New Delhi: Anil Baluni, Rajya Sabha MP and BJP chief spokesperson met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday and advocated pilgrimage route to Kailash Mansarovar, originating from Uttarakhand.

Briefing the EAM, the BJP lawmaker said lakhs of devotees visit the holy shrine Kailash Mansarovar every year but a very limited group of about 1100 devotees are allowed from Uttarakhand.

He said that if Pithoragarh-Lipulekh Pass is developed as a dedicated pilgrimage route for Kailash Mansarovar, this will turn out to be a lifeline for state’s tourism and will open new avenues of economic prosperity for the state.

Taxpayers Association of Bharat (TAXAB) president Manu Gaur, giving his insights on the alternate route for Kailash Mansarovar, said if the pilgrims visiting the holy shrine from Nepal opt for Uttarkhand route, this will yield massive financial gains for the state.

He estimates that this may help state add over Rs 10,000 crore to state’s exchequer.

इस कार्य के द्वारा जो यात्री नेपाल के रास्ते कैलाश मानसरोवर यात्रा के लिए जाते थे, अब वो उत्तराखंड के रास्ते जा पायेंगे। लगभग 10 हज़ार करोड़ रूपये का लाभ उत्तराखंड को मिलेगा।
सराहनीय कार्य @anil_baluni जी। https://t.co/cadSy6tmnr

— MANU GAUR (@mgtaxab) February 17, 2021

‘Uttarakhand route’ will cut travel time drastically

Mr Baluni emphasised the need to develop two airports in Pantnagar and Pithoragarh and also an all-weather road from Patnagar to Lipulekh Pass.
For now, the pilgrims reach Kailash Mansarovar through 3 routes — via Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Kathmandu in Nepal — all of which are long and arduous.

Uttarakhand route involves travelling by road to Pithoragarh (490 km from Delhi), thereafter 130 km of road travel and 79 km or five days of foot trek from Ghatiabgarh to Lipulekh Pass on boundary with China.

Kailash Parbat is located in vicinity of Mansarovar Lake which is less than 100 km from Uttarakhand border.

For Hindus, Mt Kailash is traditionally recognised as abode of God Shiva and it is considered the holy centre of the planet and a manifestation of heaven. The holy water of Lake Mansarovar is said to have the power of washing away our sins.