Heavy snowfall blankets Kedarnath Dham under 3-4 feet of thick snow

A view of the snow-covered Kedarnath Temple amid fresh snowfall, in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. Pic/PTI

Continuous heavy snowfall has blanketed Kedarnath Dham under a thick layer of snow measuring nearly three to four feet, covering the entire township and surrounding areas in white.

According to the Kedarnath Temple Committee, at the world-renowned eleventh Jyotirlinga, Kedarnath Temple, and the entire Kedar Valley have been enveloped in a shimmering layer of snow, creating a truly divine and mesmerising scene.

Despite sub-zero temperatures and harsh weather conditions, personnel from the Uttarakhand Police and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) remain fully alert, maintaining a strong security presence in the region.

"Even in such extreme conditions, the jawans continue regular patrols to ensure the sanctity and safety of the shrine," the Temple Committee said.

The security forces have established a robust and impenetrable security cover amid the ongoing snowfall.

At the same time, the security personnel are clearing the accumulated snow around the barracks and living areas on their own, demonstrating self-reliance and discipline to ensure that their operations continue without disruption.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand has been witnessing significant developments in its tourism sector, with the government focusing on promoting a blend of spiritual and adventure tourism while expanding infrastructure to strengthen its global appeal.

To make pilgrimages smoother and safer, large-scale ropeway projects have been initiated. A 12.9-km ropeway from Sonprayag to Kedarnath Dham will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 4,081 crore. Similarly, a 12.4-km ropeway from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib is planned at a cost of Rs 2,730 crore, according to a state government release.

Once completed, these projects are expected to significantly reduce travel time and physical strain for devotees.

In a major push to boost year-round tourism, winter pilgrimage has been introduced in the state. To promote this initiative, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier visited Mukhwa, the winter abode of Goddess Ganga.

In the Kumaon region, under the Manaskhand Mandir Mala Mission, 48 temples are being developed into a religious circuit, providing a further boost to spiritual tourism.

Rapid development work is also underway in Kedarnath and Badrinath under their respective master plans. Badrinath Dham is being developed into a smart spiritual hill town with projects worth Rs 255 crore.

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