Kedarnath Dham Yatra: The journey to Kedarnath Dham is going to change from the year 2025, when the journey on foot will become one-way. This change will provide more convenience to the travelers and the work of reviving the old route has started. After the devastating disaster of June 2013, about 7 km of the walking path from Rambada to Kedarnath was completely destroyed. Then, a new 9 km path was built from Rambada to the right side of the Mandakini river by the Nehru Mountaineering Institute, which has been used for the journey for the last 10 years.

Due to the ever increasing number of travelers from the new route, there has been a lot of pressure on the current route. Apart from this, this route has also suffered extensive damage due to the disaster on 31 July 2023. The incidents of landslides are increasing continuously in the area, due to which both the travelers and the local administration are worried. In view of this, the work of reviving the old route has started. The 5.35 km long and 1.8 meter wide path from Rambada to Garudachatti is being revived. The construction of this path will make the journey to Kedarnath Dham easier on foot. Not only this, the Garudachatti area, which was deserted since the 2013 disaster, will also be revived.

Revival of the old path
The idea of ​​reviving the old path came in the year 2015 and since then land survey and other formalities were completed in various phases. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India gave the green signal to this project in 2023, in which the transfer of 0.983 hectares of forest land was allowed. The amount of forest wealth compensation was deposited in March-April 2023, after which the tender was issued. It

will be reconstructed at a cost of 5 crores
From the third week of August 2023, the Public Works Department (PWD) started the work of reviving the old path from Rambada to Garudachatti. At present, cutting work of about one km has been completed. This route will be re-designed at a cost of about Rs 5 crore. In the second phase, railings and other structural improvements will be made to make the route more safe. Along with this, a new bridge has also been built on the Mandakini river, which will connect this route to the Kedarnath temple.

One-way travel plan
After the revival of the old route, Kedarnath Yatra will be made one-way. Under the new plan, pilgrims will be sent to the Dham through the new route and after darshan they will return through the old route. This will reduce the traffic pressure on the new route and the old route will also be used again. In addition, the operation of horses and mules will be done through the new route, while the old route will be made safe and smooth for pedestrians. This change will make the experience of Kedarnath Yatra more rich and will also ensure a balanced travel system keeping in mind both the local environment and passenger safety.

Impact on travel in future
Every year lakhs of devotees visit Kedarnath Dham and this pilgrimage has a deep religious and cultural significance. But, due to increasing crowd and natural disasters, the pressure on the travel routes is constantly increasing. This new one-way scheme is expected to provide more convenience to the pilgrims, which will not only make the journey easier but will also control environmental damage in the area. Another benefit of the revival of the old route will be that Garudchatti, which used to be an important stop on the Kedarnath Yatra, will once again be bustling with pilgrims.