Pithoragarh: The 'Adi Kailash Parikrama Run' ultra-marathon was organised in the scenic Adi Kailash region of Uttarakhand, in the Beas Valley, on Sunday. The Uttarakhand Tourism Department had planned the event with the help of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Army. Union Minister of State for Tourism Ajay Tamta flagged off the event from Jolingkong at an altitude of 14,400 feet. District Tourism Officer Kirti Arya said that the event ended at Gunji at an altitude of around 10,000 feet. The marathon had five categories - 60 km, 42 km, 21 km, 10 km and 5 km. There were also four age groups: up to 40 years, 41-50, 51-60 and above 60 years. Around 800 runners had registered, out of which 580 from 22 states participated in person.

Digambar Singh of Chamoli won the men's category and Meenakshi Negi of Pauri Garhwal won the women's category. Rohit Kumar and Baby Kumari won the first position in their respective categories in the 5 km race. Jitendra Fartiyal and Sonia won the 10 km race, Rajesh Kumar and Anjali won the 21 km race, while Vijay Singh and Arpita won the 42 km race.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami congratulated the winners. He praised the determination and courage shown by the runners at high altitude. The Chief Minister said, "This ultra-marathon is a symbol of endurance and commitment. Such competitions promote sports and adventure culture in the highlands of the Himalayas."

The region gained special significance after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Adi Kailash in 2023. This visit has made the region a major tourist destination. According to the tourism department, last year around 30,000 tourists visited the area, while this year so far more than 33,000 tourists have visited. This ultra-marathon has further boosted adventure tourism in the area. The event, organised in collaboration with ITBP and the Army, was a success. The runners performed well despite the very adverse conditions. The event is also expected to benefit local tourism.