Saturday, 14 OCTOBER 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The visit of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Pithoragarh and Jageshwar on Thursday has given a major boost to the plans of the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to bring the temples of Kumaon region on the tourism map. Dhami has made the Manaskhand Mandir Mala as one of his missions and is working hard to prepare a religious tourism circuit in the Kumaon region of the State. The CM knew it well that there is no bigger brand ambassador than Prime Minister Modi for promoting the temples of Manaskhand. In his visits to Delhi, the CM had always extended an invitation to the PM to visit Jageshwar Dham located in Almora district and Adi Kailash in Pithoragarh district. O servers opine that Dhami knew that once PM Modi visits the area, the Manaskhand brand will get a major boost in the tourism circles . It is a well known fact that the number of pilgrims visiting Kedarnath shrine in Rudraprayag district increased considerably after the visits of PM Modi. The PM has visited Kedarnath six times in the last few years and was behind the massive reconstruction and redevelopment plan of Kedarnath shrine.
The experts believe that apart from giving a boost to religious tourism, Modi’s visit to Adi Kailash, Gunji and Jageshwar will also give a fillip to tourist arrival in the area. It is believed that the picturesque Sorr, Johar, Chondas, Vyas and Darma valleys of Pithoragarh will now be frequented by more visitors. The start of regular flights from Naini Saini airport will also help in the arrival of tourists in the Pithoragarh district which shares international boundaries with Tibet (China) and Nepal. The increased tourist inflow will give a boost to the development of the area and generate employment opportunities.
The Uttarakhand government under CM Dhami wants to develop the ancient and famous temples of the Kumaon region on the lines of Char Dham Yatra under the Manaskhand Mandir Mala mission. The mission also aims to improve the road connectivity between Garhwal and Kumaon regions. Under the mission two dozen temples including Jageshwar Mahadev, Chitai Golju temple, Suryadev temple, Nanda Devi, Kasardevi, Patal Bhuvneshwar, Hat Kalika temple, Berinag temple, Bagnath temple, Baijnath temple, Kot Brahmari, Purnadevi, Garjiadevi, Nanakmatta and others would be developed. The state government has already started work on the project. The tableau of the State depicting temples of Manaskhand received first prize in this year’s Republic Day parade in New Delhi
