Union Minister Pradhan urges Tourism Minister for special tourism package for Dhenkanal

Monday, January 30, 2023

Citing that tourism in the Dhenkanal region in Odisha has suffered greatly due to the impact of Covid-19, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged the central government for a special package for development of tourism infrastructure in the district.

In a letter to his cabinet colleague and Culture and Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy, Prdhan stated, “Keeping in mind the massive untapped potential of the tourism sector in Dhenkanal, and the welfare of the people living there, I seek your personal intervention in sanctioning a special package.”

Pradhan said tourism and hospitality were one of the hardest hit sectors during Covid-19 pandemic. Now, with strong domestic spending and unrestricted movement of air traffic, the time is ripe for unleashing massive growth in the tourism sector.

Under the Dekho Apna Desh vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the tourism ministry has undertaken massive efforts towards increasing tourist footfalls from domestic and abroad through the development of tourist facilities and infrastructure.

“I want to take this opportunity of highlighting the massive potential for tourism development in the historically ignored Dhenkanal district of Odisha, which is classified as an aspirational district, for accelerated and prioritised socio-economic development with monitoring by the prime minister’s office,” he said.

Pradhan said tourism is well-known as a force multiplier for socio-economic development, especially for generating livelihood at the grassroots level.

“According to legends, Pandavas spent some days of their incognito living in the remote hills of Saptasajya. Raghunath temple attracts a large number of crowd every year on the day of Rama Navami,” the letter said.

Dhenkanal Palace is a large complex of apartments, courts and gardens nestled against the gradual slope of the Garhjat Hills of the Eastern Ghats in Odisha. The Palace, built during the latter part of the 19th century on the site of the fort that witnessed a long-drawn siege and war by the Marathas, led by Chemnaji Bhonsle, is the residence of the Raja of Dhenkanal and his Family. Dhenkanal Royal palace is a tourist attraction, he said.

He further stated in the letter that the district is enormously rich in natural scenic beauty that attracted tourists around the year. Several tourist places in the district like Kapilash Hills, Joranda, Saptasajya and the other sacred temples here include Sunya Mandira, Dhuni Mandira and Gadi Mandira. Pilgrims in large numbers pour into Joranda fair for celebration.

« Back to Page