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Time of India
06-08-2025
- Time of India
Uttarakhand flood fury: Last traces of centuries-old Panch Kedar lost below debris; homes destroyed, orchards swept away
DEHRADUN: The Kheer Gad river surged through without warning, tearing through Dharali - a village that holds its history in the soil. The flash flood halved the settlement, destroying homes and orchards, and burying what little remained of its oldest monument: the Kalp Kedar temple, a shrine dedicated to Shiva and, as local lore has it, built by the Pandavas during their exile. Only the temple's dome - long visible above ground since a glacial shift in the early 20th century submerged the rest - had endured. Carved with the face of Kalabhairava, it remained a visible fragment of something larger and unseen. Now, that too is gone, covered by fresh silt, boulders and broken timber. The Shivling has stayed hidden beneath earth and water for generations. In the 1980s, residents had tried to excavate the structure, but the Shivling never emerged - as though resisting visibility. That mirrored the lore: Shiva, unwilling to grant the Pandavas absolution, is said to have scattered himself across the Himalayas, each fragment becoming a site of worship. Kalp Kedar, believed by locals to be a prototype of Kedarnath, was one of those pieces - half-visible, always revered. "This wasn't just a flood. It took the heart of the village," said Manoj Rana, former pradhan, surveying the damage. Set at an altitude of 650 metres (2,100 feet) above sea level, it was once a key halt on the Indo-Tibetan trade route. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like With temperatures hitting 95°F, this is the mini air conditioner everyone's buying in the U.S News of the Discovery Undo The Bhotia traders moved wool and salt through these hills, and many settled in nearby Bagori and Harsil, blending Buddhist and Hindu traditions. While Dharali does not lie on the formal Panch Kedar route, villagers consider Kalp Kedar part of that sacred constellation - not geographically, but spiritually. Its submerged form, they believe, was no accident but part of the same divine refusal that defines the myth: a god withdrawing from view, leaving only fragments behind. Brijesh Sati, general secretary of the Char Dham Teerth Purohit Mahapanchayat, said, "The temple was near the bridge. Kalp Kedar had immense importance for the region. It was restored by Adi Shankracharya and worshipped as one of the oldest shrines to Shiva." In the village's modern history came the British deserter Frederick Wilson, known locally as Pahadi Wilson, who made Harsil his home in the mid-19th century. He introduced apple saplings and red rajma to the region - both of which reshaped Dharali's economy. Today, the village exports apples across northern India. The trees remain, but the terraces along the river were swept away this week. Several orchards were flattened. Footbridges leading to fields were carried off downstream. Entire homes - including those belonging to long-settled families - were torn in half. Just 6km from Harsil, Dharali also serves as a base for Himalayan treks, including the Gaumukh-Tapovan and Lama Top routes. It lies close to Gartang Gali, a century-old wooden bridge carved into the rock face that was once used by Indo-Tibetan traders. But Dharali has never been a destination in itself. It has existed between paths - passed through, not always visited, known more to pilgrims and orchardists than to tourists.
Indian Express
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Sukhu urges Centre to explore feasibility of opening Shipki-La route for Kailash yatra
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday urged the Centre to explore the feasibility of opening the Shipki-La route in the state for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. In a letter to PM Narendra Modi, the CM said that Shipki-La region has served as a vital Indo-Tibetan trade route, predating modern borders. He said it has also been a cultural corridor for Tibetan Buddhism and ancient pilgrimage paths reflecting India's enduring civilizational ties to Kailash and Mansarovar. 'Kinnaur region being semi-arid and situated in a rain shadow zone like Spiti, is less prone to monsoon disruptions which keeps the route accessible for most of the year. The path from Shipki-La via Gartok to Darchen and Mansarovar is comparatively shorter on the Tibetan side. Shipki-La offers a more stable, unambiguous corridor, making it well suited as a long-term, dependable corridor for pilgrimage and cross-border link,' he said. He noted the state has road connectivity up to Shipki-La via Rampur and Pooh. He said the state will extend all logistical and administrative coordination to the Central Government if the Shipki-La route is opened for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
Hindustan Times
