Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 18 : Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday reiterated the importance of strengthening pilgrimage and tourism activities to ensure the holistic development of Uttarakhand.
CM Dhami said that it is necessary to intensify pilgrimage and tourism activities in all areas for the overall development of Uttarakhand.
Referring to the state as Devbhoomi, he emphasised that every temple here holds unique religious significance.
"The state government is committed to enhancing basic infrastructure across all pilgrimage sites. Uttarakhand is Devbhoomi, here every temple has its own importance. The government is trying to develop basic facilities at all pilgrimage sites," said CM Dhami.
This year, the Chardham Yatra has seen a remarkable influx, with around 32 lakh pilgrims visiting the holy shrines so far.
Notably, devotees are increasingly exploring other temples and spiritual destinations alongside the main Chardham circuit. As a result, economic activity is expanding beyond the traditional pilgrimage routes.
As per an official release, during the current Yatra season, total registrations for Chardham and Hemkund Sahib have crossed 44 lakh.
Among them, Yamunotri has recorded 7,13,456 registrations, Gangotri 7,80,554, Kedarnath 14,43,513, Badrinath 13,36,923, and Hemkund Sahib 1,69,180.
Of these, nearly 32 lakh pilgrims have already completed their journeys, significantly boosting the local economy along these routes.
In line with this, CM Dhami has been actively promoting visits to lesser-known pilgrimage sites to further stimulate regional economic growth.
This strategy is already yielding results, with increasing footfall at temples like the Kartikeya Swami Temple in Rudraprayag and the Jagannath Temple in Uttarkashi.
Last year, approximately 4 lakh devotees visited the Kartikeya Swami Temple. This year, that number has surged past 10 lakh by mid-June. Similarly, the Jagannath Temple has welcomed 25,000 pilgrims so far.
This growing interest in peripheral pilgrimage sites is driving parallel growth in hospitality, transport, prasad offerings, and other related sectors, providing vital support to local livelihoods across the state.