Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said that Aadi Himani Chamunda Dham would be developed as Religious Tourist Destination on the pattern of Vaishno Devi and Amar Nath Shrines to attract the tourists visiting the Shakti Peeth’s of Kangra district. He was addressing a meeting of officers of the district at Dadh Rest House after undertaking aerial survey of Aadi Himani Chamunda Dham in Kangra district today.
Prof. Dhumal said that the Aadi Himani Chamunda temple was an ancient shrine and a beautiful spot situated in the Dhauladhar hill ranges. It had vast tourist potential for development from tourism point of view. Chief Minister said that possibilities were being exploited to connect the place with ropeway and survey was being conducted. He said that efforts would be made to launch helitaxi service to Himani Chamunda and added that basic amenities like drinking water, electricity and accommodation facilities would be developed in the Shrine to facilitate tourist. He said that more employment avenues would be generated with the development of the area from tourism point.
Prof. Dhumal said that the State Government was developing tourism as an Industry and added that schemes like “Home Stay” and “Har Gaon Ki Kahani ” were being implemented to promote lesser known destinations and boosting rural tourism to attract tourists from home and abroad and to acquaint them about the culture and traditions of the State. He said that the State also had vast potential for adventure tourism like para-gliding, ski-driving, river-rafting, mountaineering etc. besides religious tourism.
A Chief Minister said that Rs. 15 Crore were being spent on tourism activities in district Kangra with the assistance of Asian Development Bank which included resurrection of Masrur Temple at a cost of Rs. 3.5 Crore. He said that Rs. 5.47 crore were being spent on various activities in Maharana Pratap Sagar including Rs. 1.27 Crore on construction of Information Centre in Pong Dam, Rs. 3 Crore on Community Tourism Development and Rs. 75 lacs on parking and other facilities.
Ravinder Singh Ravi, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Capt. Atma Ram, MLA Rajgir, Praveen Sharma, MLA Palampur, Ram Chand Bhatia, Ex MLA, K.R. Bharti, Deputy Commissioner, Daljeet Singh Thakur, Superintendant of Police were present on the occasion.
