The millennium's longest solar eclipse tomorrow that coincides with the Mahakumbh Mela has proved lucky for the travel industry. Hotels and travel companies are cashing with special packages for the domestic tourists who throng Haridwar-Rishikesh circuit for a spiritual dip in the Ganga, as well as the international tourists who are interested in being part of the largest religious and cultural gathering in the world. Meanwhile others like Oberoi Hotels who have a luxury motor vessel at the Kerala Backwaters is organizing a special viewing session in collaboration with a team from Science Popularization Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE).
The total solar eclipse can only be in India in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. "Mahakumbh typically witnesses an inflow of foreign tourists to experience our culture and heritage.
We are receiving guests from US, UK and mainland Europe," said Leisure Hotels director-marketing Vibhas Prasad. Leisure Hotels is running its luxury tents and a heritage hotel in Haridwar and other spiritual places along the Ganga. He added that the solar eclipse has especially drawn a large number of domestic tourists over the weekend.
The high-end hotels and tents at Haridwar-Rishikesh circuit are available in the range of Rs 15,000- Rs 10,000 for two persons for 2 day/3 nights and usually include meals. While the mid-scale hotels and packages are available in the range Rs 6000-4000 for 2 days. The coming weekend has an especially large influx of tourists and last minute bookings because of the added attraction of the solar eclipse.
The Kumbh Mela, which started on Thursday, will end on April 14th and has seven auspicious bathing dates. Prices are usually hiked by hotels , tent owners and travel companies around these seven days. Added Kuoni India COO-outbound division Kashmira Commissariat, "We are customizing our packages around the solar eclipse which includes other leisure activities at Rishikesh besides the holy dip at the Ganges on Friday and other traditional ceremonies. But an event which happens once in 12 years is not just drawing families and spiritual tourists.
"There are a lot of youngsters as well as couples who are booking for this weekend as well as all through the Kumbh Mela, more out of the spirit of adventure and to experience something new," said Stic Travel Group director Richa Goyal Sikri. Most of these packages have devoted sightseeing for nearby tourist destinations. As per Sarovar Hotels vice president marketing Pradeep Kalra hotels in the region have already increased their rates by nearly 30-50%. A larger number of domestic tourists from Western Indian and Gujarat are expected to trickle in the months of March and April as schools close at that time.
SOURCE: The Economic times
Date - 15 January 2010
Edition - New Delhi
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India is a religious land. Ever since the dawn of civilization, India has been the birthplace of many religions. Being so, the country boasts of a lot of pilgrim destinations within its precincts. Rich in mythology, it has a number of temples, mosques, monasteries, churches and gurdwaras, which attract lakhs of devotees every year. Pilgrimage Tourism India
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