Kainchi Dham Considers Daily Visitor Cap
Uttarakhand officials are considering a limit of 20,000–25,000 devotees daily and mandatory registration to manage overcrowding and traffic congestion.
The Nainital district administration is considering a daily visitor cap at Kainchi Dham, the Uttarakhand shrine associated with Neem Karoli Baba, following a sharp increase in pilgrim numbers and severe traffic congestion in the surrounding hill region.
Officials are considering a manageable daily limit of around 20,000 to 25,000 devotees, along with a mandatory registration system. The proposal is intended to help authorities estimate visitor numbers in advance and plan traffic movement, parking, security and facilities at the temple.
The plan follows an unusually heavy rush during the October 2 long weekend, when more than 35,000 people a day were reported to have visited the shrine. Other reports put the peak weekend turnout at more than 50,000 devotees, contributing to long traffic jams on roads around Kainchi, Bhowali and Bhimtal.
Nainital District Magistrate Lalit Mohan said the same road serves pilgrims travelling to Kainchi Dham as well as residents and visitors heading towards Mukteshwar and other parts of the Kumaon hills. The congestion has disrupted local travel and lengthened journeys through the area.
The surge in visitors has been linked partly to the end of the monsoon season and the popularity of Hanuman Ansh, a film based on Neem Karoli Baba's life and teachings. According to figures cited by The Indian Express, around 24.34 lakh people visited Kainchi Dham in the first six months of 2026, compared with approximately eight lakh visitors during the whole of 2025.
The proposed registration system would give authorities advance information about the expected number of pilgrims on a particular day. Officials are also considering separate entry and exit routes, shuttle services from nearby locations and improved parking arrangements to reduce pressure on the main highway.
Infrastructure measures are also under way or being considered, including the Kainchi Dham bypass and additional road connections intended to divert traffic away from the congested temple approach. Authorities are examining ways to improve access towards Almora, Ranikhet and other destinations in the region.
The proposed daily limit and registration requirements are part of a broader crowd-management effort. The final cap and implementation details remain subject to administrative and state government decisions, and visitors should check official updates before planning a trip.