Uttarakhand plans culinary tourism

With an aim to give boost to culinary tourism in Uttarakhand, the state government is planning to launch a scheme under which all “delicious ethnic pahari cuisines” will be popularised among tourists visiting the Himalayan state.

“We have a unique gastronomy culture in the state, which reflects from a number of tasty and nutritious local dishes but hardly anybody outside the state knows about them. We will soon introduce a scheme, under which ethnic cuisines will be popularised among tourists to give boost to culinary tourism in the state,” he said. “The scheme will also give boost to the locals’ income helping us to check distress migration from the hills,” said Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj.

The state government has planned to promote culinary tourism because it has a USP in the delicious Kumaoni and Garhwali cuisines, which are also good for health. “The Kumaoni and Garhwali dishes are tasty and rich in iron and protein contents, which will be our USP in promoting culinary tourism in the state,” the minister said.

As part of the plan, the state government will first select qualified chefs and cooks who are experts in preparing Kumaoni and Garwali dishes.  The duly selected professionals will be leased out plots on routes to various tourist spots, so they can open restaurants, prepare pahari dishes and offer them to visiting tourists. Restaurants will also set up on way to the Chardham. Besides, it would be made mandatory for all state-run guesthouses to also serve the local delicacies to tourists.

The plots for restaurants would be leased out to only those professionals who would be good at cooking local dishes and would also maintain high standard of hygiene in keeping with visitors’ expectations.