Kolkata-based Emami Limited would invest Rs 65 crore to set up India’s first ayush gram at Bhawali town of Uttarakhand, which the company hopes has the potential to become a major tourist attraction.
The ayush gram would include an ayurvedic hospital, a 3-star hotel, a tree house, a herbal garden, yoga and meditation centre, independent cottages, spa, and an ayurvedic museum.
“The company would shortly sign a lease agreement with the state government and is expected to begin bhoomi pujan after August 15,” said D P Chowdhury, the project incharge and associate vice president (business development) of the company. “We are investing around Rs 65 crore in the Bhawali ayush gram project,” Chowdhury said.
Bhawali sanitarium, located in Nainital district, is widely remembered for last days of Kamala Nehru. An ayush gram comprises five features —Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy. But the sanitarium would not be demolished and preserved as a heritage building, Emami officials told Business Standard.
The Emami group, which is enhancing its presence in ayurvedic sector, has already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government under the public private partnership (PPP) mode in 10 acres of land close to the sanitarium. The company has hired Edifice as its consultant and architect for the project, Chowdhary said. Emami has also roped in Rishikesh-based Parmarth Niketan ashram of Swami Chidanand Saraswati as a partner in the project for getting technical support for running the ayurvedic hospital.
The herbal garden which would be set up in a 1200 sq metre area will also have a specialised research centre to focus on the local herbs and medicinal plants. In the herbal garden, there will be a provision for training and skill development facilities for local people in order to create new employment and business opportunities.
The state government had chalked out plans to set up ayush grams, one each in all the 13 districts, which is considered to be a dream project of Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.
A minimum of Rs 50 crore investment is proposed in each ayush gram with the government already identifying land at Champawat and Pithoragarh districts.
