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2008/2007/2006/2005/2004/2003 News..
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Scheme to ensure participation of home stays in tourism fairs...........
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Rs. 6664.67 lakhs pumped to inject tourism growth in South Sikkim.............
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OT Lepcha seeks Centre’s response on developing Sikkim as international tourist destination........
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Sikkim records more domestic tourists, less international visitors in first season..........
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Solar Eclipse popularises Astro-tourism in India.................
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Adventure sports will help promote tourism in Kodagu, says Shettar.................
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Sikkim commits ten minutes to world environmental security..............
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Ten Best Adventure Places in India [top of page]
India is one of the advantageous places in the world to host adventure activities, whether it is a safari in a nature reserve, a camel ride through the desert or a trek through the mountains.India has many adventure destinations that attract many adventure enthusiasts to India. Adventure sports like trekking, mountaineering, rafting and rock climbing; and water sports like snorkeling, kayaking and scuba diving are done in many places in India.
10 best adventure places:
Darjeeling, S Baker on flickr
1. Darjeeling is located in northern part of west Bengal at an altitude of 7000ft. The Museum of Natural History is another tourist attraction in Darjeeling, has a fine collection of Himalayan animals, reptiles, birds and insects. Other few places, worth a visit are the, Bhutia Bustee Monastery, Dhirdam temple, Ava Art gallery and Aloobaari Monastery.
2. Gulmarg- "the meadow of flowers" is situated in the great Himalayas. Gulmarg also offers some excellent opportunities for long walks. The beauty of the Kashmir valley will not fail to mesmerize you. You may explore the Nanga Parbat and the Haramukh.
3. Situated in the foothills of Himalayas, Jim Corbett National Park is the place for adventure sports such as jungle safaris, wildlife camps and jungle camps.
4. Manali draws a good number of tourists due to number of temple, monasteries, passes, waterfalls, landscapes etc. It is also an ideal place for the adventure sports like the skiing, hiking and trekking.
Gurpal Kaher on flickr
5. The Zanskar valley is situated across the Suru Valley and over the Pensi La in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. Trekking is possible to Panikhar or Rangdum over the Pentse La, into the Zanskar Valley from Lamayuru, Leh or Darcha, from Padum to the Markha valley.
6. Dodital dwells in the Uttarkashi District of the Garhwal. It offers excellent opportunities for the other popular adventure sport of trekking. Dodi Lake is renowned for trout and Mahseer fishing.
7. Leh is indeed a trekker's paradise in North India. Polo is a popular activity in Leh. Leh-Manali highway rewards spectacular and picturesque landscapes. You may try river rafting in the Zanskar River at Leh.
8. The adventure destination of Rishikesh is located in the northern part of the state of Uttaranchal. The rapids and rivers of Rishikesh are excellent spots for the adventure lovers. Rishikesh also acts at a base for trekking camps.
Auli, Vikgup on flickr
9. Auli lies towards the north of the state of Uttaranchal and forms a part of the Garhwal mountain range. Auli is one of the very few places in India where skiing is a major pastime.
10. Billing in Himachal Pradesh is located at 8,500 feet in the Kangra valley. Para Sailing has been a regular sport at Billing in the Kangra valley.
Source: By Prashant Jainengg (
Dated: 2nd July 2009
Scheme to ensure participation of home stays in tourism fairs [top of page]
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Tourism has come up with a scheme to ensure participation of home stays in the travel and tourism fairs being organised in metros. In the pavilion being erected at the national travel and tourism fairs, Kerala Tourism will provide facility for the home stays for the first time at a nominal rate. Only 10 home stays will be allowed to participate in a trade fair due to space constraints.
As per the scheme, the participating home stay will have to pay Rs.7,000 to attend a travel trade fair. However, the home stay will have to pay Rs.35,000 if they register for participating in seven travel and trade fairs and Rs.24,000 for four fairs.
