Record 13 lakh bookings for Chardham Pilgrimage in eight days
The State Tourism Department called it a sign of record breaking flow of pilgrims to the four shrines as the pilgrimage season is scheduled to start on May 10.
Three thousand pilgrims will be able to stay overnight in Kedarnath in this tourism season. The famous Hindu shrine, located at 11,755 ft above the sea level, witnessed heavy snowfall in the winters and many infrastructures were damaged.
Dilip Jawalkar, Uttarakhand’s tourism secretary, says, “Despite heavy snowfall, the state government and district administration will complete all the preparation before the start of the pilgrimage season in Kedarnath. Accommodation for 3,000 tourists will be available in Kedarnath.”
The main pilgrimage season of Uttarakhand will kick off this month. The portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines will open on 7 May. While the Kedarnath temple will reopen, after six months of winter break, on 9 May and Badrinath will open on 10 May.
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The Char Dham Yatra to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri is considered the backbone of Uttarakhand economy. The Uttarakhand tourism department has also issued an advisory to the pilgrims for carrying woollens as cold weather prevails in towns located in the high Himalayas. The tourism department has also asked the visitors, moving on the trekking route, to take medical aid in case of deteriorating health from the medical relief post.
Many cottages suffered damage in Kedarnath due to heavy snowfall. Various state government agencies are working overtime in the pilgrimage town to complete all the preparations before 9 May.
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