Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 19 offered prayers at the Kedranath temple. Modi, who arrived in Kedarnath on May 18, meditated at a cave called 'Dhyan Kutia'. Speaking to the media after offering prayers on Sunday morning, Narendra Modi said that he was blessed to spend a night at the holy shrine. "It's a privilege to spend the night here. I'm blessed to visit the holy shrine. My development mission for Kedarnath includes nature, environment and tourism," he said

When asked if he asked for anything from Lord Shiva, Narendra Modi said: "I do not ask for anything from God." The Prime Minister also said that he has a dedicated team for Kedarnath's development. "I also monitor this place via video conferencing," he added

After Kedarnath, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered prayers at the Badrinath temple in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. After offering prayers at the Kedarnath temple in the morning, Modi flew to Badrinath and paid obeisances to the Lord Badri (Vishnu) shrine there. The priests and purohits chanted Vedic hymns while the Prime Minister offered prayers

Narendra Modi also waved to the pilgrims who gathered around the Badrinath temple situated at a height of 10,170 feet in the Garhwal Himalayas. Earlier, after spending Saturday night meditating inside a cave, Modi offered prayers at Kedarnath temple in the morning

Narendra Modi also thanked the Election Commission for permitting him to visit the Himalayan shrine and take a break from the gruelling election campaign. "I got two days rest," he said. Modi said he was completely cut off from the world inside the specially-created cave, which was furnished with amenities such as power, an attached toilet, a telephone, a CCTV etc. "There was no communication, only a small window through which I could see the temple," he said