In response to:India on the move

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:21:43 +0200

They don`t feel safe either in North east excluding Sikkim.---Mr Biswas Your article is indeed a good one. But in this above pasted line you should specify the word 'they'. The word shoul mean only Bengal's Bengali. You people always forget that NE India Is homeland of more than 3 crore Bengalies. All of them are not Migreants From East Bengal. Lakhs of Bengalies lives here for centuris. Some even got assimilated with Assamese Population. This Bengalies Knows well that there is nothing too much to be woried about here. And The Bengalies here love to traval Shilong,not less atractive tourist spot than Kumaon or Darjiling. Recently people of this region are likeing to go to Tawang as well. how can you forget about Kamakhya ? Come Asharh Amubachi---lakhs of bengalies from your state will travel to Guwahati to have a visit Devi Kamakhya.
Thanks
Sushanta

In response to:India on the move

Sat, 12 Aug 2006 17:04:49 +0200

Tourism Minus Connectivity
Palash Biswas
(You may publish the matter if you pl. Contact: Plash Biswas, GOstokanan, Sodepur, kolkata-700110, India. Phone: 033-25659551)
Come September and Bengali season begins in Hills of Kumaon. Bengalies love to visit kumaon, associated with Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore and Swami Vivekanand. Almora is famous as the Kolkata of Kumaun. Traditionally Bengali middle class and lower middle class tourists prefer Kumaon to any other tourist destination as the Bengalies feel cultural closeness with kumauni people. Low budget tourism and affordable costing also influence their choice.
But Bengali tourists have only one direct train Howrah Kathgodam Bagh Express to connect kumun with Kolkata. This train involves at least fourty hours of tedious journy. The rout is too lengthy.We have no superfast train to connect Kolkata, Mumbai,chennai or even lucknow with kumaon. While deharadoon being the capital, Garwal enjoys better connectivity with superfast trains like himgir iand Upasana. It is mysterious theat the so called representatives of kumaun are not much puzzled to improve connectivity with rest of the world.
Since the turmoil in Kashmir is seriously associated with the question of security as well as safety, the peace loving Bengalies simply opt for Kumaon. They don`t feel safe either in North east excluding Sikkim.
Air connectivity has been alwaysan area that acts as a stumbling block to the growth of tourism in Uttaranchal,specially Kumaon. The well to do familes as well as the foriegn tourist avoid kumon for lack of air connectivity. They opt for Kashmir, Himachal or darjiling. The continuous disturbance and turmoil in Kashmir and darjiling has helped to boost the tourism revenue in the state which has hardly any other source of income in the Uttaranchal hills.Darjiling had been suffering from the gorkhaland movement while the recent grened attacks on tourists in Srinagar have demoralised the Bengali tourists.With the objective of blocking every kind of entertainment to the people of the Kashmir valley, Pakistan-sponsored militants had not only imposed restriction on the screening of films besides ordering the closing of theatres. Thus, in kolkata, the traveling agents suggest the uttaranchal tour which involves long long bus journy as it is understood safe.Though the state gets around 14 million tourists, but lack of air connectivity has failed to attract high spenders.
Though the state gets around 14 million tourists, but lack of air connectivity has failed to attract high spenders. To address the connectivity issue, the Uttaranchal Tourism Development Board (UTDB) has asked IDFC to do a feasibility study for having a mountain airline. "It is still in the planning stage. We are looking at the feasibility of having a mountain airline, which will connect the high altitude destinations of Uttaranchal and Himachal. We have spoken to Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department about it and they are eager as well. Such an airline will be a combination of fixed wings aircraft, ATRs and choppers," said N N Prasad, secretary, department of tourism, culture and information, government of Uttaranchal and CEO, Uttaranchal Tourism Development Board.
At the recently concluded Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) held in Kolkata, U K Singh, additional CEO, Uttaranchal Tourism Development Board (UTDB), revealed plans stating: The state tourism department has earmarked Rs 1.20 crore to prepare 20 master plans for tourism promotion and find out potential areas of tourism development. Elucidating the proposed plans, Singh disclosed: Improvement of air, road and rail connectivity is top priority combined with enhancing private sector participation and involving local communities. Elaborating further Singh disclosed, We have other developments in mind which include selling the state as a pilgrimage destination, since four of India’s holiest sites, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath are in Uttaranchal. The state also has the potential for adventure tourism, eco-tourism and cave-tourism
