Yogi Adityanath plans big for Krishna’s Govardhan Hill

NEW DELHI: After starting a chopper service here by Pawan Hans, the Yogi Adityanath government will now set up a tram network to help pilgrims do circumambulation of the Govardhan Hill near Mathura, which as per belief was held aloft by Lord Krishna.

This move stems from an order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to the UP government to ban all vehicular movement around the hill, a senior UP government official told ET.

An elaborate blueprint has been drawn up to develop the area on this Govardhan Hill circumambulation route, including installing a giant Krishna statue, ‘Kirthan Sthals’ (prayer centres), a yoga garden and musical fountains. An IMAX theatre, which may screen documentaries on Lord Krishna, a ‘Vishnu Avtaar’ garden, a convention complex, a doll museum, a centre for spiritual art and performing art and multiple cow-sheds are also planned on the periphery of the tram route to allow pilgrims to get a complete glimpse into Lord Krishna’s childhood, as per the blueprint.

“The works will be done under the Centre’s PRASAD scheme for religious towns,” a senior UP government official said.

The UP PWD will construct a ring road around Govardhan town to allow people to smoothly reach the town and park their vehicles at a distance from the holy hill. The state government is enthused by the response to Pawan Hans starting a chopper service for a few days to allow pilgrims to do an aerial circumambulation.