Uttarakhand

• 03 May 2024

Bhimtal Lake

Why in News?

In response to a severe forest fire close to Nainital district headquarters the state government deployed the Army's MI 17 helicopters to fetch water from Bhimtal Lake and spray it over the affected forests.

Key Points

• Bhimtal Lake is the largest lake in the Nainital district, in the state of Uttarakhand. It is the largest lake in the Kumaon region, known as the "lake district of India".
  • It is named after the second Pandava called Bhima of the famous epic Mahabharata.
• It is a natural lake and its origin is attributed to several faults that occurred due to the shifting of the Earth's crust.
• The lake was built during British time in 1883 and has a masonry dam built on it.
• The lake has rich flora and fauna around it and thick forests of pine and oak cover the hill slopes around the lake.
  • It is home to a number of migratory birds in the winter months.
  • Famous species found in the area include bulbul, wall creeper, Emerald Dove, Black Eagle, and Tawny fish owl.
• The lake has an island at its centre developed as a tourist attraction with an aquarium.

Nakshatra Sabha

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.