With tourist numbers soaring at Uttarakhand’s top religious and hill destinations, the state government is implementing strategic measures to control crowd pressure. Kainchi Dham, in particular, has recorded a 300% increase in visitors this year compared to previous years, prompting urgent intervention.
The tourism department plans to introduce a mandatory registration system at Kainchi Dham, modelled on the Char Dham Yatra framework. The move is aimed at regulating daily visitor flow and avoiding logistical chaos during peak seasons.
ANPR CAMERAS TO MONITOR DAILY INFLUX
To accurately count incoming vehicles and passengers, ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras are being deployed in both Kainchi Dham and Mussoorie. These cameras will record daily traffic, helping officials assess tourist load in real time and respond accordingly.
Tourism Secretary Dheeraj Singh Garbyal emphasised that the initiative is designed not just for tourists’ benefit but also to ensure ease of living for local residents. “We will coordinate with hotel and homestay owners, local bodies, and other stakeholders to maintain a balanced approach,” he said.
He also said that when it’s a Tuesday or the weekend, there is a significant increase in traffic, which causes inconvenience to both tourists and locals. That’s why we are currently conducting a study to get a clearer picture and find a suitable solution. At the same time, we are also assessing all hotels and homestays to get an estimate of the footfall.
He told us that ANPR cameras are being installed to understand which routes are experiencing the most traffic and to track how many people are coming for darshan (visits to the temple).
He also explained that a headcount of devotees is also being conducted within the temple premises, which is why a camera is being installed there. We have also assigned a team to conduct a survey to understand the difficulties tourists are facing. Only after this assessment will we initiate the registration process, depending on the need.
In a parallel move, the tourism department is compiling a detailed list of all hotels and homestays operating in both areas.
This will help authorities map available accommodations and plan future infrastructure development effectively.
The government’s objective is clear: to maintain the spiritual and ecological sanctity of Uttarakhand’s iconic destinations while providing a smooth, safe experience for visitors.
Authorities hope the new system will prevent overcrowding and enhance overall tourist satisfaction.
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