India, Aug. 4 -- Uttarakhand has witnessed a significant rise in the number of devotees visiting major temples beyond the Char Dham circuit this year, with shrines such as Jageshwar, Triyuginarayan, Dhari Devi and Purnagiri recording substantial growth in footfall, according to figures released by the state government.

An official statement said the increase reflects the state's efforts to develop Uttarakhand as a global spiritual destination through improved connectivity, infrastructure and tourism initiatives.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the government is committed to establishing Uttarakhand as the world's spiritual capital in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision. He said work is underway to improve roads, tran...