understand the Difference — Sindhu Darshan vs Kailash Mansarovar vs Guru Darshan
Haryana’s three pilgrimage assistance schemes look similar — but the amounts and the yatras are different. After the October 2026 announcement, the quota for all three is 100 pilgrims each:
| Scheme | Assistance | Annual quota | Yatra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sindhu Darshan Yatra Scheme 2016 | Rs 20,000 per pilgrim | 100 | Sindhu river, Leh-Ladakh (June, Guru Purnima) |
| Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Scheme | Rs 50,000 per pilgrim | 100 | Kailash Mansarovar, Tibet (separate guide coming) |
| Swarn Jayanti Guru Darshan Yatra Scheme 2016 | Rs 20,000 per pilgrim | 100 | Guru Darshan pilgrimage (separate guide coming) |
| Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana | Free journey (3rd AC train, food, lodging) | As per batch | For senior citizens 60+; apply via SARAL (full guide on our website) |
One thing is common to the three assistance schemes: the assistance is claimed after the yatra, while under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana the government itself organises the journey.
Sindhu Darshan Assistance in Other States
Several states give assistance to their residents for the Sindhu Darshan Yatra. This table is for information only — Haryana residents can claim only under Haryana’s scheme, not under another state’s scheme:
| State | Assistance | Annual quota | Special condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | Rs 20,000 or actual expenditure (whichever lower) | Maximum 100 | Once in a lifetime; online application only |
| Bihar | 50% or Rs 20,000 (whichever lower) | Maximum 100 | Once in a lifetime; apply within 60 days of the yatra |
| Madhya Pradesh | 50% or Rs 10,000 (whichever lower) | Claim from the District Collector | Once in a lifetime; income-tax payers not eligible |
| Chhattisgarh / Gujarat / Rajasthan | Similar schemes run (as per PTI) | — | Details differ by state |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How much financial assistance is given under the Sindhu Darshan Yatra Scheme?
Currently Rs 20,000 per pilgrim — this was stated by the Tourism Commissioner on 22 October 2026. Earlier the assistance was Rs 10,000 (50% of actual expenditure or Rs 10,000, whichever was less). The annual quota is now 100 pilgrims, earlier it was 50.
2. Do I have to apply before the yatra?
No. Under this scheme you first complete the yatra, then file the claim within 2 months. There is no application before the journey — anyone talking about applying first is confusing this scheme with the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana.
3. Who can apply?
A permanent resident of Haryana who has completed the Sindhu Darshan Yatra through the State Government, Central Government or a recognised Society, and holds the yatra completion certificate. The assistance is given to a pilgrim only once.
4. Can I apply online via the SARAL portal?
Not verified. Some websites mention online application via SARAL, but no SARAL service for this scheme could be verified — and in October 2026 the Chief Minister only directed officials to create an online registration portal, which means the portal has not started yet. The verified route is the offline claim.
5. Can I still claim for the 2026 yatra?
The 2026 yatra was held on 22–27 June 2026; the 2-month claim window ended around 27 August 2026. Whether a late claim will be accepted can only be confirmed by the Tourism Department — no guess is given in this guide.
6. How many times can the assistance be availed?
Only once per pilgrim. Anyone who has received this financial assistance once cannot claim it again — a declaration to this effect also has to be given with the claim.
7. Is there any age or income limit?
No age limit or income limit is mentioned in Haryana’s scheme text. Similar schemes in other states do carry such conditions (for example, in Madhya Pradesh income-tax payers are not eligible), but those conditions do not apply to Haryana’s scheme.
8. How is the payment made?
As per the 2016 scheme text, the assistance was issued by Demand Draft. Whether payment is made by DBT today or still by Demand Draft could not be verified; do ask the department about the payment mode when filing the claim.
9. When is the next Sindhu Darshan Yatra?
The yatra is held every year in June, around Guru Purnima. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet — this guide will be updated as soon as they are. Check the dates from the Tourism Department or the Sindhu Darshan Yatra Samiti notice before travelling.
Official Links and Contacts
| Work | Link / Contact |
|---|---|
| Online registration portal | Directions to create it were given in October 2026; the portal had not started as of 8 November 2026 — no link is given |
| Scheme document (PDF) | haryanatourism.gov.in/WriteReadData/downloads/SindhuDarshanYatraScheme2016.pdf (the site did not open on direct check on 8 November 2026 — DNS/timeout; link given with a note) |
| Tourism Department (office) | Haryana Tourism Corporation Ltd, SCO 17–19, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh – 160017 |
| Phone | 0172-2702955 / 2702956 / 2702957, 0172-2720437 |
| [email protected] | [email protected] | |
| Website | haryanatourism.gov.in (did not open on direct check on 8 November 2026) |
| myScheme — Haryana schemes (list) | myscheme.gov.in/search/state/Haryana (the detail page is client-rendered and could not be read directly; also see the list page) |
| SARAL helpline | 0172-3968400 | Email: [email protected] (only for general SARAL portal queries) |
Related Guides — Also Read: Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana 2026: Free Pilgrimage for 60+ (Hindi guide — no English mirror yet) | Haryana Varanasi Amritsar Yatra 2026: Free Pilgrimage for 60+ Senior Citizens | Haryana Doubles Pilgrimage Assistance Quota: Guru Darshan, Kailash Mansarovar and Sindhu Darshan (Hindi news) | Haryana Old Age Samman Allowance 2026: Rs 3,200/Month
Disclaimer
This guide has been prepared on 8 November 2026 on the basis of available official sources — the Haryana Government’s Sindhu Darshan Yatra Scheme 2016 document, the Tourism Department’s October 2026 announcement (statement of the Tourism Commissioner), PTI reports from 2015–2016 and the myScheme portal’s Haryana list. The assistance amount, quota and online portal details may change over time — before filing a claim, do confirm the current information from the Tourism Department, Haryana (SCO 17–19, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh — 0172-2702955). Wherever sources differ or information is unverified, it has been stated clearly in this guide. Viksit Haryana is not an official portal of any government department.
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