PrashantNews
With lofty snowy peaks forming the backdrop, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday gathered at a public rally on the banks of holy Bhagirathi river in the idyllic Harsil town in Uttarakhand for promoting winter tourism.
It was a perfect sun-drenched morning for such occasion after a heavy snowfall in the past few days.
Dhami virtually set the ball rolling by reciting a poem on the Prime Minister. In his poem Dhami described Modi as “devdoot” (angel) of development. The Prime Minister became so happy that he patted Dhami on his back.
Minutes later, the Prime Minister delivered a powerful message for winter tourism branding Uttarakhand as “Gham Tapo” (sun basking). For giving a big push to the winter tourism in the state, he flagged off a bike rally at Harsil. He also performed pooja at the nearby Mukhwa temple, the wintry sojourn of the Ganga Goddess. Addressing the rally, Modi called for 365 days tourism saying there should be no offseason.
The Prime Minister said it was Maa Ganga’s affection which brought him to her maternal home in Mukhwa village and had the honor of performing darshan and puja. Remarking on his visit to the land of Harsil, expressing his fond memories of the affection shown by the local women, whom he referred to as “Didi-Bhuliyas”, Modi highlighted their thoughtful gestures of sending him Harsil’s rajma and other local products. He expressed his gratitude for their warmth, connection, and gifts.
The Prime Minister recalled his visit to Baba Kedarnath, where he had declared that, “this decade would be the decade of Uttarakhand”.
Emphasizing that new avenues for Uttarakhand’s progress are opening up, fulfilling the aspirations that led to the state’s formation, Modi noted that the commitments made for Uttarakhand’s development are being realized through continuous achievements and new milestones.
He added, “winter tourism is a significant step in this direction, aiding in harnessing Uttarakhand’s economic potential” and congratulated the Uttarakhand government for this innovative effort and extended his best wishes for the state’s progress.
“Diversifying and making the tourism sector a year-round activity is important and necessary for Uttarakhand”, said the Prime Minister, remarking that there should be no “off-season” in Uttarakhand, and tourism should thrive in every season. He mentioned that currently, tourism in the hills is seasonal, with a significant influx of tourists during March, April, May, and June. However, he added that the number of tourists drops drastically afterward, leaving most hotels, resorts, and homestays vacant during winters. He pointed out that this imbalance leads to economic stagnation for a large part of the year in Uttarakhand and also poses challenges to the environment.
“Visiting Uttarakhand during winters offers a true glimpse of the divine aura of Devbhoomi”, said Modi, highlighting the thrill of activities like trekking and skiing that winter tourism in the region provides. He stressed that winters hold special significance for religious journeys in Uttarakhand, with many sacred sites hosting unique rituals during this time. He pointed out the religious ceremonies in Mukhwa village as an integral part of the region’s ancient and remarkable traditions. The Prime Minister noted that the Uttarakhand government’s vision for year-round tourism will provide people with opportunities to connect with divine experiences. He underlined that this initiative will create year-round employment opportunities, significantly benefiting the local population and the youth of Uttarakhand.
“Our governments at Center and state are working together to make Uttarakhand a developed state”, said the Prime Minister, remarking on the significant progress achieved in the past decade, including the Char Dham All-Weather Road, modern expressways, and the expansion of railways, air, and helicopter services in the state. He also mentioned that his government has approved the Kedarnath and Hemkund ropeway projects . He noted that the Kedarnath Ropeway will reduce the travel time from 8-9 hours to approximately 30 minutes, making the journey more accessible, especially for the elderly and children. Modi emphasized that thousands of crores of rupees will be invested in these ropeway projects. He extended his congratulations to Uttarakhand and the entire nation for these transformative initiatives.
Underlining the focus on developing eco-log huts, convention centers, and helipad infrastructure in the hills, Modi said, “tourism infrastructure is being newly developed in locations such as Timmer-Sain Mahadev, Mana village, and Jadung village”. He added that the Government has worked to ensure the erstwhile emptied villages of Mana and Jadung in 1962, have been restored. He noted that as a result, the number of tourists visiting Uttarakhand has increased significantly over the past decade. He shared that before 2014, an average of 18 lakh pilgrims visited the Char Dham Yatra annually, which has now risen to approximately 50 lakh pilgrims each year. The Prime Minister announced that this year’s budget includes provisions to develop 50 tourist destinations, granting hotels at these locations the status of infrastructure. He emphasized that this initiative will enhance facilities for tourists and promote local employment opportunities.
Emphasising the Government’s efforts to ensure that border areas of Uttarakhand also benefit from tourism, the Prime Minister said, “villages once referred to as the “last villages” are now being called the “first villages” of the country”. He highlighted the launch of the Vibrant Village Program for their development, under which 10 villages from this region have been included.
Making a special appeal to people from all corners of the country, particularly the youth, Modi highlighted that while much of the country experiences fog during winters, the hills offer the joy of basking in sunlight, which can be turned into a unique event. He suggested the concept of “Gham Tapo Tourism” in Garhwali, encouraging people from across the country to visit Uttarakhand during winters.
Pointing out the significant contribution of the wedding economy, worth thousands of crores, the Prime Minister reiterated his appeal to the people of the country to “Wed in India” and encouraged prioritizing Uttarakhand as a destination for winter weddings. He also expressed his expectations from the Indian film industry, noting that Uttarakhand has been awarded the title of the “Most Film-Friendly State.” He emphasized the rapid development of modern facilities in the region, making Uttarakhand an ideal destination for film shootings during winters.
The Uttarakhand government has started a campaign to promote winter tourism . Thousands of devotees have already visited the winter seats of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The programme is aimed to promote religious tourism and boost the local economy, homestays, tourism businesses, among others.