September 16, 2015
Heritage tourism circuit in Birbhum
Birbhum tourism is not just about Tagore’s Santiniketan. The district has a host of traditional temples which have heritage value and also unique architecture. Tourists can now take an interest in it on their way to Santiniketan via Burdwan.
Prodded by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the state tourism department has come up with a Rs 20 crore plan to develop a heritage eco tourism circuit in Birbhum.
The authorities have already started building lodges and cottages and will revamp the areas surrounding Tarapith, Bakreswar and Kenduli. The plan is to develop a tourism circuit around Tarapith, Bakreswar, Kendua and Santiniketan. The thrust will be on heritage and eco-tourism.
The Birbhum district administration will be assisting the tourism department in implementing the project. A meeting was held between the officials of tourism department and Birbhum district administration to chalk out plans.
A beautification programme will also be taken up in Tarapith, surrounding the temple, where the roads will be beautified. A tourist lodge will be set up at Tarapith where about 80 visitors could be accommodated. The authorities have already started setting up tourist cottages in Bakreswar.
Plans are also on to provide shelters to the ‘sadhus’ there. Landscaping will also be done along the Dwaraka river. Welcome entry gates will be set up at Jaydeb and Kenduli.
The tourism department also has plans to initiate a public private partnership (PPP) project on a nine-acre plot in Santiniketan to develop eco-tourism.
