This season has turned into the most busiest tourism season for Kedarnath in district Ruderprayag. Not because record tourists visited the Hindu shrine located in high Himalayas, but because of big VIP movement.
President Ram Nath Kovind , Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh offered prayer at Kedarnath shrine this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to visit Kedarnath again this month. According to sources Prime Minister Modi will be laying foundation stone for the second phase of reconstruction work in flash-flood hit Kedarnath.
Chief Secretary S Ramaswami conducted a meeting with state government officers, on the proposed visit of the PM on 20 October, in Dehradun on Tuesday. The Chief Secretary discussed about the contingency plan in detail with the police and other officers.
This year Prime Minister toured Kedarnath on its opening on 3 May and is expected to come for the second time this month. The trip is of one day only. President Ram Nath Kovind was in Kedarnath last month and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh offered prayer on 1 October.
This year Kedarnath has registered a high attendance. So far 4.57 Lakh pilgrims have visited the holy shrine located an altitude of 11,755 Ft above sea level in district Ruderprayag.
Data available prove that Kedarnath registered the biggest gathering ever in its history in 2012 by recording arrival of 5.83 Lakh devotees. In fact, Kedarnath has attracted over five Lakh pilgrims in a season only thrice- in 2007,2011 and 2012. And over four Lakh tourists only four times- in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Anil Sharma, Kedarnath temple’s executive officer, said, “This was one of the best tourism season Kedarnath has witnessed in recent year. The portals of the Kedarnat temple will be closed for winter break on coming 21 October.”
By attracting over 4.50 Lakh visitors, Kedarnath will be ending the tourism season on a high note. Besides the VIP movement, the movement of crew/stars of underproduction Hindi film Kedarnath turned spotlight on places like Triyuginarayan, Gaurikund, Sonprayag.