Kedarnath Yatra 2025 generates Rs 200 crore in one month despite 31% dip in Char Dham pilgrimage

Kedarnath Yatra 2025

Even as the overall Char Dham Yatra 2025 records a significant dip in footfall, the Kedarnath pilgrimage alone has sparked a surge in economic activity, generating an estimated Rs 200 crore in business within just a month.

The Kedarnath Yatra began on May 2 with the ceremonial reopening of the temple. Since then, over 7 lakh pilgrims have made the arduous 20-km journey on foot or by alternate means to reach the sacred Himalayan shrine, one of the twelve revered Jyotirlingas.

According to local estimates, the hospitality sector has been the biggest gainer, clocking nearly Rs 100 crore in revenue from hotel stays and bookings. Helicopter services have also seen a jump, transporting about 33,000 devotees and earning Rs 35 crore by May-end.

Mule and horse services, a traditional yet essential mode of transport in the region, have fetched around Rs 40.5 crore by ferrying over 1.3 lakh pilgrims up the steep terrain. Meanwhile, the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) earned more than Rs 3.8 crore through rest house bookings and reservations for the popular meditation cave made famous by PM Modi in 2019.

The Dandi-Kandi service (hand-carried palanquins for those unable to trek) also saw a significant revival. With more than 29,000 users this season, the service added Rs 1.16 crore to the local economy, providing employment to over 7,000 registered operators.

While Kedarnath alone shows encouraging economic signs, officials have taken measures to ensure hygiene and operational compliance. Over Rs 2.26 lakh in fines have been imposed on violators found breaching cleanliness and service norms.

These figures come at a time when the Char Dham Yatra as a whole is facing a 31% decline in footfall compared to 2024. According to the SDC Foundation, only 6.62 lakh pilgrims visited Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri between April 30 and May 13, down from 9.61 lakh during the same period last year.

Anoop Nautiyal, founder of the SDC Foundation, attributed the slump in numbers to heightened military tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack in April. “There has been a perceptible dip in interstate pilgrim traffic, particularly from regions like Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, and parts of Rajasthan,” he said, citing fear and travel hesitancy as key factors.

However, Nautiyal remains hopeful that the second half of May and early June may witness improved footfall. “Historically, the Yatra sees its peak during this period. If tensions ease, we could see a rebound,” he added.

He also urged the state government to take proactive steps similar to those implemented by the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, including public outreach, infrastructure upgrades, and assurance campaigns to regain pilgrim confidence.

The SDC Foundation has once again stressed the need for implementing the recommendations from its 2024 report on the Char Dham Yatra, which called for strict protocols on crowd control, environmental safeguards, and real-time communication strategies.

As the Yatra continues, stakeholders are watching closely to see whether Kedarnath’s commercial success can offset the broader slump across the Char Dham circuit and restore confidence in one of India’s most significant spiritual journeys.