By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 13 Mar: Construction of Uttarakhand’s first major Yamuna ghat is making rapid progress at Haripur in Kalsi area of Dehradun district. The project has been launched following an announcement made by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to redevelop Haripur Kalsi as a prominent religious pilgrimage destination. It may also be noted here that a provision for allocation of funds for the project has also been made in the forthcoming budget to ensure its timely completion.
Although the river Yamuna originates from Yamunotri in Uttarakhand, the state so far does not have a proper ghat along the river where devotees could perform ritual bathing. Taking cognisance of this, CM Dhami had announced the development of a Yamuna ghat at Haripur in his list of CM’s announcements. The proposed ghat will extend for about one kilometre and will become the first such dedicated Yamuna bathing ghat in the state, providing thousands of pilgrims an opportunity to take a holy dip in the river.
Meanwhile, preparations are also underway to install a 25-foot-high statue of Yamuna near the Haripur Yamuna Ghat. The statue is proposed to be placed on one of the pillars of an old bridge located in the middle of the Yamuna river flow near the ghat. For this purpose, the Lok Panchayat Jamuna Teerth Samiti has invited sculptors from Gujarat and initiated work on the plan. Permission for installing the statue has also been sought from the district administration. The committee has also received a piece of land as donation near the ghat for construction of a large temple, and further plans in this regard are currently being prepared by the committee.
It may be recalled that according to the historical accounts, Haripur Yamuna Ghat was once an important pilgrimage site which was destroyed in a devastating flood in the past. The decision to revive and redevelop the ancient site was taken by the CM, who also laid the foundation stone for the project in a ceremonial function earlier. The Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) has been designated as the executing agency for the construction of the ghat and is overseeing the implementation of the CM’s ambitious project.
It may be recalled that Haripur Kalsi is considered an important historical and religious site with links to several significant periods of Indian history. The place is associated with the era of Krishna, while it also houses the famous Ashokan edict installed by Emperor Ashoka. In addition, the region is also believed to have historical connections with the childhood training of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Along the Yamuna riverbank, a centuries-old Ashwamedh Yajna site is also located, which is presently under the protection of the Archaeological Survey authorities.
Regarding the project, Dhami has said that the state government is committed to developing the Haripur Yamuna Ghat as a major religious centre and that the proposal forms part of the government’s announcement list. He said work on the ghat is progressing and is expected to be completed soon, after which it will emerge as a major centre of faith for lakhs of devotees from Jaunsar-Bawar region as well as followers devoted to Krishna and Yamuna traditions. He added that funds for the project have also been allocated in the budget for FY 2026-27.
