Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi heading Lincholi near Gaurikund on his way Kedarnath on Thursday. (Press Trust of India)
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today embarked on a 'yatra' to Kedarnath by beginning his 16 km-trek up in the Uttarakhand mountains to pay obeisance at the temple.
Mr Gandhi along with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat and state Congress chief Ambika Soni reached the Jolly Grant airport in Gaurikund by a government helicopter around 2 pm, media-in-charge of the Chief Minister, Surendra Kumar said.
The Congress vice president is set to reach the shrine tomorrow when its gates will be thrown open for pilgrims.
They started on the 10-km long trek to Lincholi where they will halt for the night, Mr Kumar said.
They are scheduled to undertake the last 6 km stretch of Kedarnath trek by tomorrow around 6 am, he said.
President of Kedarnath-Badrinath Temple Trust, Ganesh Gadiyal said the idol has reached Kedarnath temple and the doors of the shrine will be thrown open for the pilgrims tomorrow at 4.50 am.