Kedarnath pilgrim footfall rises steadily after PM Modi's meditation retreat
Synopsis
Kedarnath Dham has recorded over seven lakh pilgrims already in 2025, with Uttarakhand Minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary crediting PM Modi's high-profile meditation retreat at the shrine for a sustained surge in devotee footfall year after year.
Key Takeaways
Uttarakhand Minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary stated on 8 May 2025 that Kedarnath Dham pilgrim numbers have risen every year after PM Modi's meditation retreat there.
More than seven lakh devotees have already visited Kedarnath in 2025.
The state government has established hospitals and health assistance centres at short intervals along the pilgrimage route.
Chaudhary chaired a review meeting of all departments under his authority, with most reporting strong progress except Khadi Gramodyog .
The minister also criticised the Congress , claiming the party is losing public relevance and struggling on issues of popular interest.
Uttarakhand Minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary on Friday, 8 May 2025, said that the popularity of Kedarnath Dham has risen sharply both within India and internationally following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's well-publicised spiritual retreat at the shrine, with pilgrim numbers climbing every year since. More than seven lakh devotees have already visited Kedarnath this year alone, according to the minister.
Rising Pilgrim Numbers
Chaudhary, who also holds charge of the Rural Development, Small and Micro-Medium Enterprises, Khadi and Village Industries, and Language portfolios, attributed the surge in footfall directly to the prime minister's tapasya (meditation) at the shrine.
Point of View
But attributing it solely to Modi's 2019 meditation retreat overlooks broader infrastructure upgrades, improved road connectivity, and a post-pandemic rebound in domestic pilgrimage across India. The more substantive story is whether the state's health and logistics infrastructure can keep pace with a footfall that has now crossed seven lakh and is still climbing — a question the minister's own remarks about continuous hospital networking quietly acknowledges.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Kedarnath pilgrim footfall rising every year?
Uttarakhand Minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary has credited PM Narendra Modi's meditation retreat at Kedarnath as a key factor in boosting the shrine's popularity in India and abroad, with pilgrim numbers growing consistently each year since. The state government has also improved facilities, including hospitals and health assistance centres along the route.
How many pilgrims have visited Kedarnath in 2025 so far?
More than seven lakh devotees have already visited Kedarnath in 2025, according to Minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary's statement on 8 May 2025.
What infrastructure improvements has Uttarakhand made at Kedarnath?
The Uttarakhand government has established hospitals and health assistance centres at short distances along the pilgrimage route to ensure medical support for the growing number of pilgrims visiting Kedarnath Dham.
What did Uttarakhand Minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary say about Congress?
Chaudhary claimed that the Congress party is on the path of collapse, saying it is continuously struggling on issues of popularity and public interest and becoming increasingly irrelevant in public life and politics.
What was discussed at Bharat Singh Chaudhary's departmental review meeting?
The minister chaired a review meeting with officials from all departments under his authority, where progress reports of various schemes and projects were presented. He noted that most departments performed impressively, with Khadi Gramodyog cited as an exception requiring further attention.
