To revive tourism in flood-hit Uttarakhand, the state tourism department with private and government agencies is organising a winter festival at Mussoorie and a car rally from Dehradun.
However, the 850-km route for the car rally might give a tough time to the 36 automobiles participating in the event. The roads are still damaged since the floods.
"The adventure is more when the roads are damaged," said an enthusiastic Tourism Minister Amrita Rawat as the car rallyists from across the country sped off from Dehradun toward Auli in Garhwal region in the first phase on Sunday. From Auli, the rallyists will drive towards Kumaon region tomorrow and turn back from Ramnagar the next morning to Dehradun. Uttarakhand adventure car rally is being organised to inspire confidence among tourists that the roads in the state are good and smooth and Uttarakhand is back on track as a premier tourist destination, said the state tourism department.
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, who flagged off the rally, has also announced a prize of Rs 5 lakh for the winner, Rs 3 lakh for the first runner-up and Rs 2 lakh for the second runner-up. He also announced a separate prize of Rs 1 lakh for the women's team that comes first.
Apart from the car rally, the tourism department is organizing a three-day Mussoorie winter carnival from December 27. Tourists visiting the Queen of Hills will also witness the most charming unique phenomenon of nature, winterline, visible only at Mussoorie in India.
