Uttarakhand Moves Closer to Becoming the Global Spiritual Capital as Pilgrim Footfall Surges Across Major Shrines
Jageshwar and Triyuginarayan witness 2.5-fold rise in devotees; Dhari Devi doubles, Purnagiri records 1.5-fold increase
Dehradun, August 3, 2026: Uttarakhand is rapidly advancing towards its vision of becoming the Spiritual Capital of the World, with an unprecedented rise in pilgrim arrivals not only at the Char Dham shrines but also at several other major temples across the state.
The significant increase in footfall reflects the success of the state government’s sustained efforts to strengthen religious tourism through improved infrastructure, enhanced connectivity, better pilgrimage facilities, and integrated tourism development under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
According to the Uttarakhand Tourism Department’s January–June 2026 data, several prominent temples witnessed remarkable growth in visitor numbers compared to the corresponding period last year.
Char Dham Yatra Creates New Milestones
The Char Dham Yatra continues to set new records in 2026. Within the first 105 days, a total of 4,584,375 pilgrims visited Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, making it one of the most successful pilgrimage seasons in the state’s history.
Jageshwar and Triyuginarayan Register 2.5 Times Growth
The ancient Jageshwar Dham in Almora welcomed 174,119 devotees during the first six months of 2026, compared to 67,875 during the same period in 2025.
Similarly, Triyuginarayan Temple in Rudraprayag—believed to be the sacred site where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were married—recorded 340,385 pilgrims, up from 136,120 last year.
Dhari Devi and Purnagiri Continue Upward Trend
The revered Dhari Devi Temple near Srinagar attracted 542,626 devotees, almost double last year’s figure of 283,275.
Meanwhile, Purnagiri Dham in Champawat welcomed 2,091,788 pilgrims by June 2026, compared to 1,435,290 during the same period last year.
Kainchi Dham Witnesses Massive Spiritual Tourism Boom
Nainital’s famous Kainchi Dham has emerged as one of Uttarakhand’s biggest spiritual attractions. Between January and June 2026, the shrine received 2,434,507 devotees, including over 866,000 visitors in June alone, setting an all-time record.
Adi Kailash Records Historic Growth
Pilgrim arrivals at Adi Kailash in Pithoragarh have increased dramatically. Within just two months of the pilgrimage season, 52,441 devotees visited the sacred shrine before the yatra was suspended on July 1 due to the monsoon.
The shrine has witnessed exponential growth since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit in 2023. Annual pilgrim numbers rose from fewer than 2,000 before 2022 to 10,025 in 2023, 29,352 in 2024, 36,526 in 2025, and 52,441 within two months in 2026.
Yamunotri Sets an All-Time Record
Despite its challenging trekking route, Yamunotri Dham achieved its highest-ever pilgrimage count.
By August 2, 2026, 654,958 devotees had visited the shrine, surpassing all previous records.
Badrinath Poised for Another Historic Season
As of July 31, marking 100 days of the pilgrimage season, 1,552,021 devotees had visited Badrinath Dham, compared to 1,240,408 during the same period last year—an increase of 311,613 pilgrims.
Rishikesh-Tapovan-Shivpuri Also Attract More Visitors
The spiritual and adventure tourism belt comprising Muni Ki Reti, Tapovan, and Shivpuri received 1,597,439 visitors during January–June 2026, compared to 1,362,600 last year.
Other revered temples, including Kartik Swami and Surkanda Devi, also recorded a healthy increase in pilgrim arrivals.
Vision for a Global Spiritual Capital
The Uttarakhand Government is developing ancient temples through the Manaskhand Mandirmala Mission, improving pilgrimage infrastructure, expanding road connectivity, modernizing transport facilities, and integrating religious destinations into tourism circuits.
These initiatives aim not only to promote spiritual tourism but also to generate employment, strengthen local economies, boost homestays, preserve cultural heritage, and enhance livelihoods across the Himalayan state.
Chief Minister’s Statement
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the government is fully committed to realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of establishing Uttarakhand as the Spiritual Capital of the World.
He stated that continuous efforts are being made to develop ancient temples, strengthen infrastructure, improve accessibility, and provide world-class facilities to pilgrims while preserving the state’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage.
