Don't alter Kailash-Mansarovar yatra route: Rawat to Centre

Dehradun, Dec 9: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Tuesday asked the Centre not to change the traditional route of Kailash-Mansarovar yatra which passes through the hill state.

At a meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi, Rawat said the yatra route passing through Uttarakhand is linked with the people's religious sentiments and therefore should not be changed, an official release here said.

"People have believed for centuries that Lord Shiva followed this route to marry Maa Nandadevi who is considered the daughter of Uttarakhand. It is due to this belief that the yatra to Kailash-Mansarovar has been going on for ages through Uttarakhand," an official release quoted Rawat as telling the Union minister.

India and China are exploring the possibilities of finding an alternative route other than the one going through Uttarakhand to the pilgrimage center considered the abode of Lord Shiva which is located in Tibet.

He said trek route to Kailash-Mansarovar is being shortened and duration of the yatra is being reduced by 4-6 days. New motorable roads are being built on the yatra route so that people can go to the popular pilgrimage spot even by jeep, the Chief Minister said adding that a plan is being worked out also to introduce chopper services to Kailash-Mansarovar during the rainy season.

PTI