Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board recently launched India’s first-ever annual campaign dedicated to promoting Astro Tourism.
On Saturday, June 1, India's first astro tourism campaign ‘Nakshatra Sabha' was inaugurated at the George Everest peak in Mussoorie. The venue of the event was picked to be the George Everest Peak, since it is a major tourist attraction in Mussoorie. Not only that, the location offers breathtaking views of the snow-clad Himalayan peaks and the Doon Valley. The campaign and the event was organised jointly by Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board and Starscapes - India's leading Astro tourism company.
Interestingly, the George Everest Peak is named after renowned British surveyor Sir George Everest, and the peak has been vital in the accurate mapping of the country. Recently, Uttarakhand Tourism also opened the country’s first cartography museum, the George Everest Cartography Museum, and it is situated at the former residence of Sir George Everest, known as Park Estate.
Post the campaign launch, several astro tourism events will also be organised across India, including Harsil-Jadung, Benital, Rishikesh, Jageshwar and Ramnagar. Additionally, star gazing through special instruments would be conducted, and people can also learn about astrophotography from experts. Other activities in the campaign include solar observation, navigation and timekeeping, and expert talks on astro tourism.
Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami aligned his vision to promote multidimensional tourism activities apart from religious tourism, with the help of the state tourism department. Talking about the initiative, tourism Minister of Uttarakhand, Satpal Maharaj, stated that the government aims to make sure that the tourists who come to the Uttarakhand must return home with an overall great experience, and Nakshatra Sabha would aid it. Not just astro tourism, the state is also looking at developing new tourist destinations.
As part of holistic Astro Tourism experience, Nakshatra Sabha will span until mid of 2025, and will offer immersive events at various places in Uttarakhand. It also plans to cover Dark Sky potential sites in Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Nainital, Chamoli and others. Hence, it would serve as a collaboration between astronomy enthusiasts, adventurers, and travellers from the world.
Sachin Kurve, IAS, Secretary, Tourism & CEO, Uttarakhand Tourism Board, said at the event, “With the launch of Nakshatra Sabha, our aim is to position Uttarakhand at the forefront of astro-tourism in India. This unique initiative, in collaboration with Starscapes, goes beyond promoting our state’s natural beauty; it underscores our commitment to preserving our dark skies and fostering a deeper appreciation for the night sky among our communities. Nakshatra Sabha not only showcases Uttarakhand as an ideal destination for stargazing enthusiasts but also strengthens our efforts to build sustainable tourism practices that honour our cultural heritage and protect our environment. We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the globe to experience the magic of Uttarakhand.”
Opportunities for stargazing and celestial observation
Talks based on Astro tourism from renowned leaders from the travel industry
Competition will challenge participants to show their skills in capturing the night sky
Feature special solar telescopes for observation and exploration
Build awareness, train and create volunteers for astro tourism
