Astro Night Sky Tourism at Kartvyapath

Astro tourism in India is set to take off with the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) in association with Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) organizing a sky gazing event at India Gate Lawns, Kartavya Path, Delhi. The event is part of the “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” celebrations and is designed to be interactive and practical to attract more people. The event was inaugurated by Minister of State for Culture, Arjun Ram Meghwal on January 6 and will continue till January 8.

Background

An autonomous society under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) today, administers 25 Science Centres/Museums spread all over India. Even though Astro tourism as a concept is not new to Europe and the US, the trend has recently picked up in India, with more people traveling to remote locations with clearer skies. The Ministry of Tourism recently launched a lot of initiatives to discuss and explore this ecotourism concept through the webinar series ‘Dekho Apna Desh’, bringing to fore efforts made by states like Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in the field.

Sky Gazing Event

The sky gazing event includes various activities such as Astro Talks by expert astronomers, exhibition on Astronomy, storytelling related to celestial objects, experience of using a telescope to see craters of the moon, astronomy activities, photographic panel exhibition, and astro-photography. This event provides an opportunity to learn about the sky, stars, planets and other celestial objects.

Emerging Astro Tourism Destinations

Building on the concept of Astro tourism, states like Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh have demarcated dark sky reserves and sanctuaries, started astro-photography and astro-activities, besides astro parks to give a boost to this segment. Benital Village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli District, Mandu in Madhya Pradesh, Jaipur in Rajasthan and Hanle Village in Ladakh are emerging as strong destinations for Astro tourism.

Significance of Astro Tourism

Astro-tourism, being a part of eco-tourism, prospers on sustainable travel and brings travelers to remote corners of the country, and it not just parallels the existing popular segment of adventure tourism but also is a more responsible form of traveling. This form of tourism becomes even more significant at a time when the Ministry of Tourism has set its hopes on the upcoming National Tourism Policy which is aimed at implementing sustainable tourism in India.

The sky gazing event organized by NCSM and NMML is a step towards promoting Astro tourism in India. With more and more states promoting sustainable travel and Astro tourism, the future of this form of tourism looks bright. The event not only provides an opportunity to learn about the sky but also helps to promote sustainable travel.

Category: India Nation & States Current Affairs