Pithoragarh: In Uttarakhand, Adi Kailash pilgrimage was halted amid heavy rains and landslides blocking the Dharchula-Gunji route motor at several places in the last fortnight. Now, it has started again as the route has been opened for the pilgrims and 700 inner line permits have been issued on the first day.
Meanwhile, a large number of pilgrims are expected to visit Adi Kailash and Om Parvat religious sites situated in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.
So far, over 21,000 pilgrims visited Adi Kailash this year
This year, over 21,000 tourists visited Adi Kailash during the Yatra held from May 2 to July 2. However, the Yatra had to be halted due to road closures caused by the onset of rains. Tourists from across the country began arriving in Dharchula, hoping the pilgrimage would resume on 1 September. Unfortunately, the Yatra could not restart because the motor road remained closed due to torrential rains over the last few weeks.
Administration issued around 700 passes on the first day
As the weather has been clear in the hills for the last three days, the Dharchula-Tawaghat-Gunji motor road has now reopened for traffic. With the rains subsiding and the weather improving, the administration has begun issuing passes. On the first day, the tehsil administration issued around 700 passes. Now the pilgrims are traveling by private vehicles, taxis, and even in large numbers on bikes for the Yatra. The influx of tourists has brought joy to tour operators, hotel operators, and homestay operators.
Pilgrims waited so long for inner-line permit
In the hope of favourable weather, a large number of tourists had reached Dharchula since last week to visit Adi Kailash and Om Parvat. Hearing the news of the yatra to be resumed on Thursday, tourists left their hotels and boarded taxis waiting for the Inner Line Permit to be issued from the morning, on 19 September, but only a few passes could be issued till noon. After this, about 700 passes were issued till late evening.
Taxi association and other stakeholders expressed displeasure
At this late issuance of passes, Vyas Taxi union president Pravesh Nabiyal voiced his dissatisfaction, stating that timely issuance of passes by the administration would have prevented the inconvenience faced by tourists. Former chairman Ashok Singh Nabiyal also expressed his displeasure, accusing the administration of harassing local tour operators and Adi Kailash pilgrims by delaying the permits.