Shanku's forays into higher education

Keshav Holiday Resort (KHRPL), which runs India's largest water park and resort Shanku's at Amipura in Mehsana district, plans to foray into higher education.

The group's Shanku's Natural Health Centre (SNHC) is scheduled to be inaugurated next month. It has already chalked out plans to start a four-and-a-half-year degree course in naturopathy.

"The rules stipulate that a college can be opened only three years after the naturopathy centre is opened, but we have already chalked out plans for the college. We will run a four and a half year degree course at Mehsana. Whatever earnings are made from the venture will be invested back into the naturopathy centre and college," said Dilip Chaudhary, managing director, KHRPL.

Meanwhile, KHRPL is aiming to venture out of Mehsana district, by setting up a three star commercial hotel in Ahmedabad. Touted to be at least five years ahead of the other existing hotels in its category, the proposed hotel, which will also be named Shanku's, is likely to be set up in the next 18 months. The is currently finalising a location for the hotel.

Chaudhary said this will be the first establishment that the group will set up outside Mehsana, where the water park, resort and naturopathy centre are located.

"We want this hotel to be at least five years ahead of all other hotels that are presently available in Ahmedabad," Chaudhary said.

The KHRPL MD was optimistic about the future of naturopathy centres in Gujarat, stating that many more will come up once the Mehsana centre starts functioning.

"The state government too is emphasising on tourism (and medical tourism in particular). A few years down the line, Gujarat will be as important as Kerala in naturopathy," Chaudhary said.

The group started Shanku's Water Park in 1993 and the Divine Child School in 1994.

With assets worth of over Rs 100 crore, the group aims at a turnover of at least 25 crore by the end of the 2005-06 fiscal.