Reviving a gem: Himachal's Hotel Nupur awaits renovation, revamp

Hotel Nupur, earlier named Spain Spa, at Nurpur is a star property of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC), with immense earning potential. But in the absence proper professional attention from corporation, this hotel has been facing utter neglect for the past several years. It was built in 2001 at a cost of Rs 1 crore, during the PK Dhumal government (1998-2003), with the keen initiative of the then HPTDC’s chairman and former local MLA Rakesh Pathania.

After being run for a few years by the HPTDC, this property had been leased out to a private party which withheld the lease money. The HPTDC management had moved the high court against the lessee and after fighting a legal battle for years, it had taken its physical possession in September 2011. Following this, no concrete efforts were made by the tourism corporation for some years to enhance the services offered here. Finally, the hotel was reopened on September 27, 2016, on the World Tourism Day, after a facelift.

It has been nine years, and now the property requires immediate renovation. The hotel visitors have been demanding a restaurant on the premises. This demand assumes importance keeping in view its prime location: at Khushinagar by the NH 154 on the outskirts of Nurpur town. It must be noted that there is no restaurant of concern between Jassur and Nurpur, and Nurpur and Shahpur. Further, it is pertinent to mention that the HPTDC’s hotel-cum-restaurants are usually the first priority of the tourists visiting the hill state but the HPTDC has planned no strategy to renovate such high potential properties.

This hotel also the potential of hosting marriage ceremonies, family parties and other conferences. But the HPTDC has failed to exploit this angle. According to Gulshan Sharma, manager of the hotel, occupancy here, which once stood at around 90 per cent has declined to 50 per cent over the past four years. “The interiors needs immediate repair and maintenance,” he added.

Vinit Peshwaria, Munish, Rajan and Ajay Shingari, all tourists from Amritsar who visit Kangra every year to pay obeisance at the various ‘’shakti peeths’’ in the region, suggested the launch of a tourism circuit from this neglected property. “In the first package, a visit to ancient Nurpur Fort with historical Brij Raj Swami Temple and Pong Dam can be scheduled, in the second package, visits to other sacred sites such as the Nagni Mata Temple at Kandwal and Nagni gram panchayats, Buglamukhi Temple at Kotal and Shiva Temple at Kathgarh in Indora can be covered,” they said.

Meanwhile, Kailash Thakur, Assistant General Manager, HPTDC, when asked for remarks on the said proposal, said the renovation plan was under serious consideration with the Board of Directors of the HPTDC.