Winter sports, river-rafting, scenic locales, religious tourism – there is little that Uttarakhand cannot offer
The Dekho Apna Desh webinar series titled ‘Uttarakhand Simply Heaven’ highlighted the potential of tourism in Uttarakhand’s two regions namely Kedar Khand (Garhwal Region) and Manu Khand (Kumaon Region) and touched upon popular destination like Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Hemkhund Sahib and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Valley of Flowers.
The webinar session was presented by Pushpesh Pant, an eminent scholar, food historian and an expert in international relations, Ganesh Saili, a renowned author, noted photographer and an authority on the history of Uttarakhand and Shashank Pandey, a certified outbound trainer, MD of Aspen Adventures, Rishikesh. The session was moderated by Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism.
Uttarakhand’s adventure tourism potential such as river rafting at Rishikesh and Pithoragarh, winter sports and skiing in Auli, paragliding at Tehri Dam and Kaushani, innumerable options for trekking available such as Chopta and Pindari Glacier and India’s highest bungee jumping facility in Rishikesh were highlighted by the presenters.
Apart from adventure activities, the session also presented options for experiencing the best of nature by paying a visit to the oldest national park of the country- Jim Corbett National Park, Rajaji Tiger Reserve and UNESCO site of Nanda Devi National Park – exploring the rich diversity of the flora and fauna of the Himalayan region.
Uttarakhand’s immense opportunities for developing and exploring rural tourism offerings, the best options for homestays wherein one can experience and feel the hospitality of the people serving the best of local cuisine were also highlighted by the presenters.
Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General, concluded the session stating Uttarakhand ‘Dev Bhoomi’, the Land of Gods, is a mesmerizing destination for tourists of all tastes. It is a multi-faceted destination, i.e. from being a sacred and religious site to an adventure land with rich biodiversity in its purest form.