Chopper service to Himachal’s holy Manimahesh lake starts
August 18th, 2009 - 1:31 pm ICT by IANSShimla, Aug 18 (IANS) The oval-shaped Manimahesh lake in Himachal Pradesh, which attracts thousands of pilgrims every year, is now just a helicopter ride away — for those who want to avoid the 14-km uphill trek, officials said Tuesday.
“The helicopter service started Monday for devotees who are unable to trudge 14 km in the lofty mountains in Chamba district,” Additional Deputy Commissioner D.S. Negi told IANS over phone.
He said the five-seater copter ferries devotees between Bharmour, the base camp of the pilgrimage, and Gauri Kund, just one km short of the lake.
“On the first day, the copter took just two flights due to foggy conditions at Gauri Kund. On a normal day, it could take a maximum 20 flights,” the official said.
The to-and-fro fare for the journey is Rs.8,600 per person.
The journey on foot starts from Hadsar at a height of 6,000 feet and concludes at 13,500 feet at the lake.
The scenic lake attracts thousands of pilgrims every year. The devotees take a dip in the lake’s icy waters and pray to Mount Kailash, which is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva.
This year the Manimahesh pilgrimage started Aug 13 and concludes on the occasion of Radha ashtami Aug 27.
More than 100,000 devotees have taken a dip in the lake so far this year.
- Manimahesh pilgrimage begins in Himachal - Aug 22, 2011
- Shiva's mace procession begins in Himachal - Aug 29, 2011
- Shiva's mace procession in Himachal begins Wednesday - Sep 06, 2010
- Chopper service for Himachal's Manimahesh pilgrims - Sep 01, 2010
- Heading for 'Shiva's home' - to keep it clean (Feature) - Jul 18, 2011
- Garbage girl in a new clean cause - Aug 17, 2011
- 100,000 devotees take dip in Himachal lake - Sep 05, 2011
- Now British 'garbage girl' to clean Shiva's abode - Aug 17, 2010
- Chopper service for Manimahesh pilgrims in Himachal - Sep 03, 2008
- Devotees begins annual pilgrimage to Manimahesh Lake in Jammu and Kashmir - Sep 04, 2010
- 'Garbage girl' gets 'Green Hero' award - Jul 02, 2010
- Devotees visit Manimahesh Lake in Himachal Pradesh - Aug 19, 2009
- Amarnath pilgrims court risks for a glimpse of Shiva - Jul 04, 2011
- British 'Mountain Cleaners' give green lessons in Himachal hills - Nov 10, 2010
- Mercury dips, Himachal lakes begin to freeze - Nov 12, 2011
Tags: abode, chopper, deputy commissioner, devotees, ferries, foggy conditions, hadsar, helicopter ride, helicopter service, journey, kailash, lofty mountains, lord shiva, negi, pilgrimage, pilgrims, radha ashtami, scenic lake, shimla, trudge