From 1 booking before PM visit to 78 now

New Delhi, September 1

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From a dismal solitary booking to 78 now, the Rudra meditation cave in Kedarnath visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been pre-booked for the first time since it was opened to the public in 2018.

Tourists have booked it in advance: 19 in September and 10 in October.

It was in May that Modi spent a day meditating at Rudra cave, barely a kilometre from the Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand, in the final days of the General Election. The cave is maintained by the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN).

Immediately after Modi’s visit, the cave received four bookings in May, followed by 28 in June, 10 in July and eight in August. The cave can be booked for Rs 1,500 for night stay and Rs 999 for stay between 6 am and 6 pm. Since it is located at a remote location and is meant to encourage meditation, only one person is allowed in at a time. Even though it offers complete isolation, a phone has been installed for use in case of an emergency.

It has electricity and drinking water for guests, and also has an attached toilet and heater. Guests will also get meals. — PTI

Cave meditation

• Can be booked for night stay or between 6 am and 6 pm
• Meant to encourage meditation, so only one person is allowed in the cave at a time
• A phone has been installed for use in case of an emergency
• It has electricity, water, an attached toilet and heater