Stories
Influencer Raises Concern Over Kainchi Dham's Changing Landscape After Weekend Rush
- •Lifestyle and beauty influencer Aishwarya Kandpal shared an Instagram post expressing shock over the drastic changes at Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand's Kumaon hills.
- •She highlighted severe issues including extreme traffic congestion, constant honking, massive crowds, and endless litter following a surge in visitors after a recent hit film.
- •Aishwarya pointed out that visitors are violating strict ashram rules by using phones, cameras, and microphones inside the sacred premises.
- •She emphasized that the fragile ecology and wildlife of the hills are being disturbed by the sudden influx of tourism and waste.
- •While clarifying that she is not telling people to stay away, she urged visitors to be mindful, quiet, and respectful of the area's sanctity.
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Locals and influencers have raised concerns over extreme traffic congestion, heavy honking, widespread littering, and visitors violating strict no-photography rules inside the ashram. The sudden post-2020 rush and the release of a hit feature film have transformed the once-quiet spiritual retreat in Uttarakhand's Kumaon hills, negatively impacting its fragile ecology and local wildlife.
Development and beautification projects worth about 40 crore rupees are underway to manage the growing number of visitors at Kainchi Dham. These improvements include a multilevel parking facility with a capacity of over 500 vehicles that can also serve as a helicopter landing site during emergencies, alongside the construction of the new 'Om Bridge' scheduled for completion by early 2027.
To control traffic pressure and prevent congestion, police and administration have completely banned the entry of external two-wheelers coming from Haldwani, Kathgodam, Kaladungi, and Khairna into Nainital, Bhimtal, and Kainchi Dham. Local residents, ambulances, police, and fire services are exempted from these restrictions to ensure emergency services remain accessible.
