PM Modi proposes year-round tourism in Uttarakhand to boost economy

Making a strong pitch for round the year tourism in Uttarakhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 6 said there should be no off-season in the picturesque hill state and this would strengthen its economy in a big way.

Addressing a rally in Harsil after offering prayers at the village of Mukhwa, the winter abode of Goddess Ganga in Uttarkashi district, he said visitors will get the true flavor of Uttarakhand if they come to the state in winter.

"When fog envelops the rest of the country during winter, the state is bathed in sunlight," Modi said as he coined a new term — "Ghaam Tapo Paryatan" (soak the sun tourism) — in Garhwali language for winter tourism in the state.

Praising the state government for its 12-month tourism vision, he stressed the need for a "360-degree approach to tourism" to create employment opportunities for the local youth throughout the year.

After doing business in summer, hotels, resorts and homestays in the hills of Uttarakhand become empty during winter, slowing down its economy, Modi said.

Tourism should be on in all seasons, there should be no off-season, the prime minister said, adding winter tourism will help Uttarakhand realize its full economic potential.

Uttarakhand's unique cultural features such as its traditional dance and music, cuisine and hot springs can be showcased, he suggested.

Modi said he feels blessed to visit Goddess Ganga's winter abode in Mukhwa. "I think Maa Ganga has adopted me. It is her blessings that took me to Kashi and gave me an opportunity to serve the people," the prime minister said.

He also expressed grief at the death of eight workers in the recent avalanche at a Border Roads Organization camp in Chamoli district's Mana village.

The prime minister flagged off a trek and bike journey to the predominantly tribal village of Jadung from Harshil and said it is to help the border areas of Uttarakhand reap the benefits of tourism.

"We haven't forgotten that border village Jadung was evacuated during the 1962 India-China war and efforts are being made to turn such villages habitable," he said at the public meeting in Harsil.

Speaking of the two major ropeway projects cleared for the state by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) headed by him, Modi said the ropeway to Kedarnath will reduce the eight-nine hour journey to just 30 minutes.

The CCEA on Wednesday approved two major ropeway projects to Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib worth over Rs 6,000 crore. In a bid to promote religious tourism and boost the local economy, the Uttarakhand government has initiated a Winter Tourism program this year.

In the new budget, provisions have been made for developing 50 new tourist destinations, the prime minister told the gathering in Harsil.

Modi appealed to people to make Uttarakhand their destination for weddings and asked filmmakers to shoot their movies in the hill state which has been awarded for being the most film-friendly.

Content creators and social media influencers should make short films on winter tourism destinations in Uttarakhand and the best works should be awarded, the prime minister said, adding it will go a long way in promoting winter tourism in the state.

He also asked corporate houses to organize their conferences and seminars in Uttarakhand.

"Winter tourism is prevalent in many countries. People in the tourism sector should study how it is conducted in those countries and apply those in Uttarakhand," the prime minister said.

Before reaching Harsil, Modi offered prayers at Mukhwa temple -- the winter abode of Goddess Ganga in Uttarkashi district -- amid chanting of Vedic hymns by the priests.

The locals, dressed in traditional attire, accorded a warm welcome to the prime minister through a dance performance circling him as Modi stood in the middle with folded hands. He also enjoyed the morning view of the distant snowclad peaks surrounding the area.

Mukhwa is located on the way to the Gangotri temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga. Her idol is moved to Mukhwa temple from Gangotri Dham every year after the closure of its gates for winter.

This was Prime Minister Modi's second visit to Uttarakhand this year.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended a warm welcome to the prime minister in a post on X.

"A hearty welcome and greetings to the prime minister on his visit to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, the sacred land of religion, spiritualism and sacrifice. Residents of the state are excited to receive the prime minister in Mukhwa-Harsil, a land full of spiritual and natural beauty," he said.

"Certainly, this winter trip of yours will give new dimensions to the cultural, spiritual and tourism development of our state," Dhami said and hoped that Modi's visit would put Mukhwa on the global tourism map.

Later, speaking at the public meeting in Harsil the Chief Minister said Modi is the first Prime Minister to set his foot in the border village.

(PTI)