3,834 Pilgrims In 40 Days: Winter Char Dham Yatra Puts Uttarakhand In The Spotlight
The Winter Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand has become a strong winter story this year. In just forty days, 3,834 pilgrims visited the cold-season shrines across the hills. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the state in his radio programme, winter travel gained fresh energy.
Winter Shrines Record Steady Devotee Flow
The winter pilgrimage began once the main Char Dham temples closed for snow this year. Gangotri shut on October 22, and Yamunotri and Kedarnath closed on October 23. Badrinath closed later on November 25 after the last batch of pilgrims returned. The winter yatra started on October 24 and kept the doors of faith open for devotees.
Pilgrims now travel to the winter seats that host the deities during heavy snow. According to official data, 2,290 devotees have visited the Omkareshwar winter yatra at Ukhimath. This temple serves as the winter home of Kedarnath and draws the highest crowd.
Another 1,165 pilgrims reached the Mukhba winter shrine near Harsil, the winter home of Gangotri. A total of 379 devotees visited the Kharsali winter pilgrimage that hosts the idol of Yamunotri. On December 2, 235 pilgrims joined this Uttarakhand winter pilgrimage, which showed strong interest despite the cold.
Mann Ki Baat Pushes Winter Tourism Plans
The recent PM Modi Mann Ki Baat’s Uttarakhand segment gave tourism in the state a clear lift. The Prime Minister praised the clean air, snow-covered slopes, and calm temples of Uttarakhand. He asked people across India to visit the Himalayan valleys even during the cold season.
He also highlighted winter travel, wedding events, and sports as strong ways to support local workers. He mentioned hill spots such as Auli, Munsiyari, Dayara, and Chopta that now attract more winter visitors.
Officials highlighted special races and mountain sports that are gaining fans in the region. One such event, an Uttarakhand high-altitude marathon, tested runners on steep village routes near the snow. These events now form an important part of Uttarakhand adventure sports tourism in the state.
State Builds Action Plan Around Winter Push
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami thanked the Prime Minister for the support during the address. He called him the biggest face of tourism in Uttarakhand and shared plans for the season.
The focus of Pushkar Singh Dhami's winter tourism work remains on winter pilgrimages, sports, and wedding tourism together. Officials are working on better roads, smoother transport, and basic facilities for visitors in remote districts. The state has also introduced a new homestay policy that supports local hosts and small village homes.
The government now promotes Uttarakhand wedding destination tourism, mainly along the banks of the Ganga River. Many couples prefer small ceremonies in the clear winter light with the mountains as a calm backdrop. This wider push, along with the winter yatra, is expected to boost Uttarakhand tourism.
Winter Yatra Opens Quieter Paths For Faith And Income
For devotees, the Uttarakhand winter pilgrimage now means quieter temple visits and a more peaceful time near the shrines. The colder season brings fewer crowds, so worshippers can spend longer moments during prayer and rituals.
For people in the hill districts, the Winter Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand also keeps local business owners active in winter. Tea stalls, shops, lodges, guides, and homestays see steady guests instead of silent streets and empty rooms. As the season moves forward, officials hope that this cold weather yatra will maintain high faith and stable incomes.
