India, April 30 -- Once seen as a journey for the devout elderly, the Char Dham Yatra - a pilgrimage to the sacred shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath in Uttarakhand - is now experiencing a youthquake. This year, the Yatra kicks off on April 30 (today), with Yamunotri and Gangotri opening on Akshaya Tritiya, followed by Kedarnath on May 2 and Badrinath on May 4.

Millennials and Gen Z travellers are swapping party trails for pilgrimage paths, trading digital burnout for spiritual reset - and yes, they're taking their ring lights with them.

Call it wanderlust with a soul. The shift in travel motivations is being fuelled by better infrastructure, social media storytelling and a yearning for something deeper than selfies...