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♤ The Himalayas is known to be a home of saints, destination of pilgrimage since time immemorial.
♤ For example, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri- Yamu-notri and Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand, Manima- hesh, Jwala Devi, Chintpurni, Naina Devi in Himachal Pradesh and Vaishnav Devi and Amarnath in Jammu & Kashmir, Khecheopalri and other sacred lakes in Sikkim are particularly important destinations.
♤ Unfortunately, most of these places lack adequate facilities of transport, accommodation, waste disposal and other amenities for the ever growing number of pilgrims that visit them every year.
♤ Also, there is a gross lack of regulatory mechanism for infrastructure creation, management, and for controlling the tourist inflow in such sites.
♤ As a result the sensitive ecosystems and cultural values of these areas are facing pressures far beyond their carrying capacities.