All set to welcome New Year revellers

Rest houses in wildlife parks booked to capacity

Dehradun, December 13
With the year 2011 coming to an end, New Year revellers have started flocking wildlife-rich Uttarakhand. But forest authorities in the state are also taking all precautions to ensure that none of the tourists go for any misadventure in the forest territory.

There are over 200 Uttarakhand Forest Department's rest houses and dak bungalows in the state, and particularly those inside tiger famous Corbett and elephant famous Rajaji National Parks are in big demand.

The bookings for rest houses in Corbett and Rajaji National Parks are already full till the first week of January. While the Dikhala rest house in Corbett is reserved up to January 15 next year, all the rest houses of Rajaji Park at Ranipur and Chilla are also packed to capacity. There has been a big demand among tourists for forest rest houses and bungalows in Uttarakhand in the recent times as the most of those living in Delhi and other neighbouring metros prefer spending the year end with their families in the sylvan surroundings of nature and the protected areas of Uttarakhand.

The Uttarakhand forest authorities, too, have spruced up their rest houses in anticipation of the tourists. But the Forest Department also maintains a strict vigil during these days. The department, as a matter of policy, does not allow any mass activity in any of its rest houses and bungalows. The department ensures that there is no harm to forest biodiversity.

Rajaji Park Deputy Director Swaran Kumar said the tourist rush to Rajaji Park increases during the months of December and January, all due to vacations coupled with New Year celebrations at this time of the year. “But we maintain that the norms of stay inside protected areas are strictly observed,” Swaran Kumar pointed out. He said there was no question of any usage of loudspeakers or even a small informal public get-togethers inside a protected area as this may disturb the wildlife. “We are increasing our patrolling during these days,” he observed.