Rudraprayag (Uttrakhand): Home to the faith of crores of Hindus, Kedarnath yatra has been special this season for many reasons. Not only for the devotees but also for the economic health of the state the yatra this year has broken many records. The Kedarnath yatra this year has raked in good money for all.
During the Yatra season, total business of about Rs 400 crores has been conducted in various forms. This also helped in creating jobs from Kedarnath bazaar to the pedestrian walkway and other areas. The benefits were reaped from hotel owners, helicopter companies to restaurant owners and others in the region.
The portal of the Kedarnath shrines was opened on 9 May this year. With the onset of the Yatra thousands of pilgrims had started reaching the shrine, which brought a smile to the faces of businessmen in the area.
From the start to the end of the Yatra the inflow of tourist continued. Though, during the monsoon season, there was a dip in the number of tourists reaching Kedarnath. But soon after the monsoons were over Kedarnath was abuzz with devotees and the number of devotees reaching Kedarnath in the season crossed 10 lakh, which is the highest for any season so far.
The record boom in the number of people coming for Yatra this season has also played a vital role in aiding the local economy.
- The ferrying of pilgrims on horsebacks has done a business of Rs 55 crores, which has also filled the coffers of district administration with a revenue of Rs 5 crore.
- Palki operators have done a business of more than Rs 20 lakhs during the season.
- 9 Helicopter companies have done a business of Rs 76 crores this season by ferrying passengers to and from Kedarnath.
- Badri-Kedar temple committee earned Rs 19 crores and Garhwal Mandal Rs 7 crores each.
- More than 1000 hotels, lodges and dharmshala’s operating between Rudraprayag and Kedarnath have done a business of Rs 125 crores.
- Dhaba and small restaurant owners have earned between Rs 4 lakhs to Rs 25 lakhs.
- Pahadi Kitchen in Sonprayag has earned a revenue of Rs 1 crore during the season.
- On the Gaurikund-Kedarnath footway, in between Chirbasa and Junglechatti 10 women self-help groups had put up stalls selling traditional Pahadi food and other products. This earned them a revenue of Rs 20 lakhs during the season.
- Another 1612 Women associated with 142 self-help groups earned Rs 1 crore 22 lakhs by selling local products and prasad made by them.Kedarnath Yatra breaks records
What the District Magistrate has to say:
Mangesh Ghildiyal, District Magistrate of Rudraprayag says, “This yatra season gave employment opportunities to thousands, helped women to get financial independence and also strengthened the local business. The yatra season was safe and peaceful. The district administration is also content that after conducting the yatra with best efforts we have also earned a decent revenue.”
As per the DM, the yatra this year has broken many records of the past.
Since the portals of the shrine were opened there was a heavy inflow of devotees. This was further accelerated after Prime Minister Modi came to offer his prayers at Kedarnath. Close to 10 lakh pilgrims have visited the Kedarnath shrine this season which has, in turn, benefited everyone associated with it. The locals and the administration are hopeful that in future also this number of pilgrims will keep on rising.
The portals of the Kedarnath shrine were closed for the next six months on 29 October.