The Travel Trade Fair is from July 3 to 5 in Hyderabad, Kolkata (July 11 to 13), IITM Bangalore (July 18 to 20), IITM Mumbai (September 11 to 13), TTF Chennai (January 8 to 10, 2010), TTF Mumbai (February 6 to 8) and TTF Delhi (February 11 to 13).
Online registration and details can be had from the official website of Kerala Tourism or from the Tourist Information Officer M.S. Venugopal (Cell 9349494933). There are over 700 home stays in the State.
Source: The Hindu
Dated: 3rd July 09
Tourism sector gets Rs.1,070 crore [top of page]
With a view to giving a fillip to the tourism industry, which is witnessing a downturn due to the global meltdown, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee allocated Rs.1,070 crore to the sector in the union budget he presented in parliament Monday. Mukherjee also announced custom duty exemption for water and snow equipment to boost adventure tourism. 'We welcome the move to exempt custom duty for all water and snow equipment that are used in adventure tourism. It will give a boost to adventure tourism. It was a major demand of the ministry that has been fulfilled,' Tourism Minister Kumari Selja said here while welcoming the budget.
Selja had met the finance minister last month for budgetary sops, which included custom duty waiver for inflatable raft, snow skis, water skis, surf boat, sail board and other water sports equipment.
Also, exemption from service tax has been given to those vehicles bearing contact carriage permit and are plying inter-state and intra-state. Of the total allocation of Rs.1,070 crore, Rs.304 crore has been allocated for overseas campaigns, as compared to Rs.285 crore last fiscal.
Promoting India abroad is a focus area for the tourism ministry, which plans to organise a series of roadshows to attract foreign tourists. About 5.36 million foreign tourists visited India in 2008, recording a growth of 5.6 percent over the previous year. But January saw a 17.6 percent dip with only 487,262 arrivals. In April, some improvement was witnessed, with 370,756 tourists visiting
India - a drop of 3.5 percent over the same month the previous year.
Source: Sify News
Dated: 6th July 2009
Rs. 6664.67 lakhs pumped to inject tourism growth in South Sikkim
[top
of page]
Poor progress for Rs. 2,249 lakhs Samdrupste ropeway project
Gangtok, July 07: An astronomical amount of Rs. 6664.67 lakhs has been
invested in 28 tourism related infrastructure projects in South Sikkim by
the State tourism department since 2005, an official document points out
reflecting the State government’s determination to decongest the cogging
tourism traffic of East and North districts to other hitherto unexplored
areas of the Himalayan State.
Out of these 28 projects, 18 projects are centrally sponsored schemes while
the rest are funded either jointly by State and Centre or by State plan
only.
Works for five projects are already completed. These are Indian Centre for
Adventure & Eco-tourism constructed at the cost of Rs. 541.15 lakhs at
Chemchey, footpath at Namthang, Guru Rinpoche Stupa at Rangrang, renovation
of TIC at Jorethang and Melli.
However, the ambitious project constructing a ropeway from PWD bungalow to
Samdruptse via rock garden in Namchi is not progressing smoothly. The
project is worth Rs. 2,249 lakhs which is funded jointly by the Centre and
State government. Works had commenced from November, 2006 and has a poor
progress. The project was scheduled to be completed on June this year but
has completed only 15 percent.
Tender notices for four projects have also been issued. These projects are
construction of Yatri-Niwas at Assangthang in South Sikkim (Rs. 383.12 lakhs),
construction of tourist infrastructure at Temi-Tarku (Rs. 303.06 lakhs),
construction of tourist infrastructure at Damthang (Rs. 366.43 lakhs),
construction of tourist infrastructure at Tiffindara and children park at
Namchi (Rs. 295.53 lakhs).
Files have also been processed for four centrally sponsored schemes in the
South district. The proposed projects are development of village tourism at
Rong, Mainram Bhangjang Jaubari and tourist infrastructure at Jorethang.
