PNS | NAINITAL
Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) in collaboration with India’s leading astro tourism company, Starscapes hosted the fourth event of the Nakshatra Sabha series at Takula, Nainital recently. Notably, Nakshatra Sabha is India’s first-ever astro tourism campaign that offers a holistic astronomy experience. UTDB officials said that the three-day Takula edition had brought together over 100 participants from various cities, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Dehradun and international locations like Netherlands. They further said that Takula, located near Nainital, provides a good view of the winter Milky Way.
Sharing his experiences, a participant said that a guided night hike offered them an opportunity to explore constellations. They camped under deodar trees, watching the winter sunset. Telescopes provided close-up views of planets, the Andromeda Galaxy and nebulae. Besides, there were sessions on astro photography.
Further, the event featured an expert talk by the associate professor, Homi Bhabha Centre For Science Education Ankit Sule who dwelt on the significance of Nakshatras in the origins of ancient calendars and their role in the daily lives of early civilisations.
As part of the programme, the participants visited the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) Observatory.
The founder, Starscapes Ramashish Raysaid thattheresponse each edition ofNakshatra Sabha had received was overwhelming. “This showcases the huge astro tourism potential of India. It is great to see Uttarakhand emerge as a hub for astro tourism,” he added.
Speaking in the same vein, the secretary Tourism and CEO, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Sachin Kurve said thateach event of Nakshatra Sabha is showcasing the untapped potential of some of Uttarakhand’s most unexplored yet stunning locations. “From the historic George Everest in Mussoorie to the picturesque views of Takula, Nainital, each destination has brought its own unique charm to the campaign,” he added.
This Nakshatra Sabha event marks the final edition of the year with the next session set to focus on Messier deep-sky objects. The campaign, spanning until mid-2025, will cover various dark sky potential sites across Uttarakhand, including Kartikswami, Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh. Besides, seminars and webinars with experts will be held as parts of the event.
