Pithoragarh, March 11 The annual Adi Kailash pilgrimage in Uttarakhand's Vyas Valley will begin on May 8 from three locations in the state, officials said on Tuesday.
General Manager of Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited (KMVN), Vijay Nath Shukla, said that 15 groups of pilgrims will undertake the journey from Haldwani, Tanakpur, and Dharchula. KMVN is the nodal agency for the pilgrimage.
The yatra from Haldwani will last for eight days, while the trips from Tanakpur and Dharchula will take six and five days respectively, Shukla said, adding that the first phase of the pilgrimage will conclude on June 10.
The Adi Kailash Yatra began in 1981 following the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Pilgrim footfall increased significantly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site in October 2023.
According to officials, about 2,000 pilgrims visited Adi Kailash annually before the prime minister's visit. This figure rose to 28,000 in 2023 and crossed 36,000 last year.