Tourism potential of Kangra not tapped

Lalit Mohan 

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 16

The tourism potential of Kangra lies unexploited. Due to poor infrastructure and lack of planning, the government is failing to retain religious tourists coming to the district.

Kangra has most beautiful places such as McLeodganj, Bhagsunag and Dharamkot. Like Darjeeling, Ooti and Munnar, the district has tea gardens. The presence of Dalai Lama is another attraction. The district also has a narrow gauge railway line connecting Pathankot with Jogindernagar. Despite that high-end tourists elude the district due to lack of basic infrastructure.

The maximum tourists come to the district to visit famous temples at Jwalamukhi, Chamunda, Kangra and Baijnath. More than 15 lakh to 20 lakh tourists visit the temples every year. Many tourists return immediately after paying obeisance at the temples due to lack of facilities. Despite the fact that the government has taken over the management of the famous temples, it has failed to add to the facilities.

The Department of Tourism does not have any package tours to offer to tourists. There is no facility for religious tourists to get online booking for hotels or taxis.

The state has also failed develop a track to Himani Chamunda temple. The temple is located almost 2 km uphill from Chamunda Devi temple. Sources said if the government developed the 12-km track to the old temple on the lines of Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu, it can give a boost to religious tourism.

The track to famous tourist attractions at Bhagsunag water fall is poorly maintained. The haphazard constructions, dingy surroundings and lack of parking places also keep tourists away.

The tourist potential of the district can be exploited by the government. The department should offer online booking and insert advertisements to attract the tourists.