Tehri/Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday attended the closing ceremony of ‘Surya Devbhoomi Challenge 2.0’, organized jointly by the Indian Army and Uttarakhand Tourism at the Chauras campus of Garhwal University in Tehri.
The Chief Minister said that along with 100 brave soldiers of the Indian Army, around 200 adventure trekkers from across the country participated in the event. Under the high-altitude marathon, participants successfully completed a challenging 113-kilometer journey on the Kedar-Badri trail—from Helang to Kalgot, Kalgot to Mandal, and then to Ukhimath. He praised all participants for their courage, patience, and determination.
He said that through this competition, participants also experienced the historic and spiritual routes associated with Badrinath, Kedarnath Dham, and Panch Kedar. He added that the Indian Army not only protects the nation’s borders but also plays an important role in nation-building by inspiring youth through such events.
He expressed confidence that such events would help increase employment and livelihood opportunities in border areas while also aiding in the preservation of cultural heritage. He said that under the leadership of Narendra Modi, adventure tourism has received a boost in the country, and border areas are being connected to the mainstream of development.
He added that the state government is promoting adventure tourism through activities like angling, rafting, kayaking, trekking, paragliding, cycling, and mountaineering in a planned manner. Areas like Auli, Rishikesh, Munsiyari, and Tehri Lake are emerging as major centers of adventure tourism.
It was informed during the program that the competition was organized to promote adventure tourism in border rural areas and to connect traditional travel routes with tourism. The event, which began with an expo in Badrinath on April 16, saw participation from around 300 participants and concluded after three marathon stages.
Senior army officials, public representatives, administrative officers, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
