New Delhi, August 31: Congress President Rahul Gandhi will embark on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra on Friday and will reportedly take the journey through the China route, not the Nepal one. Gandhi had earlier announced that he would take the yatra after the Karnataka election. After his two-day visit to flood-hit Kerala, the Congress President arrived in Delhi on Thursday.

According to reports, Gandhi had promised a visit to the sacred shrine after a terrifying experience during the last Assembly polls when the aircraft he was travelling in made a sudden steep descent.  It must be noted that on April 26, the plane having Gandhi and others onboard from Delhi to Hubballi airport in Karnataka developed a technical problem and dipped steeply with violent shuddering.

The Mount Kailash is considered to be abode of Lord Shiva. Gandhi is expected to complete his journey by September 12. The Congress President had expressed his desire to visit the shrine at the party's 'Jan Aakrosh Rally' at Ramleela maidan on April 29.

The 45-year old claims to be a  "Shiva devotee" and in line of his promise, Gandhi is now finally on the tour to the sacred shrine.  After returning from Kailash-Mansarovar, Gandhi is expected to leave to Madhya Pradesh to launch the Congress campaign for polls in the state due later this year.

On Thursday, Gandhi attacked the Modi government over demonetisation and said that Prime Minister announced note ban to finish small and medium-scale businessmen. Gandhi termed demonetisation 'nothing less than a scam' and said it was not a mistake but a deliberate attempt to rob people's money.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 31, 2018 10:51 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).