A trek to the mountain which had its peak taken away by lord Hanuman for the Sanjeevani Booti, Dronagiri was formally launched as trek of the year on Sunday in the Chamoli district. Members of seven trekking groups comprising more than 100 trekkers were flagged off the by local MlA on the occasion. The local tour operators and villagers are expected to gain from this initiative.
Dronagiri is situated about 10 kilometres from Jumma which is about 40 kilometres distant from Joshimath on the Malari road. During the winter season, this high altitude area is generally covered in snow. The local residents are appreciative of the State Government’s initiative to declare the area the trek of the year. It is expected that the resulting increase in tourism activity will provide employment and income generation to the local tour operators and local residents in various enterprises related to tourism and hospitality.
To mark the launch of this trek of the year, the Badrinath MlA Mahendra Bhatt inaugurated a programme organised that the Gandhi Maidan in Joshimath on Sunday. local artistes and school children presented colourful cultural items after which the local MlA flagged off the trekking groups on the Dronagiri trek. Expressing his views on the occasion, the Badrinath MlA appreciated the effort undertaken to boost tourism activity on the Dronagiri trek. He too expressed hope that the initiative will boost income generation opportunities for the local businesses and villagers. Addressing the gathering on the occasion the Garhwal additional commissioner Harak Singh Rawat said that apart from bringing about a rise in tourism activity, the effort will also make the visitors more aware of the various other locations which can be visited by tourists in the region. A scheme for home-stays in the villages is also in place to encourage community based tourism activity in the region. The Kedarnath MlA Manoj Rawat, municipal council chairperson Rohini Rawat, former cabinet minister Kedar Singh Fonia and other public representatives along with the local residents were also among those present on the occasion.