Assam Tourism adopts ‘ecofriendly’ way: Soon Majuli will be the first carbon neutral district of India
Guwahati, November 1: Assam geared up to promote ‘Tourism’ in an environment-friendly way: offering cycle visits to the destinations, storytellers to narrate the history, tales etc. Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) set to launch an eco-friendly tourism project at Majuli, which is the country’s largest river island.
Assam government announced that Majuli will be the first carbon neutral district in the country and steps have been initiated to achieve the goal. The ATDC chairman said, “We are trying to introduce quality tourism products and the entire programme is designed in a way that the benefit of tourism will be shared with host communities,” he said.
‘Majuli Sustainable Tourism Development Project, as it is called, will be managed by Root Bridge Foundation, an NGO. The Foundation Chairman, Javed said, “The project aims to make Majuli a centre of experiential travel also known as immersion travel, in which people focus on experiencing a country, city or particular place by connecting to its history, people and culture.
Trained storytellers will narrate the history, tales and legends of the mystic island in Brahmaputra river to the tourists, ATDC Chairman Jayanta Malla Baruah said.
The Mishing tribesmen are Vaishnavites who are followers of Lord Krishna and comprise 60% of the population in the island. The storytelling aims at taking tourists through a virtual tour of culture, folk literature, art and craft and the society of Majuli as a whole, he said.
Daily cycle rides would be offered to the visitors to different Mishing villages and Vaishnavite Satras in the island as part of the carbon-free travel experience. Thirty cycles painted orange – the colour of sunset will be introduced as part of the carbon-free travel experience, he said.
The 30 high quality Btwin Rockrider cycles with gear, are light weight and ideal for difficult terrain and will be available on rent for the tourists at Majuli. Helmets and other gears will also be provided to the visitors for their safe ride, Baruah said.