Jalpaiguri, Dec. 22: There is a lot more to the Dooars than just jungles.

Keen on promoting the little-known tribal wonders of the district, the administration, in association with West Bengal Khadi and Rural Industries Council, has planned a week-long festival, beginning Saturday.

Jaldapara Tourism Festival, slated to kick off from Madarihat tourist lodge campus, is an attempt to open the visitors? eye to the rich tribal culture.

Programmes that have been lined up include dance performances by tribal troupes ? like Rava, Toto, Mech, Santhal, Rajbanshi and Drukpa ? and exhibitions of local handicraft and tribal art.

?The key is to develop tourism in the area and increase the level of rural employment in the district,? said Saumitra Mohan, the subdivisional officer of Alipurduar, who is also the president of the organising committee.

District officials are optimistic about the response the festival will generate.

?We want to promote the Dooars region as a destination which is as good as Darjeeling or Sikkim. The area has everything that a visitor could possibly want and all that is lacking is proper promotion,? an administrative official said.

?The event will also give tribal communities a platform to showcase their handicraft and art, apart from giving visitors an insight into their culture,? he added.

Stalls selling tribal handicraft and art items will, however, not be the only ones on the venue, promised Mohan.

?Apart from some stalls displaying the work done by the tribal communities under various self-help schemes of the government, we will also have food outlets from which people can choose from a variety of mouth-watering dishes,? he said.

?We have planned open-air events to give the audience a better feel of this little-known side of the Dooars,? he added.