Regulating Char Dham Yatra for Sustainable Tourism

Context

More than 29,000 pilgrims visited Kedarnath, part of the Chota Char Dham Yatra circuit, clogging the mountain roads for hours.

Char Dham Yatra

The Char Dham Yatra consists of pilgrimage sites in Puri, Rameswaram, Dwarka, and Badrinath.

• Chotha Chardham Yatra: Chardham pilgrimage centers (Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri) in the Himalayas.

Solutions for Regulating the Char Dham Yatra

• Proposed Dharmik Yatra Authority: Many pilgrims were forced to turn back even before starting their journey. In response to the frustrated crowds, the Uttarakhand government announced it is seeking solutions and plans to establish a Dharmik Yatra Authority to regulate the pilgrimage.
• Reversal of Pilgrim Limit Decision: In 2023, under pressure from priests and tour operators, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami reversed his decision to impose a daily limit on the number of pilgrims just a day before it was to be implemented.
• Assessment of Town Capacity: The state formed a committee last year to assess the carrying capacity of tourist towns, excluding Kedarnath. This study must be conducted promptly.
• Enhancing Uttarakhand’s Tourism Strategy: Uttarakhand, akin to numerous other states, relies on tourism, offering activities from trekking to religious visits. 
  • To effectively utilize its natural resources, it should engage in comprehensive, long-term planning. This includes constructing climate-resilient infrastructure
  • Managing tourism while considering the state’s delicate ecology and employment requirements, and catering to the needs of high-net-worth individuals.

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Conclusion

States such as Kerala and Rajasthan have cracked the code somewhat by focusing on quality rather than quantity. Uttarakhand and others must follow suit. States will benefit from this pivot, as will India.