Sentiment and Emotion Analysis of Reviews for Pilgrimage Sites in Uttarakhand

Abstract

This study analyses user‑generated TripAdvisor reviews of pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand, particularly the Chardhams, to understand the sentiment and emotional content expressed by pilgrims. A lexicon‑based approach (NRC emotion lexicon) was applied to the reviews. Word cloud analysis revealed that pilgrim reviews simultaneously emphasise spiritual terms and logistical concerns. Emotional classification showed that positive emotions dominate the reviews: trust, anticipation, and joy had the highest mean scores, while negative emotions, such as disgust, anger, and sadness, were substantially lower. Fear appeared to be moderate, likely reflecting high‑altitude travel risks. The findings indicate that despite physical hardships, pilgrims express overwhelmingly positive emotional experiences. Practical implications include the need for improved crowd management, road maintenance, and real‑time weather information. Limitations include the exclusion of non‑English reviews and the lexicon method’s inability to detect sarcasm. This study provides a first sentiment analysis of Uttarakhand’s pilgrimage reviews, contributing to research on religious tourism and electronic word‑of‑mouth.