Hanuman Ansh effect: Neem Karoli Baba's Kainchi Dham choked by crowds on weekend

A surge of devotees heading to Kainchi Dham following the success of Hanuman Ansh has choked roads near Nainital. The rush has left ambulances, residents and vehicles carrying essential supplies stuck in traffic, prompting authorities to bring in emergency traffic curbs.

In Short

• Hanuman Ansh's success boosts pilgrim rush at Kainchi Dham
• Traffic jams stretch 2-3 hour journeys to over 10 hours
• Ambulances and elderly stuck in severe road congestion

Hanuman Ansh’s box office success appears to be having an impact far beyond theatres. Kainchi Dham, the Uttarakhand ashram associated with Neem Karoli Baba, saw a huge rush of devotees over the weekend, leaving roads near the popular pilgrimage spot in gridlock and turning a few-hour journey into an all-day ordeal for many.

The traffic build-up has been particularly severe on the Haldwani-Kainchi Dham route and towards Nainital and Almora. Journeys that would normally take two to three hours are reportedly stretching to 10 or even 12 hours.

Videos from the area show long queues of cars, buses and two-wheelers crawling through the narrow roads around Bhimtal, Bhowali and Garam Pani. Another widely shared clip showed devotees packed together outside the ashram.

Watch a video here:

Families, ambulances stuck for hours

The congestion isn't just frustrating tourists. It’s affecting people who use these roads every day. An Aaj Tak report featured a traveller who said his 72-year-old mother and an 80-year-old relative left Haldwani for Almora around noon but reached Garam Pani only at 11.30 pm. A journey that would usually take around two hours had taken more than 11.

Ambulances, schoolchildren, elderly passengers and vehicles carrying essential supplies have also reportedly been caught in the jams.

For residents, weekends have now become something to plan around. Some are leaving home before 5 am or avoiding the route altogether. The road is an important link to the hills, carrying everything from medicines and groceries to other daily supplies, so the disruption goes well beyond pilgrims and tourists.

Police bring in traffic restrictions

The authorities brought in special traffic arrangements on Sunday as the crowds grew. Outer two-wheelers were stopped from entering the Kainchi route, while some hill-bound traffic was diverted through Kathgodam-Bhimtal. One-way movement was also introduced on the Jyolikot highway.

Shuttle services from parking areas at Bhimtal Vikas Bhavan and Bhowali Sanatorium were increased to reduce the number of vehicles heading towards the ashram. Despite the measures, the sheer volume of visitors continued to put pressure on the route.

Daily footfall, which had earlier been estimated at around 4,000 to 5,000, has reportedly crossed 6,000 on some days. Weekend crowds have been estimated at 15,000 to 20,000 or more, with some reports suggesting even higher numbers during the long weekend.

Hanuman Ansh behind the sudden rush

Much of the attention has turned to Hanuman Ansh, the low-budget film based on the life of Neem Karoli Baba, also known as Neeb Karori Baba.

Directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, the film, made on a reported budget of around Rs 2 crore, has found an audience well beyond expectations. According to Sacnilk, its India nett collection reached around Rs 321.73 crore by Day 58, and India gross at Rs 379 crore. The film's worldwide gross was estimated at Rs 419 crore.

Hanuman Ansh's success appears to have had an unexpected effect beyond the box office. Locals and temple authorities have linked the increase in visitors to the film, saying people who knew little about Neem Karoli Baba before are now travelling to Kainchi Dham after watching it or hearing about it from others.

The growing footfall at Kainchi Dham has also forced changes around the ashram. Entry and exit arrangements have been tightened, barricading has been increased and volunteers are helping manage the crowds.

And as Hanuman Ansh continues to draw audiences, the film's impact is now being felt far beyond cinemas – on the winding roads leading to one of Uttarakhand's best-known spiritual destinations.

- Ends