Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : After a noticeable slip in the overall numbers of the Char Dham Yatra, the Kedarnath pilgrimage has demonstrated enormous economic potential in 2025. By the end of the first month after the commencement of the yatra on May 2, the region has witnessed a boom in tourism, spending upwards of 200 crore rupees across all sectors.
To date, more than 7 lakh pilgrims have reached the Kedarnath shrine, which is among the twelve Jyotirlingas, either on foot or using other means.
Major revenue earners from the Kedarnath Yatra
Hospitals and Hotels
Accommodation was over 100 crore.
Helicopter Services:
More than 33,000 pilgrims transported.
Revenue generated: 35 crores by end of may.
Mule and Horse Transport
Other 1.3 lakh riders were catered by this service.
Local earnings 40.5 crore.
GMVN Preparatory camp
Rest house reservations earned rest houses 3.8 crore.
The meditation cave has been popular ever since being advertised by PM Modi during his 2019 visit.
Dandi-Kandi (Palanquin) Service
Over 29,000 pilgrims made use of this.
Local Economy broadened by 1.16 crore.
More than 7000 registered workers were supported.
Regulations and Cleanliness Strategies
Service cleanliness and standards have been given utmost attention during the pilgrimage period. In order to ensure hygiene and proactive compliance:
More than ₹2.26 lakh has been collected from penalties with fines.
Char Dham Yatra Sees 31% Dip in 2025 Attendance
As per SDC Foundation’s data, the total footfall to the Char Dham shrines which include Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri from 30th April to 13th May is now at 6.62 lakh with a 31 percent decrease compared to last year when the figure was 9.61 lakh in the year 2024.
The founder of SDC Foundation, Anoop Nautiyal, explains that the drop can be linked to increased military activity after the Pahalgam terrorist attack in April. He mentions a decline in inter-state movement particularly from Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
Hopes for Recovery and Recommendations
Adding to the optimism, Nautiyal has noted that despite the slow start, this period between late May and early June generally receives high traffic from pilgrims.
He suggests the government of Uttarakhand:
Use the same template as the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
Start with public outreach programs.
Improving infrastructure.
Build confidence with safety campaigns.
SDC Foundation still underscores crowd control within the context of its 2024 report concentrating on:
Protocols for managing excessive crowds.
Measures to protect the environment.
Communication facilities.
Outlook for the Char Dham Yatra
While the pilgrimage is in progress, participants are monitoring whether the effective results from Kedarnath can offset the broader losses along the Char Dham circuit and restore faith in this iconic journey.
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