New Delhi, Aug. 4 -- Uttarakhand is witnessing a sharp rise in pilgrim arrivals across several major religious destinations beyond the Char Dham circuit, with the state government attributing the trend to sustained investments in pilgrimage infrastructure, connectivity and temple development. According to official figures released by the state government, shrines including Jageshwar, Triyuginarayan, Dhari Devi and Purnagiri have recorded significant growth in visitor numbers during the first half of 2026, while the ongoing Char Dham Yatra is also heading towards another record year.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the state government is working towards establishing Uttarakhand as the "spiritual capital of the world" in line with...