Finishing works are also going on for construction of Phase II of Indian
Centre for Adventure and Eco-Tourism at Chemchey (Rs. 369.27 lakhs) and
Lepcha Heritage Centre at Yangyang.
Among the mega projects, an amount of Rs. 437.44 lakhs has been allocated
for development of flower show pavilion at Namchi. A sum of Rs. 437.44 lakhs
has also been allocated for construction of a car park at Samdruptse. Forest
clearance is also under progress under for Rs. 206.63 lakhs worth tourism
infrastructure at Tendong.
The other projects which are on the verge of completion though well past
their schedule date of completion are a wayside amenity at Damthang, fencing
for flower pavilion complex at Namchi, construction of a trekking trail from
Chemchey to Jorpokari and a trekking trail from Dhappar to Bhalleydunga.
The completion of the above slew of tourism projects for South Sikkim is
targeted to achieve a State round tourism image of Sikkim besides
decongesting the tourism traffic in Sikkim which is predominantly revolves
in East and North districts.
Source: Sikkim Express
Dated: 8th July 2009
OT Lepcha seeks Centre’s response on developing Sikkim as international
tourist destination
[top
of page]
18 tourism related projects proposals received by MoT from Sikkim
Rs. 12268.72 lakhs received by Sikkim for tourism projects in past two years
Gangtok, July 9: A total of eighteen tourism related projects have been
received from the Union Ministry of Tourism (MoT) from Sikkim Government in
the current financial year of 2009-10.
This was stated by Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selija in her reply to the
question raised by MP OT Lepcha in the Rajya Sabha today.
Mr. Lepcha had sought to know from MoT whether the Centre is committed to
make Sikkim an international tourist destination along with the government
of Sikkim. He had also sought to know the assistance given by the Centre to
Sikkim in developing tourism and the proposals received from the State
government regarding development of tourism and status of each proposal
including those of infrastructure development required for tourism.
In reply, the Union Tourism Minister went on record in the House stating
that eighteen tourism related proposals have been received by her Minister
in the current financial year.
The proposed projects in Sikkim are development and promotion of eco-tourism
at Lachung-Barsey, tourism circuit development en-route Rumtek in East
Sikkim, tourist arrival facilities at various tourist spots in West Sikkim
and tourist spot development at Kumrek including trek route development from
Gadi to Jhandidara via Dikling in East Sikkim.
The projects also include development of eco-park and tourist walkways from
Tashi View Point to Ganesh Tok, development of tourist infrastructure at
Melli, tourism promotion in Sikkim, development of tourist infrastructure at
Negidara at Namthang and Yangyang and development of parking places at
Khangchendzonga waterfall, Phamrong waterfall, Rimbi waterfall including
allied tourism facilities in West Sikkim.
The other projects are development of Fossil Park in South Sikkim and
development of river trek and allied tourism activities from Melli to
Jorethang. The State government has also put up proposals for celebration of
Gangtok Winter Festival, Namchi Mahotsav, Khangchendzonga Tourism Festival,
Mangan Music Festival, Jorethang Maghey Sankranti Festival and Aritar
Tourism Festival.
Proposals which are complete in all respect as per guidelines are processed
on inter-se priority basis and funds are released subject to the
availability under the respective head of accounts, the Union Minister
replied. She also informed that the MoT has sanctioned central financial
assistance amounting to Rs. 5590.67 lakhs during the year 2007-08 and Rs.
6678.05 lakhs during 2008-09 to the Sikkim government for various tourism
projects.
Mr. Lepcha also raised in the House the issue of discrimination between
rural and urban postmen which was replied by the Minister of State for
Communications and Information Technology Gurudas Kamat.
The Minister of State replied that the postmen in rural areas are getting
normal facilities like pension, gratuity, etc. “However, Gramin Dak Seva
Mail deliverers are engaged in rural areas for part time from 3 to 5 hours a
day where the deployment of departmental postmen is not justified. They are
governed by separate set of rules”, he replied.
