Nakshatra Sabha: India’s First Astro Tourism Campaign

The tourism sector is very important for any country. The boost in this sector not only helps boost the economy of the country but also leads to the development of various regions. Tourism is an important aspect of supporting local businesses, bringing in money, and creating jobs. In India, very much importance is given to the tourism sector. Recently, the tourism department of Uttrakhand, in partnership with Astro Tourism Company,Starscapes, launched ‘Nakshatra Sabha’ in Mussorie’s George Everest. We are here with the key details about the Nakshatra Sabha.

Key Details of the Nakshatra Sabha

On Saturday, Uttrakhand’s tourism department, in collaboration with Astro tourism company Starscapes, launched Nakshatra Sabha at George Everest in Mussoorie. This is the first-ever event in India that highlights astro tourism. Astrotourism is a type of tourism that combines observation of the sky at night, leisure, and outreach activities related to astronomy.

The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, highlighted the significance of promoting diverse activities beyond the famous religious tourism in Uttarakhand.

The objective of the state behind Nakshatra Sabha is to enhance adventure tourism, green tourism, and especially astro tourism. The state government is also establishing Astro Villages at various locations.

Satpal Maharaj, the tourism minister, focused on the government’s commitment to providing an unforgettable experience to all tourists. During the inaugural ceremony, various notable personalities attended the event, including Dr. T.V. Venkateswaran from Vigyan Prasar, Dr. Dipankar Banerjee of the Aryabhatta Research Institute, Mr. Ramashish Ray, Founder of Starscapes, Dr. Prabhas Pandey from the University of Delhi, and Mr. Akash Sinha from Shiv Nadar University.

Also Read | Top 10 Hottest Places in India in 2024

Activities at Nakshatra Sabha

Nakshatra Sabha comprises various astro tourism activities like stargazing, an astrophotography competition, camping under the stars, and solar observations. The event also featured expert talks on astro tourism and astronomical demonstrations. Until mid-2025, the event will continue with various programmes across dark sky sites in Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Nainital districts.

After this event, astrotourism events will be organised in different parts of the country, including Benital, Jageshwar, Harsil Jadung, and Ramnagar.

The initiative of the Nakshatra Sabha aims to create job opportunities and train local youth. This initiative also encourages the conservation of dark skies, promoting efforts to preserve dark skies in Uttarakhand through the implementation of a dark sky conservation policy. The team at Starscapes will efficiently collaborate with travel partners and local communities to make the Nakshatra Sabha initiative successful.