Almost a month since Chardham pilgrimage started in full-swing and the number of registered overseas tourists visiting Devbhoomi to partake in the pilgrimage this year has broken all past records.
Uttarakhand has always been a crowd-puller especially when it comes to foreigners who come to the region looking to escape the heat and the dust of the plains of India. They flock to the hills, looking for cooler climes, greenery, Yoga and some backpack into the hills along the Chardham pilgrimage route attracted by the shrines and temples nestled in the hill-state.
We witness foreign tourists queuing up from early morning at the Chardham Biometric Registration Centre in Rishikesh registering themselves to visit a few if not all the shrines especially Gangotri, Yamnotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath and a few off beat destinations as well.
Until last week, according to the Biometric registration, the number of foreigners vying for the Chardham pilgrimage had already crossed three thousand one hundred visitors within a month of the pilgrimage. An elated biometric centre official Premanand happily exclaims, “Most of our foreign tourists like to visit Yamnotri and Gangotri when it comes to pilgrimage. We have tourists who have come all the way from America-Canada-Italy and plenty from Nepal who want to travel to our Chardhams during this time of the year.”
Speaking to Newspost 22 year old Rori, here from Australia, who just got himself registered for the pilgrimage states, “I really like it, I have heard so much about it,” he adds, “there is great energy in India and I am very happy being here, its very nice.”
Uttarakhand Devbhoomi seems to be the first destination choice for foreigners visiting India, especially in summers. Its climate, natural beauty, off the beaten track treks and destination but now its spirituality and religion act like a magnet attracting tired souls and spirit because its not the end, but the journey that makes the difference.