Source: Sikkim Express
Dated: 9th July 2009
Sikkim records more domestic tourists, less international visitors in first season [top of page]
Gangtok, July 9: The number of awards bagged by the State in tourism
development did some good for Sikkim as far as tourist inflow is concerned. In the first tourist season this year, the State Tourism department has
recorded 27, 3758 domestic and 7,812 international tourists almost double in
comparison to last year.
The latest statistics provided by the Statistical Assistant of the Tourism
Department, Karma Gyaltsen, the month of May, 2009 recorded 97,123 domestic
tourists while the month of April, 09 recorded a high of 2,544 international
visitors.
However, the flow of the international tourist this year was low in
comparison to last year. The month of January this year had the least
tourist visits with 27,138 domestic and 696 international tourists. (See box
for tourist inflow data in the year 2009 till the month of May).
Speaking to SIKKIM EXPRESS, the general secretary of Travel Agent’s
Association of Sikkim (TAAS) Lukendra Rasaily said international tourist
inflow was unsatisfactory although the number of domestic tourists was on
the higher side. “The decline of international tourists may be due to global
recession and economic uncertainty. We are hopeful to get more international
tourist in the second half of the year,” Mr. Rasaily added.
It was further learnt that Sikkim recorded 32,038 and 40,969 tourists in the
month of March and April despite election season.
“Although the turnout was not very good, the occupancy was good. Overall
business went quite slow this year without much international visitors,” the
general manager of Hotel Royal Plaza Pankaj Saxena told SIKKIM EXPRESS.
Tourist inflow in the year 2009 till the month of May
Domestic tourist International tourist
January: 27138 696
February: 32038 1053
March: 40969 2184
April: 76490 2544
May: 97,123 1335
Source: Sikkim Express
Dated: 9th July 2009
Solar Eclipse popularises Astro-tourism in India [top of page]
After space tourism, it is astro-tourism that is catching up people’s fancy, courtesy the ensuing total solar eclipse. Air charter and tourist operators in India are receiving an overwhelming response for chartered flights to view total solar eclipse of longest duration in 21st century. All set to take place on July 22, the eclipse holds special interest for scientists and general public as its path of totality passes through thickly populated western, central, eastern and northeastern regions of India.
Cox & Kings, a travel agency claims that both amateur astronomers and others are booking for the Boeing-737 that they have hired for the two-hour journey from Delhi to Gaya in Bihar to watch the rare total solar eclipse. Each ticket is priced at rupees 79,000 (around 1,618 dollars). ‘Well, we have got very strong response. The airline that we are flying has 21 seats facing the sun and 21 more window seats, which are facing away from the sun, facing the earth. We call them the ’sun side seats’ and the ‘earth side seats’. The sun side seats, which will have direct view of the eclipse, cost about 79,000 rupees. We are actually getting very strong response form the amateur astronomy circles in India, from the corporate world and a wide variety of audience,’ said Nikhil Pawar, Scientific Officer, Space Technology and Education Private Limited, Mumbai.
On July 22, the moon will totally eclipse the sun after a decade. The next total solar eclipse will take place again only in 2034. People on board these chartered flights can watch the eclipse for almost 10 times more than those on ground. And, there are reasons attributed to such a phenomenon.
‘Theoretically the totality (of the eclipse) can be only 7 minutes 30 seconds. So that is the maximum you can get, if you are stationed at one place and during that period, by chasing the moon shadow they (people in airplanes) increase the time to 74 minutes that means almost ten times than the theoretically maximum possible,’ Piyush Pandey, Director, Nehru Planetarium, Mumbai.
Meanwhile, hotel owners in Patna are preparing to welcome the rush of astro-tourist guests expected to halt here.
