Uttarkashi: With the onset of winter Char Dham yatra in Uttarakhand, excitement is visible in the Uttarkashi district. Yamunotri and Gangotri temple committees, pilgrimage priests, hotel associations, tour and travel businesses, and various organizations involved in travel arrangements have shown strong commitment to promoting winter travel. They have widely appreciated the state government’s initiative in this direction.
In a meeting held at the district headquarters, it was decided that temple committees, pilgrimage priests, hotel associations, and other organizations will take the lead in promoting winter travel and provide full cooperation and support to the state government’s efforts.
Conference of tour operators of major cities of the country
To promote winter travel, it was decided to organize a conference of tour operators from major cities across the country. Special religious events will be held during winter at the winter seats in Kharsali and Mukhba, and the aarti of Ma Yamuna and Ma Ganga will be broadcast live. Uttarkashi District Magistrate Dr. Meherban Singh Bisht urged pilgrimage priests and temple committees to actively support and contribute to these efforts. He also appealed to other interested organizations and individuals for their cooperation. The District Magistrate emphasized that the convenience, safety, and comfort of passengers will be prioritized during the winter yatra. Comprehensive arrangements are being made in Mukhba, Harshil-Dharali, Kharsali, and the Jankichatti-Ranachatti area to ensure a smooth experience for travelers.
Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines priests praised the efforts of the government to start the winter pilgrimage
This season, the Uttarakhand government has taken an important initiative to operate the winter Char Dham Yatra. This will provide year-round employment opportunities for those involved in travel arrangements and strengthen the local economy. During a meeting, Gangotri Temple Committee Chairman Dharmanand Semwal, Secretary Madhavanand Semwal, Yamunotri Temple Committee Secretary Sunil Prasad Uniyal, Vice President Sanjeev Uniyal, Spokesperson Purushottam Uniyal, Suresh Uniyal, and other officials praised the government’s efforts. They confirmed that adequate facilities are available for pilgrims along the routes and halts, including Mukhba and Kharsali, the winter seats of Ganga and Yamuna.
Winter season is ideal for yoga, meditation, and worship in Uttarakhand
The winter environment is ideal for yoga, meditation, and worship. According to religious traditions, darshan and worship at the winter seat temples are as significant as at the main shrines. Promoting the winter pilgrimage will benefit everyone. There is a need to strengthen health services at hospitals near winter seat sites, keep roads open, and ensure a smooth supply of drinking water and electricity. The temple committee officials and pilgrim priests suggested organizing religious events at winter camps and committed to promoting winter travel through their contacts and resources.
Winter travel can offer people the opportunity to visit snow-clad areas and enjoy the bright sunshine of the mountains
Ajay Puri, President of Char Dham Hotel Association, and Shailendra Matuda, President of Hotel Association Uttarkashi, stated that necessary arrangements and facilities are already available in the district for winter travel. Winter travel can offer people from across the country and abroad the opportunity to visit snow-clad areas and enjoy the bright sunshine of the mountains. Aggressive marketing and branding are necessary for this. They suggested organizing a conference of outside tour and travel operators and arranging a tour of the winter temples. The Hotel Association will prepare the conference outline and invite tour and travel operators, with full support from the administration.
All the stakeholders appreciated this initiative
Hotel Association Yamuna Valley President Soban Singh Rana provided several important suggestions, including maintaining smooth roads. District Business Board President Subhash Badoni, Trekking Association President Jayendra Singh Rana, and TGMO local unit President Gajpal Rawat also praised the initiative, stating it will provide year-round employment for those involved in the travel business.
