The annual Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage began on Wednesday with as many as 53 pilgrims comprising 22 females and 31 males leaving for Kailash Mansarovar in the first batch.
This batch of pilgrims that began its journey from Delhi on Wednesday morning reached Kathgodam in the afternoon. Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) chairman Kiran Mandal and its MD Deepak Rawat were among those who welcomed the pilgrims on their arrival at Kathgodam. It should be noted that the KMVN looks after the hospitality, safety and transportation aspects of those undertaking this pilgrimage. A few changes have been made in this pilgrimage this year. This year the Yatra is being started from June 12 while till last year it used to begin from June 1.
At least 120 more pilgrims would be able to go on the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage this year. Two batches have been added to the 16 batches i.e. 60 pilgrims in each batch which used to undertake this yatra till last year. Besides, the travel duration has also been reduced by at least two days. These changes have been made following the past experience and feedback received from the devotees, added the officials concerned of the KMVN. With increasing number of pilgrims from this year, the travel expenses of this yatra have also been hiked.
Whereas the pilgrims had to pay Rs 27,000 per head to visit the Kailash Mansarovar last year, this year a pilgrim will have to pay Rs 32,000, said the KMVN officials. The pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar commences from Delhi and is conducted under the overall supervision of the Ministry of External Affairs as parts of this pilgrimage also fall in the Tibetan territory occupied by China.
After reaching Kathgodam from Delhi on Wednesday, the pilgrims are expected to spend the night in Almora from where they will travel via various mountainous destinations to reach the Kailash Mansarovar. The important pilgrimage route destinations include Almora, Dharchula, Narayan Ashram, Sirkha, Gala, Bundi, Gunji, Nabhidhang, lipupass and Takulakot.
A visit to the cultural museum at Bhimtal on their return journey has also been added to this Yatra this year, said KMVN MD Deepak Rawat while talking to The Pioneer.
"Besides, the pilgrims will also have an opportunity to know more about Kumaon and Uttarakhand on their arrival back from the pilgrimage as we have also deiced to organise an exhibition highlighting folk culture and handicrafts at KMVN’s Kathgodam guest house, Rawat added.
Out of the total 53 pilgrims in the first batch maximum number is from Delhi, said R C Pandey, in charge of KMVN’s Kathgodam unit. Fourteen pilgrims of this batch are from Delhi, 13 from Gujarat, eight from Maharashtra, four from Karnataka, three each from Chhattishgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh and one each from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, Rajasthan and Chandigarh, he added. Rajendra S Markuna n Haldwani
The annual Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage began on Wednesday with as many as 53 pilgrims comprising 22 females and 31 males leaving for Kailash Mansarovar in the first batch. This batch of pilgrims that began its journey from Delhi on Wednesday morning reached Kathgodam in the afternoon. Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) chairman Kiran Mandal and its MD Deepak Rawat were among those who welcomed the pilgrims on their arrival at Kathgodam.
It should be noted that the KMVN looks after the hospitality, safety and transportation aspects of those undertaking this pilgrimage. A few changes have been made in this pilgrimage this year. This year the Yatra is being started from June 12 while till last year it used to begin from June 1. At least 120 more pilgrims would be able to go on the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage this year. Two batches have been added to the 16 batches i.e. 60 pilgrims in each batch which used to undertake this yatra till last year.
Besides, the travel duration has also been reduced by at least two days. These changes have been made following the past experience and feedback received from the devotees, added the officials concerned of the KMVN. With increasing number of pilgrims from this year, the travel expenses of this yatra have also been hiked.
Whereas the pilgrims had to pay Rs 27,000 per head to visit the Kailash Mansarovar last year, this year a pilgrim will have to pay Rs 32,000, said the KMVN officials.The pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar commences from Delhi and is conducted under the overall supervision of the Ministry of External Affairs as parts of this pilgrimage also fall in the Tibetan territory occupied by China.
After reaching Kathgodam from Delhi on Wednesday, the pilgrims are expected to spend the night in Almora from where they will travel via various mountainous destinations to reach the Kailash Mansarovar. The important pilgrimage route destinations include Almora, Dharchula, Narayan Ashram, Sirkha, Gala, Bundi, Gunji, Nabhidhang, lipupass and Takulakot.
A visit to the cultural museum at Bhimtal on their return journey has also been added to this Yatra this year, said KMVN MD Deepak Rawat while talking to The Pioneer. "Besides, the pilgrims will also have an opportunity to know more about Kumaon and Uttarakhand on their arrival back from the pilgrimage as we have also deiced to organise an exhibition highlighting folk culture and handicrafts at KMVN’s Kathgodam guest house, Rawat added.
Out of the total 53 pilgrims in the first batch maximum number is from Delhi, said R C Pandey, in charge of KMVN’s Kathgodam unit. Fourteen pilgrims of this batch are from Delhi, 13 from Gujarat, eight from Maharashtra, four from Karnataka, three each from Chhattishgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh and one each from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, Rajasthan and Chandigarh, he added.