‘The solar eclipse on the 22nd can be seen from Bihar. The tourists will come on the 21st and 12 rooms have been booked for them in our hotel,’ said Vinay Pandey, owner Hotel Republic, Patna. In India, the eclipse will commence soon after sunrise. Surat and Vadodra in Gujarat, Indore and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh apart from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Patna in Bihar are stated to be the ideal locations for good views of the total solar eclipse. It provides a rare opportunity to view and study this grand spectacle of nature. The partial phase of the eclipse will be visible throughout the country.
Astro-tourism comes as a surprise in a country where people for ages have been considering eclipses especially solar eclipses as bad omen.
The belief that the sun is at the mercy of two evil planets, Rahu and Ketu causing the eclipse, still prevails among a large section of people despite propagation of scientific temper among the masses.
Source: (ANI)
Dated:10th July 09
Adventure trekking programme [top of page]
Gangtok, July 12: A seven day long adventure trekking programme was
organized by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Sikkim Zone from July 5 with
support and guidance from Sikkim Amateur Mountaineering Association, Gangtok.
According to a press release, the main objectives of the programme were to
promote, encourage, support and execute schemes for making the younger
generation interested in adventure activities. It was also aimed to expose
the youth to nature, hardships, and hazards, thereby build their
personality, character, confidence and courage through adventure programmes.
The programme was inaugurated by Assistant Director, MSME, Government of
India OM Chakola here on July 5. Also present on the occasion were National
Youth Awardee Motilal Koirala, National Youth Awardee, Namchi, Jai Ram
Gupta, District Youth Coordinator, Mangan NT Sherpa and Bijoy Chhetri from
Gangtok.
The 25 youth participants, who had come from all the four districts of
Sikkim, attended technical sessions and field demonstration conducted by the
trained instructors of Sikkim Amateur Mountaineering Association on July 6
and 7.
From July 8 to 10, the participants proceeded to Namrang for trekking and
visited Tinjuray, Gharey Pokhari, Namrang Dhunga. A local trained guide
Dhananjay Dulal accompanied the adventure trekking team while Samaj Sudhar
Samity, Khessay extended logistics help and support.
All the participants were handed over certificates during a closing function
held on July 11.
During the closing function, Zonal Director, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan,
Sikkim JK Limbu thanked all the guests, officials, agencies and volunteers
for their support and guidance.
Source: Sikkim Express
Dated:12th July 09
Adventure sports will help promote tourism in Kodagu, says Shettar [top of page]
West Nemmale (Koduga): Introduction of adventure sports will help in promoting tourism in Kodagu, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Jagdish Shettar said here on Sunday. He was addressing a gathering here before the inauguration of white water rafting in the Kakkattu river at T. Shettigeri gram panchayat limits in Virajpet taluk of Kodagu.
Mr. Shettar, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly K.G. Bopaiah and Minister for Youth Services and Sports Goolihatti D. Shekar took part in rafting on Saturday. Kodagu was blessed with natural beauty and it had a good potential for adventure sports. Efforts of the General Thimayya National Academy of Adventure Sports, which was organising the events under the Department of Youth Services and Sports, were laudable, he said.
Mr. Shettar said that he was happy to be spending the weekend in Kodagu and rafting in the river here on Saturday. He would impress upon other legislators to visit Kodagu, particularly for river rafting, the Speaker said. Mr. Shekar said that the State Government had increased the grant to organise adventure sports under the General Thimayya National Academy of Adventure Sports from Rs. 7 lakh to Rs. 2.5 crore during 2008-09. He intended to introduce a change in the style of functioning of the department.
With this in view, he had asked the officials of the department to take part in the events here, he said. His department had plans to organise rafting and water sports in the Kali, Idkal, Vani Vilas and other places, he said. Later, when presspersons asked him whether infrastructure in Kodagu such as roads and electricity supply were adequate to promote tourism, Mr. Shekar said that he would discuss the issue with the Tourism Minister.
The seer of the Murugarajendra Math in Chitradurga and Indian Ambassador to Ireland Raghavan and his family took part in river rafting on Saturday. Manjunath of the General Thimayya National Academy of Adventure Sports guided the participants.
