As many as 1,080 pilgrims will be able to visit the Kailash Mansarovar this year. The devotees will be sent on the Himalayan pilgrimage in 18 batches ie 60 pilgrims in each batch.
It may be recalled that earlier only 16 batches, of 60 pilgrims each, were allowed on this holy Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. But from last year, the number of batches of pilgrims has been raised to 18. “So, this year too as many as 18 batches of pilgrims would be sent on this pilgrimage,” informed the officials of the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) which looks after the hospitality aspect of this Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage.
Despite last year's tragic experience of the yatra which was disrupted due to the natural disaster, enthusiasm among the devotees seems to be quite high about the yatra this year which is proved by the large number of applications received from the devotees across the country wanting to go on the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage.
While the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) takes care of the hospitality aspect of this pilgrimage, the district administration at Pithoragarh and the India-Tibet Border Police (ITBP) look over the safety aspect of the Mansarovar yatra. Since poor connectivity is a major drawback in the upper Himalayan region in Pithoragarh, wireless communication devices would be put in place to track the location of the pilgrims in order to be in touch with them during their Himalayan sojourn with necessary ground safety staff, as the officials concerned of the Pithoragarh district administration informed. More so, necessary police force will also be deployed on all important destinations on way to the Kailash Mansarovar to ensure a safe and hassle-free pilgrimage for the devotees, they added.
In the meantime, the district administration Pithoragarh has also directed the officials concerned of various departments like PWD, health, to name a few, to take necessary steps to strengthen basic infrastructure on the Kailash Mansarovar route so that the said annual pilgrimage could be completed in a smooth and safe manner.
It is also to note that earlier the pilgrimage used to commence from New Delhi on June 1, but since last year the timing of the Mansarovar yatra has been rescheduled to June 12. The commencement of this yatra will remain the same i.e. June 12 this year too.The pilgrimage of the Kailash Mansarovar commences from New Delhi and is conducted under the overall supervision of the Ministry of External Affairs.
At the same time the route starts from New Delhi to the Kailash Mansarovar via different hill tourist destinations including Almora, Dharchula, Narayan Ashram, Sirkha, Gala, Bundi, Gunji, Nabhidhang, lipu Pass and then the holy shrine, Kailash Mansarovar.Besides, special attention will be paid on providing good hospitality to the pilgrims. They will be able to enjoy a variety of Kumaoni cuisines along with special dishes from different parts of the country at different bases on their way to the holy shrine.