GOPALPUR (Ganjam district): `Silk ring' tourism package has been proposed in Ganjam district on the lines existing `Golden triangle' comprising Puri-Konark-Bhubaneswar.

It was decided at a high-level review meeting on tourism held at Gopalpur on Monday. Union Minister of State for Rural Development Chandrasekhar Sahu, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) southern range C.T.M. Suguna, Ganjam Collector V. Kartikeyan Pandian, Gopalpur MLA Trinath Behera and officials of the Central and state tourism departments attended the meeting.

Package

At the meeting Mr Sahu asked the administrative and tourism officials to prepare a project report for `Silk ring' tourism package which he would try to get passed by the Central Tourism Department as early as possible. Berhampur, the silk city, would be the crux of this tourism package. The package would include tourist destinations like Gopalpur, Pati Sonepur, Siddha Bhairavi, Tampra, Rambha, Narayani, Nirmal Jhara, Tara Tarini, Padmanabhpur, Panakhela, Mahuri Kalua and Bala Kumari.

Most of these places are being developed under the schemes of Central and State Governments. Mr Sahu said if all these destinations could be brought together under a single package then it could be marketed along with the `Golden triangle' outside Orissa. Tourists flocking to the destinations in golden triangle can easily reach out to `Silk ring'.

At this meeting it was also decided to protect the Gopalpur sea beach by Tsunami protection walls like the ones built in Pondicherry.

Water sports complex

The Centre has already sanctioned over Rs 4 crores to develop Gopalpur as a place of `destination tourism'. The backwater at Gopalpur is being developed as a water sport complex. Apart from it with an investment of around Rs 2.5 crores the hill station with a hot spring, Tapta Pani is being developed as an ethnic tourism resort. It would have tree houses and a dinosaur park for children as new attractions.

Craftsmen's village

Padmanabhpur is being promoted as a craftsmen's village. To give a variety to the trourists a village of Saura tribals, Panakhela is being promoted as tourist destination.

According to the delegates present at the review meeting if properly marketed the tourism package would provide a unique mix of experience to the tourists which would include serene beaches, hill stations, tribal ethnicity and craftsmanship.

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