By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 29 May: Veteran Congress leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, undertook the Adi Kailash Yatra, seeking blessings from Lord Shiva at the age of 77. Rawat shared his experience on social media, posting a video on his X account, where he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to visit the sacred site on 27 May.
Rawat, who was on a tour of the border district as part of his Nyay Yatra, reached Adi Kailash, the ancient abode of Lord Shiva, and Parvati Sarovar. He performed puja at the Shiva Parvati Temple, with priests Gopal Singh Kutiyal and Virendra Singh leading the prayers. He also sang bhajans with devotees on this occasion.
The local villagers welcomed Rawat in Gunji, Kuti, and Napalchu, before he proceeded to Om Parvat yesterday morning. He returned to Dharchula later in the evening. Former Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal, Dharchula MLA Harish Dhami, former MP Pradeep Tamta, former Kapkot MLA Lalit Farswan, Manoj Tiwari, Hemesh Kharkwal, Anand Rawat, Bhupendra Thapa, and Prema Kutiyal were present during the visit.
Rawat is known to trek and visit religiously important sites like Haridwar, Kainchi and combine his religious tours with politics. Recently, he has declared that he would not be contesting the next assembly elections due in 2027 and is also busy promoting his son Anand Rawat’s political career.
Adi Kailash, also known as Shiva Kailash, Chhota Kailash, Baba Kailash, or Jonglingkong Peak, is located in Pithoragarh district. It is a sacred site in the Himalayan mountain range, akin to Mount Kailash in Tibet. The pilgrimage gained prominence after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Adi Kailash in 2023, promoting religious tourism in the region. An Inner Line Permit is required to visit Adi Kailash, which can be obtained in Dharchula. The District Administration maintains records of all visitors.
