Astro-tourism gets a boost in Uttarakhand, 'Nakshatra Sabha' to begin in June

The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board has teamed up with Starscapes, an astro-tourism company, to launch "Nakshatra Sabha," India's first annual campaign dedicated solely to promoting astro-tourism.

The campaign kicks off in early June at George Everest in Mussoorie and will run until mid-2025, offering a range of immersive events at different locations across Uttarakhand.

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Activities will take place at dark-sky-friendly sites in the districts of Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Nainital, and Chamoli. The program also includes seminars and webinars led by experts in the field.

Nakshatra Sabha aims to deliver a comprehensive astro-tourism experience with activities like stargazing, special solar observations, astrophotography contests, and camping under the stars, among others.

Additionally, the campaign will offer professional training and skill development opportunities for local residents to help boost local economies.

"Uttarakhand has great potential to become a leading destination for astro-tourism," said the Secretary of Tourism, Government of Uttarakhand. "Nakshatra Sabha is our first major campaign dedicated to this sector, and we hope to attract visitors from around the world to explore the wonders of the night sky while also experiencing Uttarakhand's rich heritage."

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Ramashish Ray, Founder of Starscapes, mentioned, "We've been working closely with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board for several years, hosting various astronomy camps and promoting astro-tourism through our experience centers and observatories in the state. The response has been fantastic, which encouraged us to create this large-scale annual campaign."

Nakshatra Sabha will also focus on preserving dark skies by developing a community of ambassadors dedicated to promoting dark sky conservation in Uttarakhand. This includes creating a policy for dark sky preservation and implementing it over the coming year.

Highlights of the Nakshatra Sabha include using specialized equipment for stargazing, expert-led talks on astro-tourism, astrophotography competitions, and special solar observations aligned with peak solar activity and the ongoing Aditya mission.

With its unique geography and low levels of light pollution, Uttarakhand is on its way to becoming a premier astro-tourism destination in India.