Shimla, 28 May 2025 – The Himachal Pradesh forest department has suspended its recent order imposing user charges on visitors to the Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary in Sirmaur district, following public outcry and political backlash.
The move comes amid widespread criticism from locals, religious groups, and the Opposition BJP, which had called it a “fee on religious pilgrimage”. The sanctuary houses the revered Shirgul Maharaj temple, a major pilgrimage site, and the charges were seen as obstructing religious access.
In a notice issued on Tuesday, the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Shimla Wildlife Division, said the order is “kept in abeyance” after receiving numerous representations raising concerns over accessibility to the temple. The officer clarified that while the intent was environmental regulation, it inadvertently triggered fears among devotees.
The now-suspended charges included:
- ₹20 for Himachal residents
- ₹50 for non-Himachalis
- ₹200 for foreigners
- ₹50–₹100 for hikers and campers
- ₹10,000–₹15,000 per day for film shoots
- ₹3,000 per day for wedding shoots
- ₹200–₹400 for tenting (Indians), and ₹500 for foreign tourists
- ₹100 for mule and horse travel
The Hatti Samiti, representing over three lakh Hattis in the Trans Giri area, had also formally objected, urging Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to exempt pilgrims.
Officials said the order will remain suspended until a revised model is framed that respects religious sentiment while managing the ecological impact of tourism and trekking in the sanctuary.
