District admn to promote heritage tourism in Kangra

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, March 29

The state government is planning to promote heritage tourism in Kangra district. Nandita Gupta, Commissioner, Kangra division, while talking to The Tribune, said the Tourism Department had identified various heritage properties in the district. In the first phase, infrastructure near the identified heritage sites would be improved.

Masrur Temples and Guler Fort are the two properties that would be promoted under heritage tourism.

“Both the properties are under the Archaeological Survey of India. So, the state government cannot do much about them. However, on our part, we are planning to improve the roads to both the heritage properties along with improving sanitation, lighting and putting signage along the roads to guide the tourists to these spots,” Nandita Gupta said.

She mentioned that at a later stage, the department intended to involve the local community to provide homestay to the tourists coming to these sites.

The Tourism Department was also planning to promote tea tourism in the district. Under this initiative, tea farmers would be asked to provide homestay facilities to the tourists so that they can stay in the tea gardens of the region.

“West Bengal and Kerala states already have a policy for the promotion of tea tourism. We are trying to figure out a policy from the perspective of Himachal Pradesh,” Nandita said.

Some treks had been identified in Palampur region which could be promoted for adventure tourists. Presently, only the Triund trek was famous among the trekkers coming to Dharamsala region. Some other properties as Brij Raj Temple in Nurpur would also be promoted, she added.