Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has bagged the Rahul Sankrityayan Tourism Award for 2008-09 for his book “Himalaya Ka Mahakumbh -- Nanda Raj Jat'. The Union Tourism Ministry award, which is given for best book written in Hindi on tourism, carries a citation and Rs.20,000.
The book is about the royal pilgrimage of goddess Nanda Devi that takes place every 12 years mainly in Chamoli district.
It is an important religious event in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand that involves 280-km long trekking for taking the area's reigning deity Goddess Nanda to her divine destination of Gaungati peak which is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva.
