People from across the country will get access to the snow-bound tribal Lahaul valley in the winter season for the first time as the government has decided to keep the valley open for tourists even after snowfall.
Tribal development minister Ram Lal Markanda, after holding a meeting with the officials of Lahaul, said there will be no restriction on tourist inflow to Lahaul valley in clear weather. He said outsiders, for the first time, will get to experience the winters of this tribal belt which used to be cut off from the rest parts of the world after the snowfall. He said the road to the valley via Atal tunnel will be kept clear of snow. He said tourism infrastructure in the valley will be developed on a war footing so that tourists get all basic facilities.
“Tourist footfall in the valley has increased suddenly after the opening of the Atal tunnel. There will be no restriction on the movement of tourists if the weather is clear. We shall organise skiing, a winter carnival, and other winter events to attract more tourists this season. Meanwhile, we need to develop our infrastructure to meet the demand of the growing tourism,” Markanda said.
He said a Yatri Niwas at Sissu, adequate parking at Keylong, a large bus stand, parking, and cafeteria at Trilokinath will be built very soon. He said parking spaces, dustbins, waste management facilities, viewpoints, parks, tourism activities, exploration of new destinations, and organising cultural events for tourists are proposed.
Lahaul-Spiti, popularly known as the cold deserts of Himachal, gets very heavy snowfall from November to March. The area is coldest in the state with minimum temperature at some places plunges below minus 25. Visiting Lahaul valley in the winter season was impossible until recently when the Atal tunnel connected Lahaul with Manali. The tribal residents believe this tunnel will bring them a fortune in the form of tourism. They are started preparing for bumper tourism in the valley.
Nearly one lakh tourists have visited the valley in just two months. These days tourists are not being allowed beyond Sissu due to a surge in the Covid-19 cases. Most areas near the tunnel had been made containment zones, so tourists were being allowed only till Sissu. The restriction is expected to be lifted very soon.
Markanda said youths of Lahaul valley will also be encouraged to establish hotels, tourist camps, and other tourism-related facilities with help of Mukhyamantri Swavalamban Yojana. He said Lahaul has received Rs 65cr under the tribal sub-plan which will be spent on various development plans. He directed officials to spend this money in a time-bound manner while considering the quality of the work.
Lahaul valley has become a favourite tourist destination for tourists these days who wish to experience Ladakh-like atmosphere in Himachal. Atal tunnel has made travel to Lahaul valley easy. Lahaul valley is now just 33 KM from Manali. Tourists can go till Sissu, 38km from Manali and 5km from the tunnel. Keylong, Udaipur, Jispa, Darcha, Trilokinath and other destinations will be opened soon after control on Covid-19 cases in the valley.
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