Govt promoting stargazing at Kaza, border tourism in Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti districts

The state government is making efforts to promote stargazing facility at Kaza and border tourism in Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts with an aim to promote community empowerment in the high-altitude cold deserts.

This one-of-a-kind programme is aimed at harnessing Spiti’s pristine night skies, minimal light pollution and high-altitude clarity for astro-tourism and stargazing activities. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has said that it is a new beginning that will strengthen the local economy by attracting more tourists to the area.

An official spokesperson says that the efforts to promote sky-gazing will also rope in local homestays and hotel owners to take the benefit of the project. As per the data received, around 158,580 Indian and 4,570 foreign tourists had visited Spiti and Langza till July this year.

The Chief Minister had earlier provided high-end computerised telescopes (sky-watchers) to the local beneficiaries. These telescopes would be used to conduct night sky observations for tourists, establishing Spiti as a unique destination for astro-tourism, besides providing employment opportunities to the local youth of Kaza, Rangrik and Langza.

Perched at over 14,500 feet, Langza is referred to as the “Fossil Village” of Spiti due to the abundant marine fossils found in its surrounding areas dating back to millions of years, offering a glimpse of a time when the Himalayas were formed. Langza has pristine environment and near-zero night pollution.

The state government is also making all-out efforts to open border tourism. With both India and China agreeing to reopen border trade and resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Shipki La, the local economy is bound to get a boost. The Union Ministry of Tourism, in a written communiqué to the CM, has conveyed that Shipki La in Kinnaur district will be added as an additional route towards Mansarovar. The state government will now take up this matter with the Union Commerce Ministry for completing the codal formalities to restart the trade through Shipki La, says the spokesperson. — TNS