Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, took to X to highlight the spiritual and religious significance of Shri Hanuman Temple at Hanuman Ghat on the banks of the Ganga in Haridwar, urging devotees visiting the holy city to make a point of offering prayers at the site.

In his post, written in Hindi, CM Dhami described the temple as a principal centre of unwavering faith, devotion, and reverence — 'अटूट आस्था, श्रद्धा और भक्ति का प्रमुख केंद्र' (a principal centre of unbreakable faith, reverence, and devotion). He noted that a large number of devotees arrive daily at the site to offer prayers and experience spiritual peace and energy. He concluded with a direct invitation: 'When you visit Haridwar, do make sure to seek the blessings of this sacred temple.'

Context

Hanuman Ghat is one of Haridwar's historic ghats situated along the sacred Ganga riverbank. The Shri Hanuman Temple located here is considered a significant devotional landmark, drawing a steady stream of pilgrims who visit the city year-round for its religious atmosphere and the famous evening Ganga Aarti. Haridwar is among India's most prominent Hindu pilgrimage destinations, serving as a gateway to the Char Dham shrines of Uttarakhand.

Policy Backdrop

The Uttarakhand government has, since the early 2010s, actively promoted religious tourism infrastructure around Haridwar's ghats and the broader Char Dham corridor. CM Dhami, who has helmed the state since 2021, has consistently used his official social media presence to spotlight pilgrimage sites, positioning them as part of the state's year-round religious tourism strategy. Indian state governments routinely leverage official platforms to amplify the visibility of sacred sites, blending cultural promotion with tourism outreach.

Stakeholders and Impact

The post directly addresses the large community of pilgrims and spiritual tourists who visit Haridwar throughout the year. The Uttarakhand tourism and hospitality sector, which depends heavily on footfall at religious sites, benefits from such high-visibility endorsements by the Chief Minister. Local temple trusts, priests, and the broader ghat economy around Hanuman Ghat are among those who stand to gain from increased devotee awareness.

What's Next

With Uttarakhand continuing to position itself as India's foremost religious tourism destination, attention will remain on infrastructure development at Haridwar's ghats and preparations for the next Ardh Kumbh or Kumbh Mela cycle. The Chief Minister's social media engagement with individual temples and ghats signals an ongoing effort to sustain pilgrim interest beyond the peak Yatra season and keep Haridwar's sacred sites in the national conversation.