Source: The Hindu
Dated: 13th July 09
10 MINUTES TO GREENERY
[top
of page]
Governor, CM participate in afforestation drive
It is an effort of the Govt towards preserving a crumbling environment:
Chamling
Gangtok, 14th July: Governor BP Singh, accompanied by the First
Lady, Smt. Karuna Singh planted tree saplings at Himalayan Zoological Park
at Bulbulley here this morning to mark “Ten minutes to Greenery” programme
which aims to involve the entire population of Sikkim in a State-wide
simultaneous plantation drive in this time-frame.
The officers and staff of Raj Bhavan have also simultaneously done
plantation work in the Raj Bhavan compound. Species like rhododendrons,
magnolias and other native fruit bearing species were planted today.
Due care has been taken to have a balance between forest ecosystem and
preservation of local biodiversity, said an official statement.
Similarly, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who conceived the greenery
programme in the State, planted species of Acer Palmatum at the premises of
Bhanu Path along with his two siblings.
Joining with him in the plantation drive was RB Subba, the legal advisor to
the Chief Minister, Cabinet Ministers, State Forest Secretary and officials
from various government departments. In his brief interaction with the media persons, the Chief Minister said the
drive was a diminutive effort put in by the State Government towards
preserving a crumbling environment.
Stating that Sikkim has pioneered and excelled in the green movement, Mr.
Chamling said the rest of the world will now follow Sikkim’s footsteps in
the years to come.
He added that the initiative was a new and innovative idea of SDF Government
towards
taking care of Mother Earth
Source: Sikkim Express
Dated:15th July 09
IT’S A RECORD!
Sikkim commits ten minutes to world environmental security
[top
of page]
Forest minister thanks all for making ‘Ten minutes to Greenery’ a total
success
Gangtok, July 15: Sikkim today inked a new chapter in the environmental
record books of the world by planting more than 6 lakhs saplings throughout
the hill State in ten minutes during a special campaign ‘Ten minutes to
Greenery’ as the clock ticked 10:30 am. Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh and Chief Minister Pawan Chamling led the
campaign from the forefront as thousands of Sikkimese people, army personnel
and paramilitary forces came forward and planted more than 6 lakhs saplings
in any place of their choice today. The whole campaign was facilitated by the State forest department.
Speaking to media after completion of the campaign, State forest minister
Bhim Dhungel said that an international and national record has been created
by the people of Sikkim by planting the 6 lakhs saplings in ten minutes in
the State. He expressed his personal and his department’s gratitude to all
the people for wholeheartedly supporting the special green mission campaign
conceived by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling.
“This special plantation programme which was successful is the gift from
Sikkim to the global community and we want every people of the world to be
environmentally conscious. We also want to reinforce the image of Sikkimese
people as nature and forest lovers”, said Mr. Dhungel in the press meet.
Expressing his confidence that Sikkim has over-achieved its target of 6
lakhs saplings, Mr. Dhungel said that reports have been coming from various
places of the State that plantation drive is still continuing till late in
the evening. We are encouraged by the overwhelming response of the people,
he said adding that the ‘Ten minutes to Greenery’ programme will be made an
annual feature and will be conducted on every July 15.
Chief Minister’s Press Advisor Bhim Dahal pointed that the ruling Sikkim
Democratic Front (SDF) party has been always committed towards environmental
security which had found special mention in the party’s election manifesto.
He also pointed that Chief Minister Pawan Chamling is the only Chief
Minister to have ever given such a call to the people for plantation of 6
lakhs saplings in ten minutes. Today’s special programme has been conceived by the Chief Minister which
really fits into the working plan of the State forest department and the
requirements of the world, said State forest secretary ST Lachungpa.
“This initiative also supported the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
worldwide tree planting campaign. This was also a record that within ten
minutes the plants numbering population of the State were planted all over
the State”, said Mr. Lachungpa. He pointed out that the ‘Ten minutes of
Greenery’ programme where around 6 lakhs saplings were planted would able to
sequester about 1400 tons of carbon di-oxide annually. This is the Sikkim’s
own unique way of contributing to climate change mitigation, he said.
