PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
The Social Development for Communities (SDC) Foundation has stated that according to its analysis, a total of 6,62,446 pilgrims visited the Char Dham shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri between April 30 and May 13 this year. Comparatively, during the first two weeks of the Yatra in 2024 from May 10 to May 23, 9,61,302 people visited the Char Dham. This represents a decline of 298,856 pilgrims, or approximately 31 per cent.
The founder of SDF Foundation, Anoop Nautiyal said that this drop in numbers should not be viewed in isolation, but rather in the context of the current India-Pakistan situation. The recent conflict and military escalation have affected public sentiment and travel confidence. There has been a noticeable slowdown in interstate pilgrim movement, particularly from States such as Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and parts of Rajasthan. Given that the Char Dham Yatra relies heavily on interstate mobility and group travel, it has been directly impacted.
Nautiyal said that despite the slower start, he expects the Yatra to gain momentum in the coming days. Based on data trends from past years, the Yatra typically peaks in the second half of May and the first half of June. With security conditions anticipated to stabilise, the SDC Foundation expects a surge in footfall later in the month. Nautiyal stated that this period of low turnout should be regarded as a significant concern for the Uttarakhand government, which needs to take corrective measures promptly to instill confidence among local stakeholders involved in the Yatra. He pointed to the recent proactive steps taken by the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board in Jammu and Kashmir in response to the India-Pakistan conflict. They quickly launched awareness campaigns, improved on-ground facilities and reassured pilgrims through targeted communication. A similar response is needed in Uttarakhand, he emphasised.
He further said that SDC Foundation has called on the State government to convene immediate consultations with key stakeholders, including district administrations, temple boards, hoteliers, mule operators, travel agencies, local business groups and other involved parties. This collaboration aims to strengthen preparedness and enhance the overall experience for pilgrims. Given the significant drop of 3,00,000 pilgrims over the first two weeks, swift decisions are necessary.
Additionally, Nautiyal claimed that recommendations outlined in the SDC Foundation’s 2024 report titled “Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra: Pathways to Pilgrimage – Data Insights, Challenges and Opportunities,” should be implemented. The report called for clear protocols regarding carrying capacity, crowd regulation, environmental safeguards and real-time communication.
