AULI (Uttaranchal): The third National Winter Games were held in Feb-Mar in Auli in Uttaranchal's Chamoli district. Over 200 participants from 14 teams, including various States, police and the para-military and State-run companies, competed in the eight events at stake.

        Auli is situated at an altitude of 3,049 metres (11,000 feet) and is in the vicinity of Nanda Devi, Kamet and Mana Parvat mountains in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttaranchal. Nestled in the vicinity of lofty peaks of these mountains, Auli is often called the "Switzerland of the east". A survey conducted by Austrian and French experts rated the resort among the best in the world. "Our biggest attraction is the view of the mighty Himalayan ranges in the background. This is a huge draw for tourists from across the world.

           Apart from the magnificent alpine slopes, Auli has a 3.9 km ropeway, the largest in Asia, linking it with downtown Joshimath. Besides, an 800-metre-long ski lift and 500-metre chair lift add to the thrill. The organisers hope that it will infuse the spirit of adventure for this sport.

           The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, a State-level body, has been organising annual winter sports to encourage skiing and promote Auli as a winter resort. "We gradually want to create an infrastructure that will attract the tourists and make their stay memorable. The place itself is very beautiful. If the service is also good then tourists would come," said Deepak Thakur, an official of the GMVN. The GMVN also organises short-term courses for amateurs. These courses are for a duration from a week to fortnight.

           It is expected that it will not only boost winter tourist inflow during the lean season but also encourage the locals who look forward to winter games with great expectations. Before this year's National Winter Games in Auli, Manali in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh hosted the events in 2000 while Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir hosted the first games in 1998.

Tourists Turning Their Sights on Rajasthan  (Go to Top)

          JAISALMER: Tourist inflows are again looking up this season in Rajasthan, famous for its forts, music and colourful costumes. This is a welcome change for the local people in the desert State who depend mainly on tourism for their livelihood. Tourist arrivals in Rajasthan had fallen in the last two years due to India-Pakistan tensions and the September 2001 attacks in the United States.

           Tourism department officials have said the response from foreign visitors to the desert and camel festival was encouraging. Jaisalmer, famous for its medieval forts, attracts around 150,000 domestic and 50,000 foreign travellers every year. The tourists said they were not disappointed. "I thought it was a very interesting display of traditional Rajasthani puppetry. Was quite a bit more than what I had expected but lots of innovative things that I have seen with puppets before. I assume that is all traditional Rajasthani efforts and style. The visit was worthwhile", said Jim Whitner, an American tourist.

           For years Jaisalmer remained untouched by outside influences. The setting sun turning Jaisalmer into a beautiful golden brown is a spectacular sight. The perfect time to visit the 'golden city' is during the Desert Festival, held in January/February every year, when the city reverberates to the sound of melodious tunes and rhythms.

           Government figures showed that foreign tourist arrivals in India in November 2002 rose by 16.2 per cent to 243,566 from a year earlier, reversing a nine-month decline. The World Travel and Tourism Council expects India to be among three boom areas for tourism after 2003, even though it now accounts for barely 0.4 per cent of the global tourism market, with just 2.4 million visitors in 2001. Analysts say Indian tourism suffers mainly from poor marketing, with the sector unable to exploit the potential of the country's snow-clad Himalayas, jungles, palaces and sun-soaked beaches. India spends just 10.5 million dollars a year promoting itself globally. It is widely seen as a land of snake-charmers and rickety vehicles belching out black smoke on potholed roads.

Karnataka Allows Farmers to Grow Sandalwood Freely (Go to Top)

          BANGALORE: The Government of Karnataka has enacted amendments in the Forest Act in a move to raise the State's sandalwood wealth which for long has suffered due to large-scale smuggling. The decontrol order repeals earlier rules which barred individuals from growing sandalwood trees. Any tree grown in the State automatically was Government property.

           RM Ray, principal chief conservator of forests of Karnataka, said the decision would help sandalwood cultivators to grow and sell the scented tree as a commercial crop under the supervision of the forest department. He told reporters: "Now the present situation is that sandal stock has reduced considerably and quite a substantial quantity of sandal is grown in private lands also. So, there was frequent clamour that the regulations were outdated and that the procedure should be simplified and restrictions as far as possible be removed. So, accordingly, a new amendement to the Forest Act in Chapter 10 was recently enacted".

           Ray said the Government will facilitate the growers by extending better opportunities for selling their produce through a centralised system to both domestic and foreign buyers. "In order to protect the sandal wealth of the forest department these private growers have to sell it at a centralised place like the APMC yard (Government godowns) where all the buyers from all over the world will participate so they get the maximum possible price," Ray said.

            Sandalwood forms the largest plantation within the forests and is grown in over 6000 square km in the State. But Karnataka is facing an acute shortage of production. The output fell drastically from 2000 tonnes to a mere 100 tonnes in the past 20 years. A 40-year old sandalwood tree approximately fetches about Rs 1.5 million.

          Karnataka produces more than 90 per cent of the country's sandalwood. Sandalwood produced in the State is the most sought after of all the sandalwood species because of its high oil content which is used as a base for high value perfumes and in medicines. Moreover, it has high religious significance in Hindu culture and its powder is used in joss sticks.

Gulf War Threat Hits UP Carpet  (Go to Top)

           VARANASI: The US-Iraq war clouds looming large over the Gulf has threatened the carpet industry here. Varanasi carpets have been in great demand in the foreign markets till recently. Uttar Pradesh's carpet belt comprising Varanasi, Mirzapur and Bhadohi has undergone a cumulative loss of nearly Rs 300 crore. This belt contributes nearly 85 per cent of the country's total carpet exports.

           Exporters said they had lots of hopes in the beginning of the year, but these fell flat after many importers, especially from the US, cancelled their orders. Ashok Kapoor, an exporter, said, "we had great expectations till January this year, but due to the tension between America and Iraq, big orders have stopped coming in our way." Ravi Patodia, sercretary of All-India Carpet Export Promotion Council, said, "Due to the tension between America and Iraq and the chances of war building up, the importers of America are terrified and they are not in a position to decide. They are going about it cautiously fearing that if war breaks out, it will have an adverse effect on their business".

           The Indian carpets caught the attention of the world at the Great London Exhibition held in 1851 when they were universally admired for their original patterns, fine wool and rich colours. According to a survey, there were about 74,000 weavers and 27,000 looms in Mirzapur-Bhadohi belt in 1974. The number of weavers is now estimated at over a lakh and the number of looms of about 40,000. The level of production is over Rs 9 crore accounting for nearly 90 to 95 per cent of the total output, of which 95 to 98 per cent are exported. The carpet industry had previously suffered a setback due to the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US and December 13 attack on Parliament.

           The world-wide economic slowdown which followed only added to their voes. Till 2000 the value of total carpet export touched the Rs 2000-crore mark, but by January 2001 the figure came down to Rs 1500 crores. And, according to the industry sources, the situation is worsening due to the ongoing tension between US and Iraq. In case the US goes ahead with its plans (of attacking Iraq), there are some difficult days ahead for Varanasi carpet manufactures.

-ANI