Rishikesh: The holy city of Rishikesh has been completely drenched in saffron as Dak Kanwar pilgrims arrive in massive numbers. With the commencement of the high-speed Dak Kanwar Yatra, areas from Rishikesh to Tapovan and Neelkanth are witnessing severe traffic congestion, especially from Rishikesh to Muni-ki-Reti.
The situation at Chandrabhaga Bridge remained critical throughout the day with heavy traffic jams. As the jam refused to clear, many Kanwariyas drove their two-wheelers onto the pedestrian walkway, while some even took an unusual route — riding their bikes through the shallow Chandrabhaga River to bypass the gridlock. Other key areas like Koyal Ghati and Natraj Chowk also experienced intense traffic pressure.
Massive Influx of Dak Kanwar Pilgrims Expected
In the initial phase of the Yatra, more on-foot Kanwariyas typically arrive. However, as Shravan Shivratri (23rd July) nears, the number of Dak Kanwar devotees — who travel rapidly, often on motorbikes — is surging, especially from Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh.
By Friday, there was already a noticeable increase in Dak Kanwariyas, and Saturday morning saw even greater crowds pouring in. Simultaneously, thousands of devotees have completed their Jalabhishek rituals at the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple and are now returning.
The Chandrabhaga Bridge to Kailash Gate route remained jam-packed on Saturday. Traffic moved inch-by-inch, and frustrated pilgrims started looking for alternate paths. Many returned toward ISBT Rishikesh, then took detours via Natraj Chowk and Bhadkali toward Tapovan. Some attempted to cross via a new bridge near Chaudah Bigha, but were blocked at the Munikireti end.
Several two-wheeler riders reached the Bhairav Temple area along the riverbank, where traffic was also stagnant. With low water levels in the seasonal Chandrabhaga River, many Kanwariyas rode their bikes through the river to reach the main road on the other side.
Over 4 Lakh Devotees at Neelkanth Mahadev
By 4 PM Saturday, more than 4 lakh pilgrims had performed Jalabhishek at the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple. The temple parking lots were overflowing with Kanwar vehicles, prompting police to hold back both two-wheelers and four-wheelers at Garudchatti Bridge.
From 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM, four-wheelers were stopped. Two-wheelers were held for around 30 minutes, and this holding was enforced four times during the day. To manage the overflow, police also opened Khairkhal parking for the first time, accommodating 2,000 two-wheelers.
Mela Officer and CO Srinagar Anuj Kumar confirmed that the number of Dak Kanwariyas is increasing daily. As per the strategy, vehicles are being held and rerouted via Barrage Road on their return journey.
Bridges Under Heavy Strain
Heavy footfall has put pressure on Ram Jhula and Janki Setu bridges. While they haven’t been made entirely one-way, police are selectively allowing movement as per crowd density. Ram Jhula, being older, is under strict surveillance for safety.
Janki Setu allows both pedestrians and two-wheelers, but during the Yatra, only permitted vehicles are allowed. Others are restricted. Laxmanjhula SHO Santosh Paithwal stated that 300 local passes have been issued for two-wheelers, and residents are urged to use them only when absolutely necessary.
Pilgrims Reaching on Bus Roofs Amid Tight Security
To prevent Dak Kanwar vehicles from entering city limits, police have installed barricades at Natraj Chowk. While some vehicles entered from Shyampur, they were redirected at Natraj Chowk and sent toward Dhalwala.
Many pilgrims insisted on taking the city route but were stopped. Meanwhile, a significant number of Dak Kanwariyas from Haridwar have been arriving — some even sitting on the rooftops of buses to make their way to Rishikesh.
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