DEHRADUN/PITHORAGARH: With sprucing up of roads and infrastructure in Pithoragarh region due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Uttarakhand on Thursday, tourism officials hope to soon revive a viewing point near the Tibetan border called Old Lipu. It’s at an altitude of 17,500 ft, from where Mount Kailash in Tibet can be seen without entering China.
The spot, near Nabhidhang, can be reached after a steep climb of 2km and is the only spot in Uttarakhand which offers a majestic view of Mt Kailash. The Old Lipu peak is on the western side of Lipulekh Pass, gateway to the Tibetan plateau.
Tourism officials said they are considering developing Old Lipu as well, so that devotees can catch a glimpse of Mt Kailash. The distance from Lipulekh pass to Mt Kailash is 50km and the view is usually very clear. The Kailash Mansarovar yatra, organised by the ministry of external affairs passes via Pithoragarh, has been suspended since the Covid outbreak. There is considerable interest among pilgrims to have a ‘darshan’ of Mt Kailash, which will be possible once the viewing spot is developed, officials added. In June this year, a joint team led by officials from the tourism department visited the Old Lipu trek to check the feasibility of having an alternative route for pilgrims. A report was sent to the government.
District tourism officer, Pithoragarh, Kirti Arya, said, “To reach the base camp at KMVN huts, one has to drive 110km from Dharchula to Nabhidhang via Gunji. Then, a 9km drive will take you to the base camp, from where it’s a 2km steep trek to the peak.”
The spot, near Nabhidhang, can be reached after a steep climb of 2km and is the only spot in Uttarakhand which offers a majestic view of Mt Kailash. The Old Lipu peak is on the western side of Lipulekh Pass, gateway to the Tibetan plateau.
Tourism officials said they are considering developing Old Lipu as well, so that devotees can catch a glimpse of Mt Kailash. The distance from Lipulekh pass to Mt Kailash is 50km and the view is usually very clear. The Kailash Mansarovar yatra, organised by the ministry of external affairs passes via Pithoragarh, has been suspended since the Covid outbreak. There is considerable interest among pilgrims to have a ‘darshan’ of Mt Kailash, which will be possible once the viewing spot is developed, officials added. In June this year, a joint team led by officials from the tourism department visited the Old Lipu trek to check the feasibility of having an alternative route for pilgrims. A report was sent to the government.
District tourism officer, Pithoragarh, Kirti Arya, said, “To reach the base camp at KMVN huts, one has to drive 110km from Dharchula to Nabhidhang via Gunji. Then, a 9km drive will take you to the base camp, from where it’s a 2km steep trek to the peak.”