Embarking on Celestial Journeys: Uttarakhand’s Groundbreaking Astro-Tourism Initiative, ‘Nakshatra Sabha
India’s inaugural Astro Tourism Campaign, “Nakshatra Sabha,” has been unveiled! This pioneering endeavour aims to unite astronomy enthusiasts, adventurers, and globetrotters in experiencing the awe-inspiring beauty of the cosmos.
In collaboration with Starscapes, a renowned astro-tourism company, the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board has launched this unique initiative. Nakshatra Sabha promises an all-encompassing Astro Tourism journey, featuring activities like stargazing, specialized solar observations, captivating astrophotography contests, and enchanting camping experiences beneath the celestial canopy.
The amalgamation of astronomy and tourism has birthed a new paradigm of sustainable travel known as astro-tourism. Across India, diverse organizations are diligently expanding terrestrial astro-tourism. Some locales have even established “astro-stays,” like the picturesque Pangong Lake in Ladakh, where visitors can relish the lake’s scenic charm by day and delve into indigenous traditions and celestial narratives by night.
The recent partnership between the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board and Starscapes marks the inauguration of ‘Nakshatra Sabha,’ India’s premier annual campaign exclusively dedicated to promoting astro-tourism. Envisioned to offer a holistic astro-tourism experience, the campaign encompasses stargazing, specialized solar observations, captivating astrophotography contests, camping under the stars, and much more.
Expressing enthusiasm about the campaign, the Secretary of Tourism for the Government of Uttarakhand affirmed the state’s immense potential to emerge as a preferred destination for astronomy-centric travel. With its expansive forest cover, nature-centric tourism offerings, convenient accessibility to major cities, and a well-established hospitality sector including homestays, Uttarakhand stands uniquely poised to allure astro tourists from around the globe. The campaign aims to offer visitors a glimpse into the state’s rich heritage while immersing them in the enchanting magic of the universe.
Scheduled to kick off in early June at George Everest, Mussoorie, Nakshatra Sabha will extend until mid-2025, showcasing a series of immersive events across various locations in Uttarakhand. These events will explore potential dark sky sites in districts such as Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Nainital, and Chamoli, supplemented by enlightening seminars and webinars conducted by domain experts.
Moreover, Nakshatra Sabha endeavours to provide professional training and skill development opportunities to local residents, thereby stimulating local economies. It advocates for the preservation of dark skies, fostering a community of dedicated ambassadors committed to promoting dark sky conservation efforts throughout Uttarakhand. This includes the formulation and region-wide implementation of a dark sky preservation policy over the course of the year, with active collaboration from Starscapes, local communities, travel and tourism partners, and homestay establishments.
Key highlights of Nakshatra Sabha include immersive stargazing experiences facilitated by specialized equipment, enlightening expert talks on Astro-tourism by acclaimed leaders from the travel industry and academia, an enthralling astrophotography contest, and engaging special solar observations. The campaign aims to raise awareness and cultivate volunteers and dark sky ambassadors for the preservation of dark skies, which will significantly benefit local economies.
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