Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the Uttarakhand @25 “Celebration of Adventure, Spirituality, and Unique Culture” program organized by the Tourism Department at the Himalayan Cultural Center, Garhi Cantt, Dehradun on Monday. On this occasion, the Chief Minister unveiled the logo for the ultra marathon race to be held in Niti and released the Throne of the Gods coffee table book prepared by the Tourism Department.
The Chief Minister honored the winners of the photo exhibition competition by presenting them prizes. He also distributed awards to outstanding homestay operators from 13 districts. He honored astro tour guides and tour managers from across the state. The Chief Minister also honored the mountaineers selected by the Tourism Department and the 13-member ITBP team who successfully climbed Kala Nag Peak.
The Chief Minister thanked all departments, officials, and employees, stating that the hard work of everyone ensured the successful completion of all Silver Jubilee celebrations across the state. He stated that since the state’s formation 25 years ago, this nascent state has progressed rapidly. This progress is the result of the hard work of the agitators.
The Chief Minister stated that the state government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is working towards the state’s all-round development. Infrastructure is being strengthened in all key sectors, including tourism, education, health, drinking water, and connectivity. He noted that where roads were once difficult to build, all-weather roads are now being constructed. Where communication was once a dream, Digital Uttarakhand is now taking shape.
The Chief Minister stated that startups and self-employment initiatives are being initiated in villages and households. Various schemes of the Tourism Department are advancing people in the state. The Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Tourism Self-Employment Scheme and the Deendayal Upadhyaya Homestay Scheme have helped thousands of youth become self-reliant. More than 8,000 young men and women have been trained through tourism and hospitality skill development programs.
The Chief Minister stated that training in areas such as tour guides, naturalists, tour managers, and street food vendors is providing employment opportunities for youth. Following the formulation of the new tourism policy, projects worth over ₹5,500 crore from over 207 investors are underway in the state.
To promote winter tourism, activities have been initiated in the Chardham Winter Yatra and in the high Himalayan regions of Jadung, Darma Valley, and Panchachuli Base Camp.
The Chief Minister stated that Uttarakhand is becoming a hub for adventure tourism, not just pilgrimage. From Chamoli to Tehri Lake, from Mussoorie to Munsyari, each valley is offering a new world of adventure. Promoting thrilling sports like paragliding, trekking, river rafting, and mountain biking has opened up new opportunities for youth in the field of adventure sports.
The Chief Minister said that Astro-Tourism, Wade-in-Uttarakhand, and Spiritual Destination Development are giving a new direction to the state’s tourism. He noted that on Sunday, the Prime Minister stated that Uttarakhand’s strength lies in its spiritual power. Religious sites like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Haridwar, and Rishikesh are centers of faith and energy not only in Uttarakhand but also in India.
The Chief Minister stated that the state’s local economy is being strengthened through initiatives such as the One District, Two Products Scheme, the House of Himalayas brand, the State Millet Mission, the Farm Machinery Bank, the Apple Mission, the new tourism policy, the new film policy, homestays, Wade in Uttarakhand, and the Solar Self-Employment Scheme. In the past four and a half years, the state has achieved many notable achievements, the echoes of which are being heard across the country.
The Chief Minister stated that the state’s continued progress in the tourism sector has been recognized nationally and internationally. In the year 2023 and 2024, villages like Jakhol, Harshil, Supi and Gunji were selected as the best tourist villages. In the year 2024-25, Uttarakhand received special recognition in the Skill Development in Responsible Tourism category by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism.
The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that to make India a developed nation by 2047, Uttarakhand will have to decide the roadmap for the next 25 years. The Chief Minister said that if every Uttarakhandi contributes with full devotion, dedication and honesty in his/her respective field, then Uttarakhand will definitely become a developed, self-reliant and prosperous state.
Those who got first place in the best homestay at the district level are Harendra Singh Bisht from Almora district, Mohan Chandra Kandpal from Bageshwar, Mrs. Sarita Devi from Chamoli, Mrs. Neelam Chauhan from Dehradun, Mrs. Sunita Singh from Haridwar, Neeraj Joshi from Champawat, Kailash Pushpavan from Rudraprayag, Tribhuvan Uniyal from Pauri, Mathura Dutt Colony from Pithoragarh, Umang Vasudev from Nainital, Jitendra Singh from Tehri, Akhil Pant from Uttarkashi, Deepak Chaturvedi from Udham Singh Nagar. MLA Khajan Das, Mrs. Savita Kapoor, BKTC President Hemant Dwivedi, Secretary Dhiraj Singh Garbyal, Additional Secretary Abhishek Ruhela and others were present on this occasion.
