No tourism season should be off in Uttarakhand: PM
Uttarkashi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Uttarkashi on a one-day winter visit, has strongly branded winter pilgrimage and tourism in Uttarakhand from Mukhwa and Harshil. The Prime Minister invited pilgrims, tourists, corporate and film industry to visit Uttarakhand in the winter season. The Prime Minister has branded the winter tourism of Uttarakhand as ‘Gham Tapo Tourism’.
While addressing the public meeting in Harshil on Thursday, the Prime Minister first expressed condolences to the people who died in the avalanche in Mana a few days ago. After this, the Prime Minister said that this land of Uttarakhand is full of spiritual energy. Expressing his heartfelt attachment to Uttarakhand, the Prime Minister said that he feels blessed to be among his family members at the winter seat of life-giving Maa Ganga. The Prime Minister said that it was only because of the grace of Maa Ganga that he got the privilege of serving Uttarakhand for decades. It was only because of the blessings of Maa Ganga that he reached Kashi and is serving Kashi as an MP. That is why he said that Maa Ganga has called him to Kashi. The Prime Minister said in a philosophical manner that a few months ago he felt as if Maa Ganga has adopted him, now it is only because of the affection of Maa Ganga towards her child that he has been able to reach Mukhwa village himself today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that by coming to the land of Harshil, he is also remembering his Didi Bhuli, because she keeps sending him Rajma and other local products of Harshil.
The Prime Minister said that a few years ago when he came for the darshan of Baba Kedar, then after the darshan of Baba, he suddenly expressed the feeling that this decade is going to be of Uttarakhand. These feelings may have been his, but the power to give strength behind it was of Baba Kedar. Now with the blessings of Baba, these words are slowly turning into reality. This decade is now becoming of Uttarakhand. New paths are opening up for the progress of Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand is fulfilling the aspirations with which it was born, by taking new goals and resolutions every day.
Emphasizing on winter pilgrimage-tourism, the PM said that through this, a great help will be given in realizing the economic potential of Uttarakhand. Congratulating Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for this innovative initiative, he said that it is very important for Uttarakhand to make its tourism sector multidimensional or perennial. 365 days tourism is necessary in Uttarakhand. He wants that no tourism season should be off in Uttarakhand, rather tourism should be on in every season. He said that currently most of the tourists come to the mountains only between March to June, whereas after this the number of tourists decreases a lot. Right now in the winter season, hotels, resorts, homestays remain vacant. This imbalance slows down the economy of Uttarakhand for a large part of the year. While the truth is that if people from the country and abroad come here in winter, they will see the aura of Devbhoomi in the true sense. In winter tourism, people will get the thrill of activities like trekking, skiing here. In his address, he said that winter is a very special time for religious travel in Uttarakhand. Special rituals are performed at many pilgrimage sites here at this time. The ritual performed in Mukhwa village here is a part of our ancient tradition, so the Uttarakhand government’s vision of year-round tourism will connect people with divine experience. This will create employment opportunities here throughout the year. The Prime Minister said that the double engine government is working together to make Uttarakhand a developed state. The state is expanding from Char Dham, all-weather road, modern expressway to railway and heli services. Just a day ago, the central government has approved the ropeway for Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib. Through the Kedarnath ropeway, the eight to nine hour long walking journey will be completed in 30 minutes. This will make the journey of the elderly, women and children easier.
PM Modi said that the number of tourists in Uttarakhand is increasing rapidly. Before 2014, only 18 lakh tourists used to come every year for the Char Dham Yatra. Now more than 50 lakh tourists are coming every year for the Char Dham Yatra. The Prime Minister said that 50 tourist destinations are being developed in this year’s budget. Through this, the government is trying to bring tourists to the border areas of Uttarakhand. He said that earlier the border villages were called the last villages, but now they are being called the first villages. In this sequence, the Vibrant Village Scheme has been started for the development of border villages. Through this, Nelang and Jadung villages are being resettled. He said that basic facilities are being added for tourists in Timmbarsain, Mahadevsain, Mana and Jadung villages of Uttarakhand. Jadung was evacuated during the China war in 1962, now after 70 years the government is resettling this village.
Gham Tapo Tourism
The Prime Minister appealed to the people of the country, especially the youth, to visit Uttarakhand in winters and said that in winters when there is fog in a large part of the country, you can enjoy the sunshine in the mountains. In Garhwali it is called ‘Gham Tapo Tourism’. The Prime Minister appealed to the corporates of the country to join winter tourism in Uttarakhand and said that there can be no better place than Devbhoomi for corporate meetings, conferences, seminars, exhibitions. By coming here you can recharge yourself through yoga and Ayurveda. Similarly, youth from colleges, universities, schools can come to Uttarakhand for winter trips.
Shooting and wedding destination
PM Modi said that we have a wedding economy of thousands of crores of rupees. That is why he appealed to the countrymen to get married in the country itself under Wed in India. The countrymen can give priority to Uttarakhand for wedding destination in the winter season. Similarly, the Indian film industry can turn to Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand has received the award of Most Film Friendly State. Excellent facilities are being developed here for film shooting. He said that many countries of the world are known for winter tourism, Uttarakhand can learn a lot from them. For this, all the stakeholders of Uttarakhand tourism should study together. The Prime Minister said that there are hot springs in many places in Uttarakhand, these can be developed as wellness spas. The stalwarts of the religious, spiritual and yoga world can organize special yoga camps in their places in winter.
Referring to the exhibition organized on winter tourism in Harshil, the Prime Minister said that he felt like returning to those fifty years old days and spending a few days at all these places. The Prime Minister said that we should take the help of content creators to spread the information about winter tourism in Uttarakhand to the people. A competition can be organized for this. With this, the Prime Minister concluded his address with the slogan Ganga Maiya Ki Jai.
