Rahul unwinds in pristine Uttarkashi meadow

Rahul Gandhi concluded his three-day trek to Dayara Bugyal in Uttarkashi district on Friday, but he could be back in the scenic Uttarakhand meadow if he accepts an invitation the locals are planning to extend to him.

The Congress general secretary had arrived in the Uttarakhand highlands on October 20 and trekked 8 km from Barsu village to Dayara Bugyal the next day. Staying overnight in tents-an unforgettable experience in his hush- hush trip-he climbed down to Uttarkashi on Friday afternoon.

Though he didn't meet a throng of villagers who gathered outside the camps, he reportedly spoke to a village headman and appreciated the splendors of Dayara Bugyal. On the basis of his enthusiasm, the villagers are planning to invite the Gandhi scion to a butter festival that the meadow plays host to every August.

The Dayara Paryatan Utsav Samiti provides tourists with a lifetime experience of playing Holi with butter, milk and chhachh (butter milk) on the lush green meadow.

The locals believe that Rahul's visit will add to the place's popularity.

Chandan Singh Rana, the samiti president, said: "The trek has created news nationwide. Rahul ji is an international celebrity and this trip will generate curiosity about Dayara Bugyal among tourists worldwide and boost tourism." Though security persons stopped Dayara villagers from meeting Rahul, Manoj Rana, the pradhan (headman) of Raithal village, claimed to have met him. "I had a brief interaction with Rahul ji on Thursday. He told me that he came to know of this place through the Internet."

The Raithal headman was camping in Dayara since Wednesday to get an appointment with the Congressman. His patience was ultimately rewarded on Thursday evening when Rahul reportedly summoned him and praised the beauty of the meadow.

That the high-profile trek, also including Priyanka Gandhi and Robert Vadra, was hush-hush could be gauged from the fact that the owner of a Uttarkashi hotel where the 28-member trek team checked in had no idea of the identity of the trekkers till he saw them.

"We received requests through a tour operator for reserving 13 deluxe rooms for October 20. We never knew Rahul Gandhi would be among the guests. He had his lunch here today (Friday). It was a memorable day for the staff of our hotel," owner Ajay Puri said.

Rahul, Manoj Rana claimed, told him that the visit was personal in nature and that even Congress leaders were not informed about it.

Dayara's gain has been Harsil's loss. The Congress general secretary had plans to stay in Harsil, a small town located near Uttarkashi, for a couple of days. But he changed the plan and headed for the meadow.

Harsil has been popular with the tourists after Raj Kapoor shot Ram Teri Ganga Maili, his blockbuster, here