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Himachal CM urges Centre to explore feasibility of opening Shipki-La route for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has urged the central government to explore the feasibility of opening Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (KMY) via Shipki-La route in Himachal Pradesh. Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder SIngh Sukhu (File) In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the chief minister said that Shipki-La region has served as a vital Indo-Tibetan trade route, predating modern borders. He said that it has also been a cultural corridor for Tibetan Buddhism and ancient pilgrimage paths reflecting India's enduring civilizational ties to Kailash and Mansarovar. He said that Kinnaur region of Himachal Pradesh being semi-arid and situated in a rain shadow zone like Spiti, is less prone to monsoon disruptions, which keeps the route accessible for most of the year, adding that the path from Shipki-La via Gartok towards Darchen and Mansarovar is comparatively shorter on the Tibetan side. He said that Shipki-La also offers a more stable and unambiguous corridor, making it well suited as a long term, dependable corridor for pilgrimage and cross-border connectivity. Sukhu said that Himachal Pradesh has already road connectivity up to Shipki-La via Rampur and Pooh and with focused development of base camps and supporting infrastructure, this route can be seamlessly integrated into the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra framework. The CM further said that the state government would extend all logistical and administrative coordination to the Centre if the Shipki-La route is opened for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Himachal CM urges Centre to explore feasibility of opening Shipki-La route for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday urged the Centre to explore the feasibility of opening the Shipki-La route in the state for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the chief minister mentioned that Shipki-La region has served as a vital Indo-Tibetan trade route, predating modern borders. He said that it has also been a cultural corridor for Tibetan Buddhism and ancient pilgrimage paths reflecting India's enduring civilizational ties to Kailash and Mansarovar. "Kinnaur region of Himachal Pradesh being semi-arid and situated in a rain shadow zone like Spiti, is less prone to monsoon disruptions which keeps the route accessible for most of the year. "The path from Shipki-La via Gartok towards Darchen and Mansarovar is comparatively shorter on the Tibetan side. Shipki-La also offers a more stable and unambiguous corridor, making it well suited as a long-term, dependable corridor for pilgrimage and cross-border connectivity," he said.
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Business Standard
01-07-2025
- Climate
- Business Standard
Traffic severely affected by road washouts: Uttarkashi DM on landslides
DM Arya stated that instructions have been issued to the Indo-Tibetan border police and the forest department to construct an alternative route to ensure safe pedestrian movement in the region ANI General News Following major landslides in the Silai Band area, Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya on Monday said that traffic movement has been severely affected due to road washouts at multiple locations, but restoration efforts are underway on a war footing. Speaking to ANI, DM Arya said, "Traffic has been disrupted due to road washout at three places in Silai Band area. Work is being done on a war footing to make the road smooth for traffic." DM Arya stated that instructions have been issued to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Forest Department to construct an alternative route to ensure safe pedestrian movement in the region. "In view of the washout of the road in the Ojri area, necessary instructions have been given to the ITBP and Forest Department for the construction of an alternative route there, so that safe movement by foot in the affected area can be made smooth movement of vehicles will be restored to Silai Band by tomorrow," he said. Landslides triggered by heavy rains have been recurring across Uttarkashi district, hampering road connectivity and posing challenges for both locals and tourists. The administration, along with disaster response agencies, has been actively engaged in clearing debris and ensuring essential connectivity is restored swiftly. Uttarkashi DM Prashant Arya inspected the relief and rescue operations, which are underway at the site of the incident. Two workers have died in the incident, and seven people are still missing. Earlier in the day, Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police (SP) Sarita Dobhal inspected the landslide-affected areas along the Yamunotri National Highway and reviewed the safety measures in place to manage the situation. "SP Uttarkashi Sarita Dobhal inspected various landslide zones on the Yamunotri National Highway and reviewed and assessed the safety management today, " posted Uttarkashi Police, Uttarakhand on X. Meanwhile, officials stated that the 24-hour suspension of the Char Dham Yatra has been lifted. The ban was imposed following a heavy rain alert. The Yatra was suspended after a cloudburst near Barkot triggered a massive landslide, killing two workers and leaving seven others missing. Earlier, the Barkot-Yamunotri road in Uttarkashi district, which had been damaged by a landslide, was repaired. However, search operations for the missing individuals are still underway. Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya confirmed to ANI that "repairs have been completed on the washout before Silai Band, and that efforts are ongoing to restore other damaged portions of the road." "The washout that happened due to a cloud burst before Silai Band on the Barkot-Yamunotri road of the district has been repaired and the road has been made smooth, while the work of making the other washout smooth is going on," Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
