Tourism dept promoting visits to Shringverpur Dham

Prayagraj: Feeling neglected for decades, Shringverpur Dham, about 40 km from Prayagraj, is turning a favourite destination for village tourism among visitors. After obtaining religious and cultural identity, officials of the tourism department are promoting visits to Shringverpur Dham among tour and travel operators.

Officials said that with the development of Sangam and its surrounding areas, the priority of the state govt is to make Shringverpur Dham a place of social harmony as well as a hub of tourism. The govt is initiating fresh measures to make it a new destination for village tourism.

Regional Tourism Officer (Prayagraj), Aparajita Singh, said, "A 13-member group of travel and tour operators from Delhi, Lucknow and Varanasi had visited the dham campus on Saturday as part of the Introduction Tour. The group first visited Satyam Shivam Sundaram Agri Tourism Complex, where they were given a grand welcome. After experiencing the local activities, the group visited the Shri Ram Shayan Sthal mentioned in the Ramayana, where Lord Shri Ram, Goddess Sita, and Lord Lakshman stayed overnight in Shringverpur before departing for 14 years of exile.

The members saw the main attraction of the park, the 51-foot-high statue of Lord Ram and Nishadraj Guhya. The group stayed in a traditional homestay and experienced the hospitality of the local people and traditional cuisine. The members visited the Munj Shilp Gram, prepared under the Rural Tourism Scheme, where they purchased products made of Munj. They also visted historic Nishadraj Fort, Shri Ram Ghat, and Maa Shanta Shringi Ashram and interacted with the local boatmen. The members also visited the Bioved Agri Tourism Complex.

The members shared their suggestions and experiences during their introduction journey. Senior executive of Easy Connect Travel Group from Delhi, Umesh Rathore, said that there are immense possibilities for village tourism in Shringverpur Dham. For this, transport facilities should be improved, and link routes to tourist places should be enhanced. Senior Sales Manager (Operations) of Lucknow's Global Tour and Travel Group, Sujit Mishra, said that due to CM Yogi's efforts, this place is now being recognised at the global level in tourism. To increase the footfall of tourists at this tourist place of new possibilities, day visit tours will be planned.

Day visit packages for students from colleges of nearby districts will also help to increase the footfall at the dham. Once the footfall increases, locals will get employment. On the other hand, the officials of the tourism department are enthusiastic about the beginning of introduction tours.

Singh, meanwhile, said, "In this sequence, the tourism department is all set to organise a mega camp with all stakeholders on April 28 at a city-based hotel. Apart from travel tour operators, hoteliers, restaurant owners, members of Chambers of Commerce, and members of Udyog Bandhu are invited to this tourism camp. In the camp, along with the facilities provided by the govt in the new tourism policy, there will also be the facility of instant registration."