Uttarakhand govt focuses on lesser-known tourist spots

Forget Mussoorie and imagine a cruise on the shimmering waters of the Tehri hydel project in Uttarakhand. Or think of sipping a cup of coffee in front of Tiger Falls, a tourist spot in the lap of Chakrata hills.

With the Uttarakhand government working on a plan to develop these lesser-known tourist destinations, scores of such sites in the state are set to get a facelift.

In the Dehradun district alone, Assan Barrage, Tiger Falls, Lakhmandal Temple, Hanol Temple would be developed to attract tourists. For example, two dormitories for 40 people, four huts, a dining-deck will come up at the Assan Barrage shortly.
 

Besides, a tourist home near Bhimtal lake, trekking trails at Naukuchiyatal in Uttarkashi and Chandak hill in Pithoragarh district and the Pithoragarh fort would also be developed.

A new tourism site will be established at Kotdwar on the fringes of Corbett National Park. This new site would comprise a convention centre, an entertainment centre, a theatre, tennis court, musical fountains, climbing walls and cottages.

The 42-sq-km long Tehri reservoir would be transformed into an adventure tourist destination with facilities like cruise rides, canoeing, para sailing, jet skiing, jet boat and other modern games.

These decisions were taken at a meeting of the second state level empowered committee of the infrastructure development and investment programme for tourism (IDIPT).

The meeting was presided over by Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar at the secretariat. Kumar gave directions for speeding up the development work at these tourist destinations.

Kumar said that the government would also construct toilets and restaurants at every tourist spot. Separate meetings had to be held with the officers of the forest department for beautification and development of tourist destinations coming under the forest area.

Tourism secretary Umakant Panwar said the department has received Rs 76 crore from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under IDIPT. By March 2014, Rs 15 crore would be utilised for development works at several tourist destinations. The target for completing these projects is 2016, Panwar said.