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| Dimna Lake, on the outskirts of Jamshedpur, is on the tourism department’s revamp radar to welcome picnickers for some winter fun. Picture by Animesh Sengupta |
Can bombs and soft drink cans don’t make a happy twosome, but the state tourism department is determined to prove that recent rebel attacks have not weakened its resolve to give year-end revellers a grand time.
The department has planned to cash in on the picnic season with a first-of-its-kind Sharad Mahotsava every weekend from December-end.
“We are selecting tourist spots to offer picnickers and visitors a total package and fine-tuning the details,” said Siddharth Tripathy, state tourism department director, on Monday. “We are buoyed by the 2009 Union government’s national sample survey, which ranks Jharkhand at the 12th slot in terms of domestic tourism footfall,” he added.
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Details of the scheme include the kinds of facilities on offer, including a bus service to and fro the spot, makeshift tents or huts, authentic cuisine of the area as well as arrangement for overnight stays.
Major tourist spots include Dassam Falls, Jonha Falls, Hundru Falls near Ranchi, Dimna and Dalma (in Jamshedpur), Netarhat in Palamau, Burudih Dam (Ghatshila) and Chandil Dam in Seraikela-Kharsawan.
The scheme was supposed to be launched in the coming weekend. A source in the tourism department, not wishing to be named, said the department wanted to launch Sharad Mahotsava from December 10 at Jonha Falls, but the Maoist backlash in Latehar and Bokaro made them go on the back foot.
Though the rebel bomb blasts on railway tracks in the districts derailed the debut, officials are determined to launch the scheme later in the month. “Picnickers and tourists make plans with friends and family in the Christmas week till New Year. The plan will be given its shape in December last week when the picnic season is at its peak,” Tripathy added.
Under the scheme, the tourism department will depute 15 Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation buses and erect tents and huts for an authentic rural ambience. Tribal cuisine and craft items will also be tagged in as a part of the experience.
If successful, other seasonal fests such as Basant Mahotsava (during spring) and Sawan Mahotsava (during monsoon), as well as pilgrim tourist packages in holy cities such as Deoghar, will be added.
“We will brand the Mahotsavas with advertisement campaigns across various media and in different states. We will also promote the concept aggressively in tourism fairs across India,” said Tripathy.
Will tourists defy rebel fear to visit Jharkhand? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com