In a significant development towards promoting Uttarakhand as a premier health and wellness destination, Mr. Dipendra Chaudhary, Ayush and Ayush Education Secretary of Uttarakhand and a 2007-batch IAS officer, met Swami Chidananda Saraswati, President of Parmarth Niketan, in Rishikesh on Friday. The meeting focused on enhancing wellness infrastructure and strengthening the state’s identity in the fields of Ayurveda, yoga, and holistic health.
During the interaction, both leaders emphasized the need to expand health and wellness centers across the Garhwal and Kumaon regions. Swami Chidananda Saraswati congratulated Mr. Chaudhary for the successful organization of the Kanvad Mela, and highlighted the untapped potential of Uttarakhand to emerge as a global wellness state.
Swami Chidananda underscored the importance of leveraging Uttarakhand’s Himalayan herbal wealth and its spiritual ambiance to attract global wellness tourism. He said the expansion of health and wellness centers would not only cater to the increasing demand for yoga and Ayurveda training but would also enable self-employment opportunities for the youth and women of the state. He drew a parallel with Kerala, stating that Uttarakhand too could emerge as a leading wellness destination with proper planning and execution.
Mr. Dipendra Chaudhary assured that positive action would be initiated by the government to implement these ideas. He said the state is committed to preserving its rich herbal traditions and making Uttarakhand a hub for health-conscious travelers, with a focus on training, education, and employment linked to Ayurveda and wellness.
The meeting marks a collaborative push between the government and spiritual institutions in promoting Uttarakhand as a beacon of traditional health and wellness on the global stage.