The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board has partnered with Starscapes, a leading astrotourism company, to introduce Nakshatra Sabha, a new initiative to provide people with a comprehensive astrotourism experience.
The campaign will feature a variety of activities, including stargazing, special solar viewing, astrophotography contests, camping under the stars and more. The initiative ai
ms to bring together astronomy enthusiasts, adventurers and travelers to marvel at the wonders of space.
The Tourism Secretary, Government of Uttarakhand expressed his enthusiasm for the project and highlighted the state’s potential to become a major destination for astronomy travel.
With abundant forest cover, nature-based tourism, convenient access to major cities and a well-established hospitality sector, including homestays, Uttarakhand is well positioned to attract astro-tourists worldwide.
Set to begin in early June at George Everest in Mussoorie, the Nakshatra Sabha will continue till mid-2025 and will feature a series of immersive events at various locations across Uttarakhand. These events will explore potential night sky sites in districts like Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Nainital and Chamoli along with seminars and webinars conducted by industry experts.
As well as offering vocational training and skills development opportunities to local residents, the campaign aims to support local economies and advocate for the preservation of the night sky. Supported by a community of ambassadors dedicated to dark sky conservation efforts across Uttarakhand, the Nakshatra Sabha will work to implement a dark sky conservation policy across the region in the coming year.