The forest secretary said that the Chief Minister has further given emphasis
on important native species like quercus (oak), rhododendron, magnolia and
native wild fruits to have a well balanced forest ecosystem and preserve
local biodiversity unique program and was celebrated on a mass scale.
“The plantation was done in every nook and corner of Sikkim where seedlings
were arranged by the forest department at every gram panchayat, block level,
constituency level and district levels. It was totally a people’s programme
and the forest department acted as just a facilitator. The event was
unprecedented and one of its own kind. The objective was not only to make
tree planting as a Sikkimese way of life but also to send the message to the
world community at large that we care for nature”, said Mr. Lachungpa.
“There are myriad of economic activities going on in Sikkim ranging from
ecotourism, horticulture to clean power generation through carefully chosen
hydroelectric projects. Sikkim’s green governance showcases a unique example
of harmony between people, profit and planet”, said Mr. Lachungpa.
Source: Sikkim Express
Dated:15th July 09
The sun is seen during the solar eclipse, in Madras, India, Monday, Oct. 3, 2005. A partial solar eclipse was observed over India.Source: AP
New Delhi: A group of 10
students from various schools of the country are among the lucky few chosen
to watch the 21st century's longest solar eclipse from Anqing in China, one
of the best places in the world to view the spectacle July 22, apart from a
village in Bihar.
The students will leave for China Saturday on an eight-day scientific
expedition called 'heliodyssey' to watch the eclipse that will last for six
minutes and 44 seconds, making it the longest eclipse till 2132.
The students were selected through a countrywide online examination
conducted May 17 by Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and
Educators (SPACE), a Delhi-based organisation working to make science and
astronomy popular among youngsters.
The students, a majority of them from Class 6 to 8, will be trained in
various experiments and scientific procedures and will collect data related
to temperature, intensity of light and humidity during the eclipse, besides
studying the properties of the sun.
"There are several properties of the sun which can only be watched during a
solar eclipse. The corona, which is the sun's outer atmosphere, is visible
as a pearly white crown surrounding the sun only during a total solar
eclipse," SPACE president Chander Bhushan Devgun told IANS.
The students will be felicitated at the Chinese Embassy Saturday before they
leave for the mega event in Anqing, a city in southwestern Anhui province.
In China, they will also meet the Indian ambassador and foreign secretary
designate Nirupama Rao.
Jammu University
students watch the solar eclipse through X-ray sheets in Jammu, India,
Monday, Oct. 3, 2005. India witnessed Monday a partial solar eclipse.
Source: AP
Bihar gears up
to handle July 22 rush
Officials in
Bihar are busy making arrangements to handle the rush of solar eclipse
watchers later this month.
"Taregana will offer good visibility during solar eclipse due to its
geographical situation. So, we expect a lot of outstation visitors who will
come to watch the solar eclipse or to study it. We have made all the
security arrangements required. We have also made available temporary
accommodation for the visitors," said Virendra Kumar Sinha, sub-divisional
officer, Masaurhi sub-division.
Taregana, 25 kilometres south of Patna, is supposed to the best location on
earth to watch the total solar eclipse on July 22.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the sun and the
earth, blocking out the sun from the areas in the moon's shadow. Without the
sun's light, the sky darkens enough for stars to be seen and the corona
makes a spectacular halo around the moon.
Meanwhile, Hindus who consider a total solar eclipse as inauspicious has
been visiting temples to ward off evil.
"We are praying so that the solar eclipse has no affect on our families. We
continue to live peacefully," said Anil Kumar, a resident.
Taregana along with Surat are being considered as best places in India to
watch full solar eclipse.
It will be the first total solar eclipse of 21st century that will be
visible from India.
Agencies
Source: National News
Dated; 17th July 2009