Ahm'bad hotels overbooked due to Kite fest

For those wanting to travel to Ahmedabad over the next two weeks or so, finding proper accommodation may prove to be quite a task.

With the state government all set to organise the International Kite Festival from January 11 to 15, the city's hotels are booked to the brim with kite enthusiasts coming from India and abroad.

Gujarat Health, Tourism and NRG Minister Jaynarayan Vyas said that the 18th kite festival held by the state government had drawn over 5,000 NRIs leading to the 233 five star rooms and 600 other star category rooms in Ahmedabad being overbooked by 120 per cent.

One of the reasons why the kite festival this year is seeing plenty of interest from kite enthusiasts across the world is due to a kite competition held by the state for the first time where there are five prize categories, he said.

The theme pavilion for the Kite Festival 2008 is 'Gujarat in Africa', which has been organised as part of the Vishwa Gujarat Parivar Mahotsav.

"There are over 12 lakh people of Gujarati origin in African countries whose references have long been part of Gujarati literature. The theme is a tribute to the struggle and success stories of these Gujaratis who have settled there," said Vyas.

Around 145 kite enthusiasts would be participating in the festival. Close to 70 kitists from countries like France, Netherlands, Denmark, Singapore, Malaysia. Japan, South Africa and Belgium are expected to participate in the five-day festival.