Pvt firms to perk up Mansarovar trek

There's good news for yatris travelling to Kailash-Mansarovar. Efforts are afoot to rope in private firms to provide entertainment facilities to the yatris travelling to Mansarovar Lake, situated at a height of 6,000 feet on the Tibetan Himalayas. The four-month-long arduous yatra is scheduled to begin from June 1.

Entertainment facilities like television and movies will be made available to the yatris during their stay at different camps along the 70-km trek route from Pangti in Pithoragarh district of Uttaranchal. Cultural performances will also be staged to let pilgrims know more about the region's culture.

For this, the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, a state government enterprise, is making special arrangements.

"The route to Mansarovar is very strenuous. So we have made arrangements to show movies through VCDs. Besides, special dances will also be organised," said Vinod Kumar, General Manager, Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam.

The government has, recently, introduced new safety measures for Kailash-Mansarovar yatra which include life insurance, metal tags for identification and use of solar lamps in camps.

"Satellite phones are also being provide at various points along the yatra route. Pilgrims can talk to their family members back home through these satellite phones," Kumar said.

Besides this, tent accommodations will also be equipped with comfortable beds, attached toilets and bathrooms. Hot water facility will also be available in each of the five camps on the yatra route.

A special team of doctors will accompany the yatris till Lipu Lekh Pass, the last Kailash-Mansarovar yatra point in Indian territory. Nearly 1,000 pilgrims are likely to undertake the pilgrimage to Mansarovar this time. There will be 16 batches with each comprising 60 yatris.