Tourists may soon be able to experience a nomadic festival in Ladakh, trekking trails along the Alkapuri glacier in Uttarakhand, and river rafting in Arunachal Pradesh’s Para and Kameng. The government has decided to develop 17 villages along the border with China as tourist destinations under the Vibrant Villages programme. The focus is on adventure tourism, construction of homestays, and promotion of local festivals and fairs, with work to be completed by April 2024. Work will begin in Uttarakhand first.
Villages in Ladakh (Chushul, Karzok); Himachal Pradesh (Lalung, Gipu, Charang Khas); Uttarakhand (Mana, Niti, Malari, Gunji; Sikkim (Lachen, Lachung, Gnathang); and Arunachal Pradesh (Zemithang, Taksing, Chayangtajo, Tuting, Kibithoo) will be developed as a pilot project for the scheme. The long-term goal is to develop 663 villages in the first phase.
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