The Prime Minister has emphasized the creation and development of special facilities for pilgrims in the Kedarnath trek and Kedar Valley. According to this scheme, a Shiva Udyan (garden) will be constructed behind the Kedarnath temple located in the Kedar Valley, so that pilgrims can experience divinity.
For the meditation and relaxation of pilgrims, four contemplation sites will be built on the trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath. The Union Ministry of Culture will complete these projects starting in 2023 in 8 months. Rs 118 crore will be spent on this.
Meditation places will be built at scenic places like Rambada, Chhoti Lincholi, Badi Lincholi and Channi Camp falling on the 18 kilometer route from Gaurikund to Kedarnath. The Shiv Udyan will have a large amphitheater-style seating area for pilgrims, green areas and a retaining wall around it. A senior government official told the media that the idea behind this is to provide a complete spiritual experience for pilgrims. This is to make their visit to the Kedarnath temple more comfortable and enriching.
Meditation music will play before pilgrims arrive at four contemplation sites. As well, there will be places for them to rest and recuThe LED The LED displays on the walls here will have scenes of the Kedarnath temple.
At present, there are mostly private facilities for accommodation and rest on the way from Gaurikund to Kedarnath temple. These steps have also been taken amid the PM’s request to the authorities to build more pilgrim facilities. This is in view of the huge rush of devotees now coming to Kedarnath. This year, more than 14 lakh devotees visited Kedarnath.
There has also been a big increase in pilgrims visiting the renovaSamadhiadhi of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, which was inaugurated by the PM last year at Kedarnath. A 12 foot statue of Shankaracharya has been installed in the Samadhi Sthal. Now Shiv Udyan will be a new attraction for devotees coming to Kedarnath.
During his recent visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also laid the foundation stone for a 9.7 km long ropeway cable car service between Gaurikund and Kedarnath, which will reduce the travel time between the two places from 6-7 hours at present to only about 30 minutes when pilgrims visit Kedarnath, although a helicopter service is also available to transport pilgrims.
