Taking cognisance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at BRICS meeting in which the PM had appealed to his Chinese counterpart to facilitate an alternate route for Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, Uttarakhand Chief minister Harish Rawat has appealed to PM Modi that it is okay for him to be making a pious attempt to improve bilateral relations between China and India, but as far as route is concerned, the existing route to Kailash Mansarovar via Uttarakhand is a prestige to the State; so instead of abandoning this route, it would be better to upgrade the infrastructure of the route to facilitate pilgrims. Chief Minister Rawat has also written a letter to the Prime Minister on July 17 and disclosed this to media on July 18.
CM Rawat further said that the route was decided in a meeting between former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her then Chinese counterpart. During the meeting, it was decided that the traditional route will be followed. "Instead of seeking alternate route for Kailash-Mansarovar, we should make a request to them to increase the number of pilgrims because people are desperate to pay obeisance there."
By making an appeal for an alternate route, the PM has embarassed the State's residents. It is the sole route to Kailash-Mansarovar and it is mentioned in the Holy book that whosoever goes to Kailash Mansarovar by this route, will become dear to lord Shiva. Even saints have said that whosoever touches the pious water of Mansarovar will get closer to lord Shiva. In this route, pilgrims can see Om Parvat and Kailash Parvat.
The route is not only important for pilgrimage, but also logistically important. He appealed to the PM to provide more resources to the DGBR so that they would upgrade the existing infrastructure.