Develop Chanshal Valley as adventure centre: CM

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today asked state tourism board officials to develop Chanshal Valley as a centre of adventure activities.
"Skiing on the Chanshal slopes(at 4520 mts) can attract alarge number of tourists in the interior area," he said in a meeting of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Board.
There is vast scope for activities like trekking, para-gliding, river rafting and skiing in Chanshal, he said.
"Green pastures around Chanshal that spread over to Ridge are suitable for trekking. Snow covered mountains connecting Sangla valley of Kinnaur and Uttrakhand are apt for skiing," Singh said.
Officials in a presentation elaborated on the scope of adventure tourism in the state.

Compared to Rohtang Pass (at 3,978 meters), Chanshal had more to offer in tourism and steps should be taken to improve road connectivity and other amenities, they said.

Relaxation in norms and conditions to attract bids for ropeway projects from Toba to Naina Devi, Shahtalai to Deotsidh, Neugal to Palampur and Sarahan to Bashal Kanda was also discussed in the meeting.
To develop Jhatingri in Mandi, Shojha in Kullu and Suketi in Sirmour, bid parameters would be restructured to attract investors.
The department and HP Infrastructure Development Board are in the process of developing ropeways projects, officials said.
Mainly the Rs 150 crore Dharamsala to Mcleodganj project the 80 kmAdi Himani to Chamunda, the 63 km Palchan to Rohtang and the Bhuntar to Bijli-Mahadev projects.

Singh directed officials to improve bus stands at Dharamshala, Dalhousie, Kullu, Mandi, Chintpurni, Nahan, Una, Hamirpur and Dhalli (Shimla).
The board approved the proposal to prepare promotional films on tourism, for which Rs five lakh has been earmarked.
The Chief Minister stressed on completing renovation and restoration work of Sapni Fort in Kinnaur and approved funds to develop and beautify Nau-Nag lake in Sarpara.
Construction of rain shelters and public toilets in Shimla town, was also discussed.
A statue of Maharana Pratap should be installed somewhere in the Pong Dam complex, the CM said.
Vice Chairman tourism board Vijay Singh Mankotia alleged that the Bhakra Beas Management Board's attitude has been indifferent to our requests to meet and plan commercial activities at Pong Dam.

Culture secretary Anuradha Thakur suggested creation of water heritage museums at Churat and Gumma.