Adventure tourism festival planned next month in Arunachal

A three-day adventure tourism festival would be held by the Arunachal Pradesh government at the picturesque Mechuka valley to promote tourism in the Himalayan state.
The festival 'Adventure@Mechuka', to be held between November 7 to November 9 in the valley popularly known as the 'Land of Medicinal Ice Water' would be the second one, state tourism secretary Joram Beda told newsmen here today.
It would be organised by the state tourism department in collaboration with the Union tourism ministry.
"The state government has declared the festival as a calendar event of the state along with four others - Tawang Festival, Siang River Festival, Pangsau Pass Winter Festival and Ziro Festival of Music," he said.

Beda said tourism was the only means of sustainable development of the state and the state's potential in this respect could be termed as 'untapped gold mine'.
Chief Minister Nabam Tuki would inaugurate the festival on November 7 and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju would grace the closing ceremony on November 9. The director from the Union tourism ministry would also participate in the event.

Beda said Mechuka had recorded 111 per cent increase in foreign tourist inflow after the first edition of the festival last year and 3,11,000 domestic ones.
Asked about the accommodation facilities, he said there were a large number of home stays beside two government tourist lodges and two private hotels for tourists who could indulge in adventure and sports activities like aero modelling, trap shooting, para/hang gliding, mountain biking, rappelling, river crossing, micro-light aircraft, archery, horse riding and trekking.

Traditional games and sports, cultural extravaganza by various communities of the area, exhibition of handicrafts and traditional attire and the chance to taste the plethora of local ethnic cuisine will be added attraction of the festival this time, he added.