Kavinder Gupta, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, has called for the development of a dedicated and well-structured religious tourism circuit across the state to strengthen spiritual tourism and improve connectivity to sacred destinations. He emphasised that the proposed circuit should connect temples, Shakti Peeths, monasteries and important pilgrimage sites through better tourism infrastructure and facilities.
Highlighting the spiritual and tourism potential of Himachal Pradesh, Governor Gupta stated that such an initiative would help preserve the state’s rich cultural and religious heritage while also generating employment opportunities and boosting the local economy. He underlined the importance of using tourism as a driver for sustainable economic growth and regional development.
The proposal comes at a time when Himachal Pradesh is witnessing a major influx of tourists during the ongoing summer season. Travellers from across the country are heading to the hill state to escape the scorching heat in the plains, resulting in heavy traffic movement and congestion in key destinations. According to reports, nearly 6,31,000 vehicles have entered Shimla in the past 24 days, including around 70,000 vehicles in the last 72 hours alone.
With the peak tourist season still ahead, Shimla, popularly known as the ‘Queen of Hills’, is already facing severe traffic congestion and frequent jams. Authorities have appealed to tourists to follow traffic regulations and behave responsibly while visiting the state.
Reports further stated that around 3,70,000 vehicles entered Shimla through the Chandigarh-Kalka route, while many others travelled via Kinnaur, Bilaspur and Kullu. The growing tourist influx reflects Himachal Pradesh’s increasing popularity as both a leisure and spiritual tourism destination.
Industry observers believe the proposed religious tourism circuit could significantly enhance the state’s tourism offerings while encouraging infrastructure development and improving visitor experiences across key pilgrimage destinations.
