In a recent venture to promote rural tourism, a Rs 10.46-crore project, has been announced for Sirmaur district of Himachal pradesh. The project is being funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Sirmaur is a southern most locality in the south-eastern region of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is largely mountainous and naturally being gifted with with various picturesque locations and a favorable climate. 90% of its population living in villages. With its unique pastoral background the place can be developed as a top tourist destination in Himachal Pradesh.
The procedures have already begun. Briefing about the 10.46 crore project, Mr. Lalit Jain, Deputy Commissioner Sirmaur, said the district’s major towns like Haripurdhar, Nohradhar, Churdhar and Rajgarh-Habban will be developed with the prospective of rural tourism. The proposed spots for the tourism promotional activities have already been inspected by a team of ADB officials.
This tourism promotional project includes the renovation of an extensively used route from picturesque Nohradhar to Churdhar peaks at an expense of Rs 81 lakh. Further the Tourism Department is planning a massive makeover for specific sites on the Rajgarh-Haripur Road from where the scenic beauty of the hills can be enjoyed and this will cost Rs 28 lakh as per the estimation.
Availing facilities like a cultural platform, parking spaces, toilets, etc. in the Bhagyani Temple complex in Haripur also comes under the project and Rs 80 lakh have been kept aside for it. And another Rs 20 lakh would be spent on designing an access road to a historic fort at Haripur.
The religious tourism promotional activities further incorporates an beautification project for the famous Shirgul temple and 1 crore is going to be spent for it. Repairing the museum along with the temple and developing a tracking route from Habban to Banalidhar, everything will come under this beautification work. Other than this another Rs 1 crore is set aside for upgrading Rajgarh – a major town of Sirmaur. After the upgradation, Rajgarh will have the facilities like pathways, parking lots, signboards as well as street lights, as stated by the Deputy Commissioner.
Apart from all these, another proposal is also set for developing an artificial lake on Giri river near Karganu, opening up a cafeteria, water sports and landscaping of the area.
Mr. Jain has again added the possibility of creating a new paragliding center near Rajgarh at Ser Jagas under the state government’s Nae Manzil Nae Rahe scheme and Rs 2 crore have been purposed for this in a bid to develop adventure tourism also.
So the rustic Sirmaur with its rural, religious and adventure tourism promotional programmes will not only be a coveted place for the peace lovers but can be a major source of income for the dwellers as well.
