Adi Kailash yatra to begin on May 2

Pithoragarh: The portal of the ancient Shiva temple at Jolingkong, where the sacred Adi Kailash resides, will reopen on May 2, marking the start of the yatra to Om Parvat and Parvati Kund. The site gained attention after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit in 2023, which led to a surge in tourism. While over 30,000 tourists visited last year, the Uttarakhand tourism department expects the number to cross 50,000 this year.Gopal Singh Kutiyal, the temple priest, said that according to traditional Rang calculations, the auspicious date for reopening the portal is Oct 2. "However, the seasonal reopening will take place on May 2 with a special puja. This will be preceded by collective village-level rituals performed by locals in their respective villages," he said.Situated at an elevation of 14,500 feet in Kuti village, Byas Valley of Dharchula tehsil, Pithoragarh district, Adi Kailash lies in a migratory settlement where residents descend to lower valleys during winter and return in summer. According to Punit Singh Kutiyal, president of the Adi Kailash Vikas Samiti, villagers will begin their return after April 15 this year.Access to Adi Kailash requires an inner line permit. SDM Dharchula Manjeet Singh has instructed hoteliers, homestay operators, and tour agencies to accept bookings only after May 2. He confirmed that inner line permits will also be issued from Dharchula from that date onwards.Meanwhile, a team led by additional district magistrate Yogendra Singh recently inspected the yatra route and associated facilities. The team is expected to submit its report in the first week of April. "Based on this report, appropriate administrative actions will be taken," said Vinod Goswami, district magistrate of Pithoragarh.