Over 34,000 pilgrims visit Char Dham winter seats in Uttarakhand since shrine closure

The winter pilgrimage in Uttarakhand, which began last year, has gained momentum, with over 34,000 pilgrims visiting the winter seats of the Char Dham shrines since their closure, according to a government statement.

The winter pilgrimage in Uttarakhand, which began last year, has gained momentum, with over 34,000 pilgrims visiting the winter seats of the Char Dham shrines since their closure, according to a government statement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the state a year ago to promote the winter pilgrimage, and it is now progressing rapidly, it said. The desolation often seen in the mountains after the closure of the four shrines -- Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri -- for the winter season has been replaced by the hustle and bustle of the pilgrimage to the winter seats associated with the four shrines, such as Jyotirmath, Ukhimath, Mukhwa, and Kharsali. According to the release, 34,140 pilgrims (from India and abroad) have visited these places since the closure of the Char Dham shrines this year, with more visitors expected for another two and a half months. This pilgrimage was initiated in the year 2024-25, and 73,381 pilgrims visited Uttarakhand during the winter pilgrimage that year. Dr Prajapati Nautiyal, Special Officer of the Char Dham Yatra Management and Control Organisation, said that so far, the highest number of pilgrims, 20,338, have visited Ukhimath. He said that after Ukhimath, pilgrims have visited Jyotirmath, Kharsali, and Mukhwa. He said that around 1,500 pilgrims visited these sites daily. In this regard, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that the prime minister's visit to Mukhwa and Harshil to promote the winter pilgrimage has yielded positive results, and the pilgrimage is successfully continuing for the second consecutive year. Dhami said, ''People from across the country and the world are visiting Uttarakhand even during the winter months to see the holy sites and experience the natural beauty of the region. The success of year-round tourism is also boosting employment opportunities for the local people.''

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