MANASKHAND RAIL CORRIDOR YATRA TO BEGIN FROM APRIL 22

PITHORAGARH: To promote religious tourism in Manaskhand (Kumaon region), the Uttarakhand tourism department in collaboration with Indian railways, will begin the Manaskhand rail corridor yatra from the last week of April this year, according to officials familiar with the matter.

Pithoragarh district tourism officer (DTO) Kirti Chand Arya, “Under this trial phase of the rail yatra to Manaskhand temples in the Kumaon region, a special train will begin from Pune to Tanakpur on April 22 and reach Khatima on April 24. The train will carry over 300 pilgrims in two groups, to Manaskhand temples in the Kumaon region.”

Like Garhwal’s Char Dham yatra, the Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government is trying to increase religious tourism in Kumaon under Manaskhand mandir mala mission. Manaskhand tableau depicting Jageshwar Dham and the rich heritage of Uttarakhand had got first position in the Republic Day parade this year.

Under the Manaskhand mandir mala mission, the 16 temples and areas around them that are being developed in the first phase are Jageshwar Mahadev temple, Chitai Golu temple, Suryadev temple Katarmal, Kasar Devi temple, Nanda Devi temple, Patal Bhuvaneshwar temple, Haat Kalika temple, Bagnath temple, Baijnath temple, Patal Rudreshwar, Maa Purnagiri temple, Maa Barahi Devi temple, Baleshwar temple, Naina Devi temple, Kainchidham temple and Chaitidham temple.

According to DTO, it is the first such attempt of the tourism department to take religious tourists to temples and places in the Manaskhand region.

Arya said the tour will be conducted in two groups. The first group, which will alight from the train at Khatima on April 26, will visit Purnagiri temple in the Tanakpur area of Champawat district, and then other temples like Baleswar, Maneswar temple, Mayawati temple, Jageshwar temple, Golu Devta temple, Naina Devi temple and so on”