Himachal Pradesh to Discover Sustainable Tourism

With technological support from the World Bank, North Indian state Himachal Pradesh is examining the state tourism policy of 2005 to give extra prominence to sustainable tourism growth in the state.

 A standpoint tourism growth preparation is being arranged for the districts, specified the potential growth of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti. Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Virbhadra Singh said this while controlling over the evaluation gathering of the BOD (Board of Directors) of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) and tourism and civil aviation department on Wednesday in Shimla.
  
Inorder to provide communication connectivity in Keylong region for the tribe, Wi-Fi system would be provided in the entire region throughout the year along with Spiti, he said
. He also initiated the Himachal Tourism online information system for gathering of tourist figures on the occurrence, SMS based software to aid tourists to send their ideas, inquiries and objections to the tourism department through SMS. Study of Dharamshala-McLeod Ganj area has been started so that tourism activities could be rising here on a sustainable base and the master and mobility preparation for Naina Devi, Chintpurni and Kangra town would also be geared up almost immediately, he added.

Efforts were being made to set up cruise and house boats in the Gobind Sagar and Maharana Pratap Sagar reservoir looking at the potentiality for water sports in the state along with a mini water enjoyment park at Sadhupul in district Solan, he said. Establishment of new hotels and traveler amenities in those rearward panchayats of the state with vast potentiality will also be encouraged by the state government, he added.


The CM also directed HPTDC to discover the chances of opening more campsite conveniences in its assets with modern amenities including; toilets, given their ecological processes and fame among the tourists.

Lahaul Spiti, Keylong, Naina Devi, Dharamshala, Mcleodganj, Chintpurni, Kangra town, Sadhupul; all these places in Himachal Pradesh has great significance in its own and also has great potentiality for tourism.

Naina Devi and Chintpurni are religious places and have a great importance as pilgrim site for Hindus. A 10 day fair is held at Mata Chintpurni in which numerous devotes comes to seek blessings and pray at the lotus feet of both Devis residing here namely; Mata Chinnamastika Devi and Mata Chintpurni (remover of troubles). It is located in the Una district. Naina Devi is a town in Bilaspur district and is famed for a temple of Shri Naina Devi Ji situated in a hill top. It is one of the 51 Shakti Peeth and is positioned 115 km southeast of Chintpurni Temple.

Dharamshala is a municipal town and headquarter of Kangra district and McLeod Ganj is a suburb in Dharamshala. MacLeod Ganj is a popular tourist destination with a large population of Tibetan Refugees, many people come here to learn crafts, culture and Buddhism; it is famed for Tibetan handicrafts, thangkas, etc. Dharamshala has wide range of tourist attraction including; Masrur, Bhagsu Waterfall, Art Gallery, Jama Masjid (1719), Dal Lake etc. It is also a starting point for various trekking trails that lead trekkers across Dhauladhar.


The district of Lahaul and Spiti is also a spectacular valley with natural formations and ancient monasteries. Tabo (3050 meter), Kaza (3600 meter), Key Gompa (4116 meter), Kibber (4205 meter) etc. are the prime magnetism of this place.