Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, in collaboration with Starscapes, a leading astro tourism organization in India, is preparing to launch ‘Nakshatra Sabha’, the country’s first annual initiative solely focused on promoting astro tourism.
Imagine that you are in Uttarakhand, it is a little cold there, no one can be seen far, you are in the middle of the night and grasslands and mountains and above your head, you see the whole sky shining with stars and if If you have a telescope you can observe it closely. These are those moments of your life which you can never forget. You cannot enjoy this sky in the crowded life of the city. You have to enjoy it. You can see this sky only under the open and clear sky in a remote village of Uttarakhand.
Starting in early June at George Everest in Mussoorie, Nakshatra Sabha will run till mid-2025, offering a series of captivating experiences at various locations across Uttarakhand. These activities will include exploration of promising night sky sites in districts like Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Nainital and Chamoli along with informative sessions led by knowledgeable professionals in the field.
There are very few things in life as beautiful, romantic, serene and calming as a clear night sky filled with hundreds of twinkling stars. Some of the places in the state of Uttarakhand that offer starry skies include Gurson Bugyal (near Auli), Jeolikot (near Bhawali), Kedarkantha (Uttarakashi district), Munsiyari (Pithoragarh district), Majkhali (a small town near Ranikhet sa village) are included. ), Chakrata and Chaukori. Kausani is also home to an observatory (Stargate Observatory) which also conducts astronomy workshops and the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences in Nainital claims to have one of the largest telescopes.
In addition to providing professional training and skills development opportunities to local residents, the campaign seeks to boost local economies and preserve the night sky. By fostering a community of ambassadors dedicated to dark sky conservation efforts throughout Uttarakhand, Nakshatra Sabha will work toward implementing a region-wide dark sky conservation policy in the coming year.
