With the advent of snowfall in the higher reaches of the Himalayas here would generally start the arrival of tourists to such areas in Uttarakhand. The well-known skiing destination Auli near Joshimath has received the first snowfall of the season. However, the tourists have not yet started arriving here.
With the much-touted winter Char Dham Yatra concept also proving to be a flop this year, those who make income from various activities related to pilgrimage and tourism are feeling disappointed. It is pertinent to mention here following snowfall last week in the mountainous regions, the mountain peaks are covered in fresh snow while the Auli slopes have also turned white after moderate snowfall. However, tourist arrivals in various hill stations and destinations have yet to start. locals recall that in the past tourists from India and abroad used to start arriving at Auli during the winters.
This area used to be abuzz with foreigners and domestic tourists but this year the tourists are yet to arrive even after the area received its first snowfall of the season. Those employed in tourism and hospitality enterprises are disappointed due to absence of tourists but they are hoping that the number of tourists will increase after the area receives substantial snowfall.
The locals state in general that Auli is abuzz with tourists during Christmas and new year celebrations. However, the quantity of snowfall during Christmas and new year celebration remains a major factor that will influence tourism in the area. Apart from this, the winter Char Dham Yatra which was being touted by the State Government as a major initiative for boosting tourism and economy in the mountainous regions, has also turned out to be a damp squib.
About a month has passed since the closing of the Char Dham shrines including Badrinath in Chamoli district but not a single batch of pilgrims has arrived here in winter so far.
During the winter, while the Char Dham shrines remain closed to the public, lord Kedarnath is ceremoniously worshipped at Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath, lord Badrinath is worshiped at the Yogdhyan temple in Pandukeshwar, Goddess Gangotri is worshiped at Mukhba and goddess Yamunotri at Kharsali. The State Government had said that various measures would be taken to attract visitors to the winter shrines of Char Dham deities which would also provide a much needed fillip to the local economy.
In the previous year, the initial phase of winter pilgrimage saw a negligible number of tourist arrivals though gradually there was an increase in volume of visitors to the winter abode of lord Badrinath.
According to data from official sources, last year a total of 6,348 persons had visited the winter abode of lord Badrinath. However, considering the negligible number of visitors so far the scope for income generation from winter tourism remains uncertain.