Patna, Dec. 18: This year-end, Sabbalpur Diara is worth a visit. For, Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) has grand plans up its sleeves for Christmas and New Year.
In the last week of the year, you can hop on camels or horses for a ride at the diara surrounded by Ganga and Gandak. Children, too young to enjoy animal rides, can have a blast on hand-propelled swings.
The BSTDC, an undertaking of the state tourism department, is also mulling over offering special packages to Christmas and New Year revellers. The facilities that would be part of the package are yet to be decided, though. Proposals from few event management companies to organise Christmas and New Year bashes at the diara are also under consideration.
“The response to the Sabbalpur Diara project has been good as a large number of people visit the sandbar everyday. Considering the good response and Christmas and New Year, which are coming up, we decided to introduce the new facilities, including horse and camel rides, at the sandbar within a week. The corporation would install hand-propelled swings for children. There would also be more food courts at the sandbar, allowing visitors to choose from various delicacies,” said Naveen Kumar, the deputy general manager of BSTDC.
At present, there are two open-canopy food kiosks and a restaurant hut at the diara for the foodies around. To ensure the sandbar remains in pristine condition, the authorities are planning a ticketing system around the activity areas so that tabs can be kept on unruly visitors.
“We have seen people litter the sandbar with plastic bags and other wastes, spoiling the look of the place. So we are thinking to start a ticketing system around the activity areas, where various facilities are being provided. This would restrict the movement of careless visitors and would preserve the beauty of diara,” said a senior official of tourism department.
On the special celebrations planned for Christmas cheer and New Year revelry, Shailendra Kumar, the BSTDC general manager, said: “Special packages would be offered to visitors to Sabbalpur Diara. The package is likely to include food and snacks items, water sports activities and music shows on floating restaurant. We have also been approached by a few event management companies for organising sound and light shows at the sandbar. The matter is under consideration.”
Sabbalpur Diara is open to visitors seven days a week between 2pm and 5pm. As part of special weekend attractions, aermodelling shows are organised at the sandbar. Introducing all-terrain vehicles at the diara is also on BSTDC’s radar.
