Pithoragarh: The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which began in June, concluded on Tuesday as the last and 18th batch of pilgrims left for New Delhi from Kathgodam in Uttarakhand.
"Before departing for New Delhi, the last batch of 38 pilgrims was received by officials of Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) (the nodal agency for the yatra) at Sukhatal guest house of the Nigam and the members were given citations and memorials on completion of the yatra," Nigam officials said.
"A total of 910 pilgrims from 28 states of the country undertook the pilgrimage to Mansarovar and Kailash this year. The pilgrims were divided in 18 batches, the maximum number since the yatra started in 1981," Managing Director of KMVN Deepak Rawat said.
Maximum pilgrims to Kailash this year were from Gujarat, followed by other states like Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan and West Bengal, Nigam officials said.
"The highest numbers of 193, 113 and 120 pilgrims were from Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi, respectively, while the lowest number was from Manipur as there was only one pilgrim from the state," they said.
Talking about the last year's yatra, Rawat said, "Only one batch could reach Kailas Mansarowar last year as the routes were fully damaged due to heavy landslides and broken bridges on way to Nabhidhank, the last track route camp in the Indian side of the pilgrimage."
"We took extra care about the routes this year and selected four alternative routes. But we used only two routes alternatively due to some disturbances during the monsoon months," he said.
The yatra dedicated to Lord Shiva began on June 12.
