Betla National Park in Latehar, Jharkhand's pride and an out-of-the-world experience for nature lovers, may be just lagging behind times despite the state's new tourism policy that stresses, in principle at least, on tourist-friendly features on a par with the best in India.
Natural and wildlife delights apart, a smooth drive on a double-lane road that links NH-75 in Daltonganj near Satbarwa block of Palamau to Betla and goes off to Netarhat town is probably the best manmade convenience around.
Once in Betla, Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation's (JTDC) Van Vihar hotel, with 25 double-bed rooms and a four-bed dormitory, is the best place to stay, with affordable tariff such as Rs 900 plus taxes for a room and Rs 100 plus taxes for a bed. But though it has old-world charm, it lacks new-age amenities.
Though the state government recently painted rooms afresh and keeps washrooms clean and Van Vihar is always chock-a-block, many big and small conveniences necessary in this day and age are missing, The Telegraph team found on its visit.
For starters, the washroom has no mirror. The room has no intercom or calling bell, forcing guests to walk up to the reception to order even a cup of tea.
Though rooms have ACs and TVs, Wi-Fi and Internet connectivity are unheard of and mobile connectivity poses difficulties for the 24/7 wired generation and guests whose professions require them to be on an electronic leash. Many guests carry SIM cards of several telecom companies, taking a chance on what works and what doesn't.
But, what takes the cake is the fact that there is no ATM nearby. Without the concept of electronic money, tourists go to Betla with bulging wallets, both inconvenient and a security hazard.
For foodies, Van Vihar is a mixed blessing. As it operates without a fixed hotel menu, if guests want chicken or mutton, attendants buy them from the marketplace and charge for cooking. But, without cash memos, guests who want bills to get them reimbursed are helpless.
"We don't want a national park to become a city, but an ATM and Wi-Fi are needed near Van Vihar," said a guest who declined to be named.
"While settling my bill, I realised I was running short of Rs 1,652. I had to drive down to Daltonganj town over 20km away to withdraw money from an ATM, where also most were not functioning," said Calcutta businessman Sudip Deb, a recent Betla visitor.
As personal cars are not allowed inside the national park and forest department jeeps have been defunct since long, tourists need to hire jeeps waiting outside the gate. A fair amount of haggling is involved, with the price of a ride around the park ranging between Rs 400 and Rs 700. No receipts are given.
"How can you expect us to provide pucca receipts?" asked one of the jeep drivers, Mohsin Khan.
Near Van Vihar stands the sole privately run hotel Debjani. Md Hasib, who took the property from a Calcutta-based businessman three years ago, said old favourites keep coming to Betla for its "charm". "But to attract new tourists, new initiatives are needed," he said.
Listing lack of healthcare facilities for tourists as a major drawback, Hasib said: "Though a hospital building came up here exclusively for tourists about 18 months ago, it is not functional."
Contacted, tourism secretary Avinash Kumar admitted the need for revamp. "JTDC will be asked about lapses at Van Vihar. An extensive programme has been worked out to improve basic amenities such as ATMs and internet connectivity in Betla," Kumar claimed.
