Nakshatra Sabha

• 03 May 2024

Why in News?

The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board has joined hands with Starscapes, a leading astro-tourism company, to introduce Nakshatra Sabha, a new initiative to provide a comprehensive Astro Tourism experience to people.

Key Points

• The campaign will offer a range of activities, including stargazing, special solar observations, astrophotography contests, camping under the stars, and more.
• The initiative aims to bring together astronomy enthusiasts, adventurers, and travellers to marvel at the wonders of the cosmos.
  • Uttarakhand is well-positioned to attract Astro Tourists worldwide with its abundant forest cover, nature-based tourism, convenient access to major cities, and well-established hospitality sector, including homestays.
• George Everest in Mussoorie is set to host Nakshatra Sabha from early June until mid-2025, presenting a range of engaging events at different spots throughout Uttarakhand.
  • These events will explore potential night sky sites in districts such as Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Nainital, and Chamoli, along with seminars and webinars led by experts in the field.
• By creating a community of advocates committed to conserving dark skies in Uttarakhand, the Nakshatra Sabha campaign aims to promote professional training, skill development, and support local economies while advocating for the preservation of night skies.
  • It plans to establish a policy for preserving dark skies across the region in 2025.

Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB)

• It is a government body responsible for promoting tourism in the state of Uttarakhand.
• It was established in 1976 and is headquartered in Dehradun.
• The UTDB works to develop and promote tourism infrastructure, attract investment, and market Uttarakhand as a tourist destination.