Along with Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and State Minister Dhan Singh Rawat visited Gangotri sheine on Friday. After that they inaugurated the Tapovanam Hiranyagarbh art gallery built by Swami Sundaranand along with the Tapovanam Hiranyagarbh temple and meditation centre at Gangotri. In the art gallery, Sundaranand has placed photographs displaying the culture and traditions of Gangotri, Upla Taknaur and the Himalayas since 1948.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also unveiled the foundation stones for and inaugurated developmental works amounting to Rs 81.19 crore.
The Union Minister stressed on the need for keeping the Ganga river clean maintaining its flow. The 45 crore people living along the Ganga must also comprehend their responsibility towards ensuring this. All the citizens of the nation will have to contribute towards this. Stating that many people from across the world come to study the Himalaya and Ganga, he said that viewing this art gallery will give them a glimpse of the Himalaya at one place.
Rawat said that Swami Sundaranand’s collection is a major heritage for the coming generation. The collection of the Swami’s 72 years of penance has been dedicated to the world now. These pictures will enable the viewer to watch the Himalayas from close, he said. Stating that Sundaranand had given a world heritage at Gangotri, Rawat said that this will be preserved. He also enquired about the health of the Swami.