If you are tired of the same old vacations to beaches and hills, how about trying out something as out-of-the-box as watching silkworms in action in India's tussar turf?

At the behest of the Union textile ministry to boost rural tourism, state tourism department and Jharcraft will soon invite visitors to Ranchi's Lapung block and Hazaribagh to witness live demonstrations of silk weaving the natural way, from the egg-bearing cocoons of silkworms.

Though many people know silkworms spew out filaments from tiny holes in their jaws, not many have watched the creepy-crawlies do the job. This is for the first time that Jharkhand, which accounts for 62 per cent of India's tussar silk production, is selling the process of natural silk production as a key tourist attraction.

Elaborating on the proposed plan, Jharcraft managing director A.T. Mishra, who has prepared a detailed plan to table before the state tourism department by March-end, said: "Early this month, Jharcraft and tourism officials met and discussed linkages to boost rural tourism. After finalising the proposal in consultation with state tourism department officials, we will prepare the budget."

State tourism deputy secretary Sunil Kumar Sinha said they were pinning hopes on the new initiative to attract tourists.

"Early this March, we received a letter from the Union textile ministry to start live demonstrations of silk weaving for boosting its popularity among tourists. By March 31, we expect to finalise the paperwork for the project," Sinha said.

Lapung and Hazaribagh have been chosen for their existing advantages. In Hazaribagh, Jharcraft's Urban Haat, a handicraft centre, has been successfully running for years. At Lapung, Jharcraft handicraft and handloom items are sold on Ranchi-Bero Road, some 41km from the capital, in makeshift sheds.

In Hazaribagh, Urban Haat offers a readymade infrastructure for live demonstrations. But in Lapung, Jharcraft needs to construct concrete units.

Artisans carrying out the process will work under supervision of master trainers, who will check quality of the products designed.

"We will also contact tour operators and hotel owners in Hazaribagh, Ranchi and Lapung to popularise this initiative among visitors and guests. We will distribute brochures of Hazaribagh's Urban Haat and we are in the process of printing brochures for Lapung. I think this concept will catch on as people nowadays look for something new," said Mishra.

Will silkworms make your holiday memorable? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com