In the four days since the Badrinath shrine was reopened to the public on May 5, at least 13,500 pilgrims have visited this shrine so far. On the other hand, about 2,300 people have visited Kedarnath shrine since it was reopened to the public on May 4. The number of pilgrims reaching these shrines this year is considerably less compared to the number of arrivals in the corresponding period last year. The decrease in the number of visitors is attributed to the fear spread by the disaster experienced in June last year and the damaged condition of roads and inadequate facilities which are causing inconvenience to the pilgrims and regional travelers.
The weather in the higher reaches around Badrinath is still not clear with rains being experienced in the medium altitude areas almost every evening with snowfall in the higher reaches. The resulting cold coupled with the condition of the road is affecting the pilgrimage. The stretch of the highway to Badrinath near the power project barrage at Vishnuprayag which sustained major damage last year due to floods attributed by activists to human negligence, the damaged route has been altered into a straight stretch.
However, large buses are still not being able to travel to Badrinath which is causing inconvenience to the pilgrims.
With all the Char Dham shrines being reopened to the public, the number of pilgrims arriving here is increasing
gradually even though long bodied buses are still not plying to Badrinath. Apart from small vehicles, only 28-seater buses are able to reach this shrine at present.
Those involved in the various business activities dependent on the pilgrimage activities hope that once the lok Sabha election ends, the number of pilgrims will increase. The Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee chief executive officer BD Singh said that 13,500 people had visited Badrinath so far and 2,300 had visited Kedarnath. The summer heat has still not reached the mountainous regions here with rains being experienced almost every evening. Those employed in the tourism trade are now waiting for the pilgrimage to pick up pace.