Uttarakhand Tourism launches India’s first Astro Tourism campaign in partnership with Starscapes, ET TravelWorld

The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, in partnership with Starscapes, India’s leading Astro tourism company, is set to unveil ‘Nakshatra Sabha,’ India’s inaugural annual campaign dedicated solely to promoting Astro Tourism.

Nakshatra Sabha promises an immersive Astro Tourism experience, featuring activities such as stargazing, special solar observations, astrophotography contests, camping under the stars, and much more.

Scheduled to kick off in early June at George Everest, Mussoorie, Nakshatra Sabha will run until mid-2025, offering a series of captivating events at various locations across Uttarakhand. These events will cover potential Dark sky sites in districts such as Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Nainital, Chamoli, alongside seminars and webinars featuring expert insights.

The initiative aims to bring together astronomy enthusiasts, adventurers, and global travelers to witness the awe-inspiring beauty of the cosmos.

The campaign also includes professional training and skill development opportunities for local residents, aimed at boosting local economies. Moreover, it advocates for dark sky preservation, fostering a community of ambassadors dedicated to conservation efforts throughout Uttarakhand. This encompasses the formulation and implementation of a dark sky preservation policy throughout the region over the next year. Starscapes will collaborate closely with local communities, travel partners, and homestay communities, providing training and ongoing support to ensure the success of these initiatives.

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Spanning four days across three batches at the IMF from April 10 to April 21, 2024, the programme attracted participants from diverse regions such as Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Ladakh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal. In addition to technical proficiency, the programme emphasised responsible tourism practices, environmental stewardship, and cultural sensitivity.

“Uttarakhand is poised to become the premier destination for astronomy-focused travel. With its vast forest cover, nature-based tourism, accessibility to major cities, and a well-developed hospitality sector, including Homestays, Nakshatra Sabha is another step towards that goal. This campaign invites global visitors to experience the wonders of the universe while showcasing Uttarakhand’s unique heritage. We anticipate hosting more campaigns like this to place Uttarakhand on the global astro-tourism map,” Secretary of Tourism, Govt of Uttarakhand said. Ramashish Ray, Founder, Starscapes, shared insights, saying, “Over the years, we have collaborated closely with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, hosting numerous astronomy-related camps and promoting them through our Experience centers and Observatories in the state. The overwhelming response led us to curate an annual Astro tourism campaign on a larger scale. Nakshatra Sabha aims to position Uttarakhand as the ideal astro tourism destination while building grassroots competencies and communities with vested interests.”