Modi thanks EC for giving permission for Kedarnath-Badrinath visit, says he got 2 days rest

After spending the night meditating at a cave near Uttarakhand's Kedarnath temple, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday thanked the Election Commission for granting him permission for the visit, saying he remained entirely cut-off from the outside world and got two days of rest.

Modi reached Kedarnath on Saturday and after offering prayers to Lord Shiva at the shrine went inside the cave to medidate at 2 pm wearing a saffron colour shawl.

He came out at 7 am Sunday and then left for Badrinath, another important Hindu shrine, where he ended his two-day visit to the state.

Dressed in a kurta-pyjama with a shawl wrapped around him, the prime minister walked down from the cave on a hill to the Kedarnath temple with the help of a stick.

"I did not ask for anything. I don't believe in asking because God only wants us to give...all I want is 'Baba' Kedarnath bestows his blessings not just upon India but entire mankind," he told reporters outside the Kedarnath shrine after offering prayers.

He also thanked the Election Commission for allowing him to undertake the visit, saying he got two days of "rest" there.

The EC had given its nod to Modi's visit while "reminding" the Prime Minister's Office that the model code of conduct is still in force.Polling for the seventh and the last phase of the general election was held Sunday.

Modi said he remained totally cutoff from the outside world as there was no communication link to the cave he stayed in for 24 hours and he kept looking at the shrine through a small window.

He said, "I am fortunate, that I am getting the opportunity to come to Kedarnath for many years."