📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Post of India
Religion
Uttarakhand Char Dham Pilgrimage Records 5.688 million Pilgrims
✍️ The New Indian Express
🗓 08 Oct 2026, 04:36 AM
👁 9
The Char Dham yatra in Uttarakhand has crossed 56.88 lakh pilgrims, setting a new footfall record, according to The New Indian Express.
The annual Char Dham pilgrimage in Uttarakhand has reached a historic milestone, with pilgrim footfall crossing 56.88 lakh, the highest ever recorded for the circuit. The figure, reported by The New Indian Express, underscores the growing popularity of the four sacred sites – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath – among devotees across the country.
State tourism officials attribute the surge to improved infrastructure, better road connectivity and the easing of travel restrictions in recent years. The record number reflects both domestic pilgrims and a modest increase in foreign visitors seeking spiritual experiences in the Himalayas.
Authorities say the unprecedented crowd will require heightened safety measures, including additional medical camps and crowd‑management teams at the shrines. The record footfall also promises a boost to the local economy, benefitting hotels, transport operators and small businesses that cater to pilgrims.
While the exact duration of the count was not specified, officials confirmed that the tally surpasses the previous peak recorded in the last decade, marking a significant achievement for Uttarakhand’s religious tourism sector.
State tourism officials attribute the surge to improved infrastructure, better road connectivity and the easing of travel restrictions in recent years. The record number reflects both domestic pilgrims and a modest increase in foreign visitors seeking spiritual experiences in the Himalayas.
Authorities say the unprecedented crowd will require heightened safety measures, including additional medical camps and crowd‑management teams at the shrines. The record footfall also promises a boost to the local economy, benefitting hotels, transport operators and small businesses that cater to pilgrims.
While the exact duration of the count was not specified, officials confirmed that the tally surpasses the previous peak recorded in the last decade, marking a significant achievement for Uttarakhand’s religious tourism sector.