Kumaon was formerly an administrative division of British India, in the United Provinces, with headquarters at Nainital. Kumaon proper constituted an old Rajput principality, which became extinct at the beginning of the 19th century. The region was annexed after the Gurkha war of 1815, and was governed for seventy years on the non-regulation system by three administrators, Mr. Traill, Mr J. H. Batten and Sir Henry Ramsay.It consists of a large Himalayan tract, together with two submontane strips called the Terai and the Bhabhar. The submontane strips were up to 1850 an almost impenetrable forest, given up to wild animals; but after 1850 the numerous clearings attracted a large population from the hills, who cultivated the rich soil during the hot and cold seasons, returning to the hills in the rains. The rest of Kumaon is a maze of mountains, part of the Himalaya range, some of which are among the loftiest known. In a tract not more than 225 km in length and 65 km in breadth there are over thirty peaks rising to elevations exceeding 5500 m. The rivers like Gori , Dhauli , Kali etc rise chiefly in the southern slope of the Tibetan watershed north of the loftiest peaks, amongst which they make their way down valleys'of rapid declivity and extraordinary depth. The principal are the Sarda (Kali), the Pindar and Kailganga, whose waters join the Alaknanda. The river Sarda ( Kali) forms the international boundary between India and Nepal. The pilgrim route currently used to visit Kailash-Mansarovar , goes along this river and crosses into Tibet at Lipu Lekh pass.The chief trees are the Chir Pine, Himalayan Cypress, Pindrow Fir, alder, sal or iron-wood, and saindan. Limestone, sandstone, slate, gneiss and granite constitute the principal geological formations. Mines of iron, copper, gypsum, lead and asbestos exist; but they are not thoroughly worked. Except in the submontane strips and deep valleys the climate is mild. The rainfall of the outer Himalayan range, which is first struck by the monsoon, is double that of the central hills, in the average proportion of 2000 mm to 1000 mm. No winter passes without snow on the higher ridges, and in some years it is universal throughout the mountain tract. Frosts, especially in the valleys, are often severe.
The word Kumaon can be traced back to the 5th century BC. The Kassite Assyrians left their homeland 'Kummah', on the banks of river Euphrates,and settled in the northern part of India.These inhabitants formed Koliyan tribe and having their new settlement as Kumaoon. Lord Buddha's mother, Mayabati belonged to this clan.
An another version of the origin is that word Kumaon is believed to have been derived from "Kurmanchal", meaning land of the Kurmavatar (the tortoise incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the preserver according to Hindu mythology). The region of Kumaon is named after as such.
Lack of any Helicopter service the torists are deprived to penetrate in the heart of Kumau. Making Almora or Kausani transit points, a tourist can move in the remote areas. but tourists have to make Nainital or Ranikhet, the most costly Hill stations their transit points.Almora is a wonderful place to conveniently enjoy the spectacular snowscape of the central Himalayas. Most of the days in Almora are flawless. Almost everyday the tourist can see almost every peak. Almora allows you to enjoy the mighty Himalayas together with ridge after ridge of hills. A trip to the Kumaoon region remains incomplete without having been to the beautiful scenic spots of beautiful Kaushani. The town is shaded by pine and oak trees. Kaushani situated at a hight of 1,890 m is the place where the myriad charms of nature are displayed. Climate of Kaushani is pleasant throughout the year, yet the best time would be March-May or September-November
The problem of connectivity also affects tourism involving Jim Corbett National Park. Since Ramnagar, though connected with Moradabad on broad gauge , has not been made a turminal for long distance trains. It would have improved the connectivity with Chamoli and Paudi districts of Garwal. India had the proud distinction of being chosen as the venue for the inauguration of Project Tiger in India; earlier part of Uttar Pradesh now comes under Uttaranchal, the newly found state. Jim Corbett National Park India is home to a variety of flora and fauna, Corbett park is famous for its wild population of Tigers, Leopards and Elephants.
Thus the focus of Kumaun i tourism happens to be Nainital.The hill station of Nainital is situated at a height of 1938 m . It is at a distance of 1402.4 km from Calcutta. It is extremely cold with the temperatures varying from 26.7°-10.6° in summer and 15.6°-2.8° in winter. But Bengalies always feel at home in Nainital.The ideal time for touring Nainital would be either from March to June or from mid September to the end of October and Bengalies visit kumaun during this period.. Heavy construction and serious ecological problems endanger the very existence of the beauty for ever. To save nainital it is mendatory to decentralise the tourist pressure Which is nearly impossible in present connectivity circumstances.
The lake or for that matter the town is surrounded by the seven lofty hills of Naina or China peak 2640 m, Alma (2432 m), Sher-ka-Danda (2405 m), Laria Kanta (2485 m), Ayarpatta or Dorothy seat (2320 m), Hondi Boondi (2179 m) and Deopatta or Camel's Back (2422 m). The peaceful atmosphere of this hamlet of solitude is shaded by Poplars and Deodars and the Mall is beautified with rows of Chinar trees. Nainital has been the home of the Uttar Pradesh government in summer sice the Raj. Though the town was born in the year 1842, after the renowned British hunter P Barren had built the Pilgrim's Cottage, its colourful past was absolutely devastated by the week-long torrential downpour causing massive landslides in September 16th 1880. There were 151 victims of that landslide who perished in the Assembly hall. In lieu of this a new entertainment centre has been built ie, in the form of todays modern flats. The cynosure of all tourists are the series of lush green vallyes on the sides of the Naini lake which has developed through hundred years.
Palash Biswas
!2 Th August, 2006.
Address:
Palash Biswas
Gostokanan, Sodepur, Kolkata-700110, India.
Phone: 033-25659551.(r).

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In response to:India on the move

In response to:India on the move