Uttarakhand govt to soon launch 'Snow Leopard Tour'

Dehradun, Dec 14 (PTI) To give a new direction to winter tourism in Uttarakhand, the government will soon launch a "Snow Leopard Tour", State Tourism Secretary Dhiraj Garbyal said.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired a meeting on late Saturday night of senior state government officials and district magistrates to promote winter tourism in the state, he said.

Under the tour, high Himalayan regions like Gangotri will be opened to tourists in a controlled manner during winter, Garbyal said, adding that the "snow leopard tourism" will be conducted on a pilot basis in Uttarkashi's Gangotri National Park.

The tour, implemented on the chief minister's instructions, aims to promote winter tourism and encourage homestays, local guides, adventure tourism, and other activities, boosting the economy of the border areas, the tourism secretary said.

A comprehensive action plan is being implemented for winter tourism in the state, including the Char Dham Yatra, adventure tourism, cultural festivals, and wildlife tourism, he said.

Garbyal said under the action plan, adventure sports such as skiing, trekking, paragliding, and rappelling will be held in various areas, including Auli, Khalia Top, and Bednidhar.

Winter carnivals will be organised in Mussoorie, Nainital, and Uttarkashi, and an International Yoga Festival in Rishikesh. The wildlife tourism activities will be held in Jim Corbett, Nandaur, and Gangotri areas, he said.

The tourism secretary said that the government's objective is to establish Uttarakhand as a year-round tourist destination.

During the meeting, the chief minister directed the immediate resumption of snow leopard sighting, helicopter skiing, and the Himalayan Car Rally to boost winter travel in the state.

He directed officials to ensure all arrangements and facilities of the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam and Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam are in place by December 20th, and to hold a meeting with hoteliers in this regard.

The chief minister also directed that a meeting be held in Delhi with various stakeholders involved.

He instructed all District Magistrates to ensure restoration of roads, hotels, and other infrastructure related to major tourist destinations, and said that he will personally travel by road to inspect the arrangements.

Dhami directed the organisation of a grand festival in each district of the state, with the participation of public representatives and residents, under the "One District-One Festival" initiative, to create a unique identity for each district.

He also asked the officials to organise an international festival at the state level.

During the meeting, the chief minister also directed that the development of the Saryu Corridor and the Saryu origin point in Bageshwar, the beautification of the Rahu Temple in Paithani, Pauri, and the Lakhamandal Temple should be implemented quickly and effectively, and that grand aartis should be organised at various confluences and ghats of the state, including Devprayag. PTI DPT PRK SHS SHS