The mass gathering of pilgrims in Kanchi Dham last weekend demonstrated the growing religious tourism in the mountains. When the number of visitors to the Baba Neem Karauli shrine exceeded 50,000 people, the pressure on infrastructure, from roads to the temple premises, became evident. In response, Kumoon Commissioner Dipak Rawat initiated active measures.
The administration is now striving not just to react to arriving pilgrims, but to forecast their numbers in advance. As part of this effort, an organized and permanent crowd management system for Kanchi Dham has begun to be formed. During an important meeting chaired by Kumoon Commissioner Dipak Rawat, key issues concerning traffic, parking, pilgrim numbers, organization of the temple area, shuttle service, hotels and guesthouses, as well as matters related to the Shipra River and safety were discussed.
The unexpected surge in pilgrims to Kanchi Dham over the past weekend placed a significant strain on adjacent roads, parking lots, and the transport system, as more than 50,000 people arrived at the shrine. Kanchi Dham attracts not only tourists from Nainital but also followers of Baba Neem Karauli from across the country. The number of pilgrims suddenly increases manifold on weekends, holidays, and special days. This is why the administration plans to implement a pre-forecasting system instead of waiting for crowds to gather.
Possible introduction of registration before visiting Kanchi Dham
One of the most important proposals put forward at the meeting was the registration of pilgrims. The administration believes that knowing in advance how many people will arrive on a given day will allow for appropriate organization of parking, traffic movement, shuttle buses, security, and the temple area. To this end, the DM and SSP will send a joint recommendation to the government regarding the introduction of mandatory pilgrim registration. This plan is currently a proposal, and the final decision will depend on a government order. The goal of this system is not only to limit the crowd but also to prevent the impact of the growing congregation in Kanchi Dham on the Bhawali-Almoda highway, which is critically important for residents not only of Almoda but also of mountain regions such as Bageshwar and Pithoragarh.
A limit of 20-25 thousand pilgrims is considered a manageable limit
During discussions, the administration established a temporary managed limit of 20–25 thousand pilgrims. However, this is not a final number and may be changed depending on circumstances, available facilities, and future improvements. Thus, in the future, the focus will be on regulating the number of pilgrims in Kanchi Dham according to available resources.
Separation of temple entry and exit
It was decided that the risk of congestion increases when people enter and exit through a single point simultaneously. To solve this problem, an agreement was reached to separate the entry and exit zones within the temple premises. Kumoon Commissioner Dipak Rawat believes that directing pilgrim movement in one direction will reduce the likelihood of collisions, lessen the pressure on the temple area, and simplify evacuation in case of an emergency. This change is considered highly significant for crowd management in a religious place, as there are many elderly people, women, and children among the visitors.
Crowd management meetings will now be held before every weekend
Administrative meetings in Kanchi Dham will now take place not only during major religious events. Due to the rapid increase in the number of pilgrims even on regular weekends, the system will be adjusted. Meetings at the SDM, CO, and ARTO levels will now be held before every weekend to review the situation. At these meetings, the expected number of visitors for the upcoming weekend, the condition of parking, the required level of shuttle service, and the possibility of rerouting traffic on specific routes will be assessed. If the influx of pilgrims increases, the launch of shuttle services from Bhawali and surrounding areas is planned. KMOU and the Transport Department will play a key role in this process.
Problems may arise due to lack of hotel booking
Kumooon Commissioner Dipak Rawat appealed to pilgrims with an important request: to come to Kanchi Dham only after making a prior reservation for a hotel or accommodation. The lack of a booking leads vehicles to circulate aimlessly in search of a hotel or guesthouse, which increases unnecessary traffic and pressure on parking lots. Therefore, a hotel booking check may be introduced. The administration's goal is not to inconvenience pilgrims but to control the suddenly growing traffic flow.
Tightening control over bike taxis
Complaints regarding the use of motorcycles as taxis and the rental of private motorcycles were also presented at the meeting. The administration issued directives to take action against such cases related to illegal commercial use.