On Sunday, the winter leg of the Char Dham Yatra began with the closure of portals of the four Hindu shrines, according to officials.
Vivek Chauhan, the deputy director and department’s publicity in charge said, “For the next six months the state tourism department will focus on the pilgrimage and other tourism activities.” He further stated, “Besides reaching out to our tourism counterparts and tour operators in other states, the department has lined up several big campaigns to promote the winter leg of the Char Dham pilgrimage besides offering home stay destinations that will be available to tourists over the next one month.”
The Uttarakhand government in 2014, in a bid to revive the devastated rural economy after the havoc caused by the floods of June 2013, has extended the pilgrimage to four Hindu shrines namely Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri round the year in order to boost winter tourism.
Now the pilgrims will be able to pay regards at the Nasinh temple in Joshimath, Onkareshwar temple in Ukhimath, Yamuna temple at Kharsali village and Ganga temple at Mukhba where the idols have been shifted.
Vivek Chauhan said, “A two-day winter tourism festival to be held at Tehri between November 27 and 28 will be the first event to promote the winter leg of the pilgrimage.” He further added, “Apart from this, a winter car rally will be held in December followed by a mountain bike rally in early 2016 similar to the one held in 2014. We have set up our stalls at the ongoing India International Trade Fair in Delhi to promote the winter Char Dham pilgrimage and other tourist destinations in the state.”
Src : Hindustantimes
Img Src : HT Photo
Published Date: November 16, 2015
