The pilgrimage to Hemkund Sahib in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand will no more include 16-km trekking stretch as the authorities are all set to construct a road till Bhyundur that will reduce the distance to a major extent.
At the moment, pilgrims who come to Govindghat, the gateway to Hemkund Sahib, take their vehicles up to Pulna, which is at a distance of 3 km from Govindghat towards Hemkund. From Pulna the 16-km trek to Hemkund is taken, which includes 6 km of steep climb from Ghangaria till the shrine.
The government has already issued notification for the construction of this stretch of road; it is expected to be completed in 18 months. Hemkund Sahib Management Trust vice-president Narinderjit Singh Bindra said the construction of the road would make Hemkund Sahib yatra more comfortable.
“A ropeway from Ghangaria till Hemkund Sahib will help pilgrims overcome 6 km of steep climb and increase the number of pilgrims to Hemkund,” Bindra added.