Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday offered prayers at Mukhwa temple—the winter abode of Goddess Ganga in Uttarkashi district—amid chanting of Vedic hymns by priests.
The locals, dressed in traditional attire, accorded a warm welcome to the prime minister through a dance performance circling him as Modi stood in the middle with folded hands. He also enjoyed the morning view of the distant snowclad peaks surrounding the area.
Prime Minister @narendramodi flags off a trek and bike rally in #Harsil, Uttarakhand
— PIB India (@PIB_India) March 6, 2025
Watch: 🔽 pic.twitter.com/xnI7Dr1eFq
Mukhwa is a village located on the way to the Gangotri temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga. Her idol is moved to Mukhwa temple from Gangotri Dham every year after the closure of its gates for winter.
The prime minister flagged off a trek and bike rally in Harshil. Modi's visit to the temple, his first as prime minister, is expected to boost winter pilgrimage and tourism in Uttarakhand.
Prime Minister @narendramodi takes in the breathtaking view of the snow-capped mountains from Maa Ganga's winter seat in #Mukhwa, and warmly greets the devotees at the temple
— PIB India (@PIB_India) March 6, 2025
Watch: 🔽 pic.twitter.com/vkT1VwKzHy
It comes a day after the cabinet committee on economic affairs headed by him approved two major ropeway projects to Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib worth over ₹6,000 crore. The Uttarakhand government has initiated a winter tourism programme this year to promote religious tourism and boost the local economy, homestays and businesses, among others.
Also read
- Hemkund Sahib, Sonprayag ropeways in Uttarakhand: Why tourists, pilgrims should be excited!
- Uttarakhand to include state movement history in school curriculum
- PHOTOS | PM Modi celebrates World Wildlife Day at Gir
- 'Buried under snow for 15 min': Worker rescued from Uttarakhand avalanche narrates experience as search ops continue
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended a warm welcome to the prime minister in a post on X. "A hearty welcome and greetings to the prime minister on his visit to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, the sacred land of religion, spiritualism and sacrifice. Residents of the state are excited to receive the prime minister in Mukhwa-Harsil, a land full of spiritual and natural beauty," he said.
"Certainly, this winter trip of yours will give new dimensions to the cultural, spiritual and tourism development of our state," Dhami said and hoped that Modi's visit would put Mukhwa on the global tourism map.
