CHOPAL/NAURADHAR – The Himachal Pradesh government’s decision to impose a so-called “user charge” on devotees visiting Choorhdhar, the sacred abode of Lord Shiva and his ardent follower Dev Shirgul, has triggered massive outrage across Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan and even Jaunsar-Bawar.

The Choorheshwar Seva Samiti, representing thousands of devotees, has called the move “unjust, unconstitutional, and an attack on religious faith.”

Even the Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur didn’t mince words –

“This is nothing short of a Jaziya tax on Hindu pilgrims, straight out of Aurangzeb’s playbook. The Sukhu government is revealing its anti-Hindu mindset yet again.”

While the Wildlife Department cites a High Court directive to justify the tax, activists and devotees point out that the order only mentions levying user charges on trekkers visiting wildlife sanctuaries, not devotees going for darshan of their deity.

What’s worse – the Churdhar temple doesn’t even lie within the wildlife sanctuary, but outside it.

BM Nanta, President of Choorheshwar Seva Samiti, slammed the Wildlife Department, saying –

“This is a religious pilgrimage, not a tourism trek. The temple is outside the sanctuary; people merely pass through the forest trail. The Wildlife Department is misleading the government with twisted facts to extract revenue from faith.”

Adding fuel to the fire is the selective exemption – only locals from Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur have been spared. But devotees from Jaunsar-Bawar, whose kul devta is also Dev Shirgul, are not exempted.

Former Vice Pradhan of Dewat Panchayat and a frequent pilgrim, Pradeep Banchta from Shantha, said:

“It’s disgraceful. Taxing people for visiting their deity is like criminalizing devotion. The government must immediately withdraw this Tughlaqi order before it backfires.”

From across the border, Naresh Tomar of Jaunsar-Bawar, expressed deep resentment:

“Churdhar is not a tourist destination for us. It’s a spiritual calling. Every year we walk barefoot to bow before Dev Shirgul. Now the government wants to monetize our faith?”

Massive  Outrage 

"We have submitted a formal representation to the DFO Wildlife on April 10, 2025, during the meeting held at the Forest Rest House in Sarain, demanding immediate withdrawal of the unjust user charges imposed by the state government," said Suresh Bhandari, one of the Bhandaris of Bijat Maharaj, associated with the Choorheshwar Mandir.

"Around 120 local residents, including Pardhans from four Panchayats, Nambardars, and presidents of Yuvak Mandals, expressed strong resentment against this Tughlaqi Farman that directly affects the sentiments and rights of local communities."

Devotees are now demanding an immediate rollback of the tax, calling it a unilateral, arbitrary move by the Wildlife Department without consulting local bodies or religious groups.

As the firestorm grows, all eyes are now on the Sukhu government — will it listen to the voice of the hills or bulldoze faith with bureaucracy?