Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 31 Jan: The Uttarakhand Government has claimed that the Winter Yatra is gaining momentum in the state and that the hills in the state are no longer witnessing the usual silence during the winter months that traditionally follows the closure of the Char Dham portals. The state government has asserted that since the launch of the winter Yatra last year, the scenario in the hills has undergone visible transformation, with steady movement of pilgrims bringing a sense of vibrancy and positive energy.
It may be recalled that the winter yatra was first promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Uttarakhand a year ago. The Winter Yatra is now progressing at a rapid pace, and sustained efforts by the state government have helped the winter pilgrimage write a new chapter for the state.
The government has shared that the pilgrims from across the country and abroad are arriving in substantial numbers at winter abodes linked to the Char Dhams, including Pandukeshwar, Ukhimath, Mukhba and Kharsali. According to the figures given by the government, since the closure of the Char Dham portals this season, a total of 34,140 pilgrims have visited these winter pilgrimage centres. With nearly two and a half months of the winter yatra still remaining, the numbers are expected to rise further. This is the second consecutive year that the state government has successfully organised and conducted the winter pilgrimage at an official level. During the first edition of the winter yatra in 2024–25, as many as 73,381 pilgrims had arrived in Uttarakhand to participate in the initiative.
Among all winter pilgrimage centres, Ukhimath, the winter seat of Baba Kedarnath, has recorded the highest footfall. According to Special Officer of the Char Dham Yatra Management and Control Organisation, Prajapati Nautiyal, a total of 20,338 pilgrims have so far paid obeisance at Ukhimath. Jyotirmath has emerged as the second most visited destination, while a continuous flow of devotees is also being seen at Kharsali and Mukhba. Nautiyal said that, on average, around 1,000 to 1,500 pilgrims are arriving in Uttarakhand every day to visit the winter abodes of the Char Dhams.
The promotion of the winter pilgrimage has also led to increased activity at major tourist destinations across the state. The state government is making concerted efforts to attract a larger number of tourists to Uttarakhand during the winter season, with focused initiatives such as the Snow Leopard Tour and the Tour and Travels Conclave being taken forward in a planned manner.
Commenting on the growing response, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the winter pilgrimage is being conducted successfully for the second consecutive year. He said that the promotion of the winter yatra by PM Narendra Modi during his visit to Mukhba and Harsil, last year, has delivered meaningful results, with pilgrims from India and abroad now visiting Uttarakhand even during the winter months. Dhami said visitors are offering prayers at sacred sites while also experiencing the state’s natural beauty. He also asserted that the success of a year-round pilgrimage model is strengthening local livelihoods and generating employment. He also reiterated that the state government remains fully committed to further promoting the winter pilgrimage across Uttarakhand.
