Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday, 12 July 2026, spotlighted the Kukra Mai Temple in Bageshwar district, calling it a rare confluence of faith, nature, and spiritual peace nestled within dense Himalayan forests.

In his post, CM Dhami described the temple as situated amid thick groves of kafal (wild berries), deodar (Himalayan cedar), and cheed (pine) trees, and invited visitors to make a stop at the shrine whenever they travel to Bageshwar. Translating his appeal: 'You too, on your visit to Bageshwar, must seek the blessings of this sacred temple.'

Context

The Kukra Mai Temple sits within the forested highlands of Bageshwar, one of Uttarakhand's Himalayan districts that draws pilgrims as well as trekkers. The temple's setting — surrounded by dense forest and commanding a tranquil atmosphere — has made it a draw for both devout visitors and nature enthusiasts seeking off-beat destinations. CM Dhami noted that the shrine attracts devotees from the local community as well as tourists from across the country.

Policy Backdrop

Uttarakhand, branded as Devbhoomi (Land of the Gods), has for over a decade pursued a strategy of promoting lesser-known religious sites alongside the flagship Char Dham circuit. The intent is to spread tourist footfall beyond the four major pilgrimage towns and generate economic activity in remote districts. CM Dhami's social-media promotion of the Kukra Mai Temple fits squarely within this long-running policy of combining spiritual tourism with eco-adventure offerings.

The state has also positioned trekking as a year-round draw, and the Chief Minister's post explicitly flagged the temple as 'a popular and thrilling destination for trekking enthusiasts' — signalling an effort to attract adventure travellers alongside traditional pilgrims.

Stakeholders and Impact

Local communities in Bageshwar stand to benefit most directly from increased visitor interest, as higher footfall typically supports small hospitality businesses, guides, and transport operators in remote hill areas. Pilgrims seeking quieter alternatives to the crowded Char Dham route represent another key audience for this promotion. Trekking groups, both domestic and from other states, are a third constituency the post actively courts.

Digital outreach of this kind by the Chief Minister's office has become a regular feature of Uttarakhand's tourism communication strategy, amplifying sites that might otherwise receive limited visibility in mainstream travel circuits.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to whether the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board follows up with formal inclusion of the Kukra Mai Temple in district-level trekking or pilgrimage circuits, or announces improvements to trail access and basic amenities around the site. Sustained promotion of off-beat shrines such as this one could encourage the state to develop a dedicated forest-temple tourism cluster in Bageshwar, reinforcing Uttarakhand's identity as a year-round spiritual and adventure destination.