Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday, 12 June 2026, took to X to spotlight the Maa Ulka Devi Temple in the border district of Pithoragarh, urging visitors to include the shrine in their itinerary when travelling to the region.

In his post, CM Dhami described the temple as 'shraddha aur vishwas ka ek divya kendra' (a divine centre of devotion and faith), noting that Maa Ulka Devi is revered by locals as the protector of the region. He added that the deity is believed to fulfil the wishes of devotees and grant them happiness, prosperity, and protection, closing with a direct invitation: 'Do visit this sacred temple when you come to Pithoragarh.'

Context

Pithoragarh is a border district in Uttarakhand's Kumaon division, situated close to the Indo-Nepal frontier and known for its dramatic mountain landscapes. While the district draws trekkers and nature enthusiasts, its religious sites have historically received far less organised promotion compared to the more prominent Char Dham pilgrimage circuit in the Garhwal region. The Maa Ulka Devi Temple, nestled amid the area's scenic terrain, is regarded locally as a wish-fulfilling shrine and a guardian deity site for the surrounding communities.

Policy Backdrop

Uttarakhand has positioned itself as Devbhoomi — the 'Land of Gods' — since its formation in 2000, with successive state governments weaving religious tourism into the core of the state's economic strategy. Under CM Dhami, who has been in office since 2021, the state has actively worked to extend tourism circuits into the Kumaon belt, spotlighting lesser-known temples and shrines in remote and border districts. Social media outreach by the Chief Minister's office has become a consistent tool in this effort, amplifying sites that lack the infrastructure or visibility of established pilgrimage destinations.

The broader push aligns with central government schemes aimed at developing religious and heritage tourism in border areas, where visitor footfall can also support local livelihoods and signal state presence in strategically sensitive zones.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of such promotional messaging are local communities in Pithoragarh — shopkeepers, homestay operators, priests, and guides — who stand to gain from increased pilgrim and tourist traffic. Devotees from across Kumaon and the broader Uttarakhand diaspora, who maintain strong ties to regional deity traditions, form the core audience for the post. State tourism operators may also see renewed interest in curating Kumaon temple circuits that bundle sites like Maa Ulka Devi with other attractions in the district.

What's Next

The post could precede a formal announcement from the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board regarding upgraded facilities or the inclusion of Maa Ulka Devi Temple in a promoted pilgrimage circuit. Visitor trends in Pithoragarh in the weeks following the Chief Minister's endorsement will be a practical indicator of whether social media promotion translates into measurable footfall. More broadly, the gesture reinforces a pattern in which CM Dhami uses his platform to keep border districts visible in the state's cultural and developmental narrative.