3 days ago
Char Dham footfall rises post-slow start, still trails ‘24 figures
Dehradun: In the first 30 days of the Char Dham Yatra this year, around 17.17 lakh devotees visited the four revered Himalayan shrines — lower than the 19.5 lakh recorded in the same period last year.
Despite large-scale promotion and awareness drives, the initial turnout remained tepid.
Officials and tour operators said the numbers began rising after May 27, following a brief slump attributed in part to cancellations after the terror attack in Pahalgam. Even now, however, the footfall remains below last year's mark.
Adding to concerns is the recent spell of rain in the region, with the first half of June — typically the busiest phase of the Yatra — just around the corner.
Rakesh Ranjan, president of the Joshimath Hotel Association, told TOI, "Occupancy had dipped to 25–30% but has now improved to 70–75%. Still, it's below the levels seen in the past two years." He added that following the Pahalgam incident, May saw a wave of cancellations.
"Enquiries have started again, but everyone's praying that monsoon does not arrive early as people are reluctant to visit hills when it is raining," added Ranjan
Former Badri Kedar Temple Committee member Ashutosh Dimri said hotel data alone can't reflect true turnout. "Yes, numbers are lower this year, but the total number of hotels has also increased in the past decade," he said. "With summer vacations ongoing, the Yatra is expected to gain pace in coming weeks."
A local tour operator, who saw low demand since the portals opened on April 30, described the season so far as "average". "Cab bookings were limited in May. June has started better," he added.
