Imagine a view of sunrise at romanticised ‘Magnolia Sunset Point’ holding a cup of hot coffee with freshness coming all across from jungles and cliffs while sitting outside your dream, luxurious Swiss camp! Your dream can turn into reality by driving up to Netarhat, the queen of Chottanagpur.
Already included into the list of some of the famous places to be visited not only in Jharkhand but of the entire region, Netarhat is all set to get the facility if the plan of the Government comes true. Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation limited (JTDCl) has invited interested parties for setting up the Swiss cottage camps at the hills.
“We are working to promote tourism at Netarhat which is still to be tapped to its full potential.Everybody knows that this place has immense tourism potential and it needs to be tapped at any cost. This is also the need of hour. Tent tourism can not only attract more number of adventure tourists but also meet the growing demand for accommodation over there. The expression of interest has been invited and we are planning to have nearly 15 such camps at Netarhat,” said Deputy General Manager of JTDCl Alok Prasad.
The idea has come after successful experiment done by the Department at Deoghar at the time of Shrawani Mela where four such Swiss camps were erected full with comforts of all sorts. The camps have been designed keeping in mind the needs and amenities of modern day.
“Fare is expected to be near the basic room fare of the Department’s accommodation Rs 2500 or little over that. The place also needed this because of the shortage we are facing there of good accommodation. Most of the time during tourist season in winters the rooms at ‘Prabhat Vihar’ and Government guest house remain full. This mode of accommodation would provide additional space coupled with exotic experience,” said Prasad.
The JTDCl is looking to tap tourist footfall coming between October and February. Initially, the players have been called for this year to set up and maintain the facility which may be extended depending on performance and response.
An official of the Corporation said the booking of such Swiss camps can be done online in advance. “We have rolled out this for Netarhat as of now and based on the experience we may go for Betla National Park as well in future,” said MD of JTDCl Rajiv Ranjan, who also brushed aside the security aspect referring to no untoward incident having taken place there involving the tourists despite latehar being a naxal-infested area.
As per plans, the Department is expecting tenders to come by September 15 and work order may be issued to set up camps before the bloom comes at heights of 3800 feet on the picks of Netarhat.
