The combination of astronomy and tourism has given rise to a new form of sustainable and responsible travel known as astro-tourism. In India, various organisations are working on expanding terrestrial astro-tourism. Some places have even established astro-stays. For instance, at the Pangong Lake in Ladakh, visitors can capture the scenic beauty of the lake during the day, while at night, locals share their traditions and folk tales while guiding them to identify constellations. Recently, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board has partnered with Starscapes, India's leading astro-tourism company, to launch ‘Nakshatra Sabha’ - India’s first-ever annual campaign dedicated exclusively to promoting astro-tourism. The campaign aims to provide a holistic astro-tourism experience with activities such as stargazing, special solar observations, astrophotography contests, camping under the stars, and much more.
Nakshatra Sabha is designed to bring together astronomy enthusiasts, adventurers, and travellers from across the globe to witness the beauty of the cosmos. It will begin in early June at George Everest, Mussoorie, and will continue until mid-2025, offering a series of immersive events at various locations throughout Uttarakhand. The initiative will cover Dark Sky potential sites in the districts of Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Nainital, Chamoli, along with seminars and webinars with experts.
The campaign aims to develop the skills and provide professional training to residents, which will help enhance the local economies. In addition to this, it aims to preserve dark skies and create a community of ambassadors who are committed to promoting Dark Sky conservation efforts throughout Uttarakhand.
This involves the development of a policy that promotes Dark Sky preservation and its implementation throughout the region over the course of the year. The Starscapes team will work closely with local communities, travel and tourism partners, as well as homestay communities, providing training and ongoing support to ensure the successful implementation of these initiatives.
According to the Secretary Of Tourism of Uttarakhand, the state has tremendous potential to become the go-to destination for all things related to astronomy-focused travel as it is uniquely positioned to be the choice for astro-tourists with its large forest cover, nature-based tourism, easy access to all major cities and a well-developed hospitality sector including homestays.
"Over the last several years, we have been closely working with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board hosting several astronomy related camps besides promoting the same through our chain of Experience centres and Observatories in the state," said Ramashish Ray, Founder, Starscapes. "We have received an overwhelming response for each of our earlier events, and that's when we decided to curate an annual astro-tourism campaign that can be conducted on a much larger scale. This was the genesis for 'Nakshatra Sabha'. The campaign has been conceptualised with a two-fold goal in mind, one to position Uttarakhand as the ideal astro-tourism destination and secondly to institutionalise the same through the building of grassroots competencies and communities who have a stake in the same.”
Key highlights of the Nakshatra Sabha include:
Stargazing through specialised equipment: Participants will have access to a wide array of specialised equipment and trained guides, providing unparalleled opportunities for stargazing and celestial observation.
Expert talks on astro-tourism: Renowned leaders from the travel industry and academia will lead engaging sessions, sharing insights and knowledge about the wonders of the universe.
Astrophotography contest: An exciting competition will challenge participants to showcase their skills in capturing the breathtaking beauty of the night sky, with attractive rewards up for grabs.
Special solar observations: In alignment with the sun's peak activity and the active Aditya mission, Nakshatra Sabha will feature special solar telescopes, offering participants unique opportunities for observation and exploration.
Dark Sky policy: Astro tourism is a win-win for local communities to economically benefit while preserving dark skies. The campaign will build awareness, train and create volunteers and dark sky ambassadors for the same.