MoU signed between Union Ministry of Tourism and SLRE Foundation under Adopt-a-Heritage scheme
Dehradun: Narayankoti temple located in Guptkashi of Rudraprayag district in Uttarakhand is all set to get a major facelift. For this the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today in Delhi between the Ministry of Tourism, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Director General, Culture, Uttarakhand and Social Legal Research & Education Foundation (SLRE). The site has been identifed under the Heritage Adoption Project of the Union Ministry of Tourism, Government of India earlier this year. Monument Mitra from (SLREF) Mr. Vikal Kulshrestha, Director Travel Trade Mr. BB Das, Director Culture Mrs. Beena Bhatt, Additional Director Tourism Mrs. Poonam Chand signed the MoU during the event.
According to the MoU, the SLRE Foundation will develop various amenities for tourists/visitors around this ancient heritage site. This includes construction of road, installation of street lightings, garbage disposal system, availability of clean drinking water, development of parking area and facelifting the entrance and boundary wall around the temple site.
Narayankoti Temple is the group of ancient temples at which is about two kilometers from Guptkashi on the Rudraprayag-Gaurikund highway. It’s a major attraction for the devotees visiting Rudraprayag as it’s the only place in the country where temples of all the nine planets Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Sun, Moon, Rahu and Ketu are present. It is believed that the construction of these temples were done in 9 A.D.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Satpal Maharaj, Minister of Tourism, Uttarakhand said “Adopt a Heritage project by Ministry of Tourism is helping, the ancient monuments, archaeological sites, temples to regain their lost glory. The development of facilities will have a direct impact towards increasing the number of visitors and will benefit the local youths by generating various employment/self-employment opportunities in the region.”
Shri Dilip Jawalkar, Tourism Secretary, Uttarakhand said “Gartang Gali, Pithoragarh Fort, Chaysheel Bugyal, Chaurasi Kutiya, Sati Ghat, Narayankoti Temple have been identified as among the important heritage sites of Uttarakhand and I am happy to see the progress we are towards the development of these sites and making them ready for tourism.”
Additional Director Uttarakhand Tourism and Nodal Officer of Adopt Heritage Government of Uttarakhand Poonam Chand informed that nearely 11 sites namely Ashvamedha Yagya Site Dehradun, Develgarh, Gartang Gali, Pithoragarh Fort are up for adoption.”
Additional Director General Ministry of Tourism Rupinder Brar, President of Uttarakhand Tourism Professional Association and Vice Principle of Indian Association Tour Operation Ravi Gusain, Public Relation Officer Uttarakhand Tourism Kamal Kishore Joshi, Deputy Director Tourism GOI Manisha Satoya were present during the occasion.
