Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday, 9 June 2026 urged visitors to Nainital district to make a stop at Shri Hanuman Dham in Ramnagar, describing the site as a rare spiritual destination where devotees can seek the blessings of multiple divine forms of Bajrang Bali.

Context

In his post, CM Dhami described Shri Hanuman Dham, Ramnagar as 'ek adbhut aur divya aadhyatmik sthal' — 'a wondrous and divine spiritual site.' He noted that the dham offers devotees the rare opportunity to witness 9 forms of Lord Hanuman and 12 sacred leelas associated with him, calling it a spiritually enriching experience. He concluded with a direct invitation: anyone visiting Nainital district should make a point to visit this sacred site.

Policy Backdrop

Uttarakhand, which markets itself as Devbhoomi — the 'Land of Gods' — has for over a decade pursued policies to expand religious tourism beyond the famous Char Dham circuit. State tourism drives since the mid-2010s have sought to develop secondary pilgrimage sites across districts, including Nainital, to distribute visitor footfall more evenly and boost local economies. CM Dhami, who has led the state since 2021, has been a consistent advocate of this approach, regularly using his social media platforms to highlight smaller but significant religious sites across Uttarakhand.

This pattern fits a broader strategy seen in several BJP-governed states, where official and semi-official channels are used to amplify the cultural and spiritual identity of the state while simultaneously driving domestic tourism revenue.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of increased attention to Shri Hanuman Dham are the pilgrims and devotees who visit Nainital district, as well as the local hospitality and tourism economy in Ramnagar. A chief ministerial endorsement on social media can meaningfully amplify a site's visibility among the large base of domestic spiritual tourists who follow state leaders online. Ramnagar is already a gateway town for Jim Corbett National Park, meaning it has existing tourism infrastructure that could absorb additional pilgrim traffic without major strain.

What's Next

The spotlight from CM Dhami raises the possibility of follow-up government action, such as infrastructure upgrades, improved signage, or organised pilgrimage events at Shri Hanuman Dham. As Uttarakhand continues to position itself as the foremost destination for spiritual tourism in northern India, secondary sites like this one may feature in formal tourism promotion campaigns or receive dedicated development funds. Whether this post is a precursor to a formal policy announcement remains to be seen.