DARJEELING, : To further give tourism a boost to Peshok, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV)
have been started there for tourists as part of adventure activities for them.
The
ATV Park, an initiative of the Peshok Eco Adventure Club, which was inaugurated
recently at Peshok Gumba Dara not only wants to provide an added attraction to
the tourists visiting the area but alsoa ims to engage the youths there. There
are also plans in the coming days to introduce additional activities there such
as camping, rock climbing, and hiking in the same area.
“The
ATVs that have started at Peshok are being done by the club and us to engage the
youths there by providing them employment. This is anew tourist destination for
tourists visiting our area. We plan tomake similar parks in different places as
there are a lot of tourists coming in here. With adventure tourism gaining
popularity the world over our department is focussing and working on it,” said
Dawa Sherpa,the field director of the GTA Tourism department.
“In
Kalimpong and Darjeeling alone we have recently sent six people for a diploma in
trek leadership and four more people for training in kayaking and rafting in
Uttarakhand. We feel that this will benefit the people here,” he said while
adding that just a few days back they have given guide training to about 50
youths from which these ten were handpicked and sent for the course.
The
official maintained that it was not possible for the government to provide
employment to everyone and by holding these types of courses they want to create
employment opportunities along with promoting adventure tourism.
Speaking
about the Peshok ATV Park, he maintained that initially they have started with
two vehicles with three routes of 500 metres, 600metres and 700 metres. Minimum
pricing has been kept at present for these rides of Rs 300, Rs 400 and Rs 500
respectively.
“We
have also made strict guidelines of it being compulsory that the driver and the
passenger should wear helmets. We have also asked them that the driver should
drive the vehicle and not the tourists,” said Sherpa.
A
tourist from Kolkata, Sudeshna Dutta said, “We saw the ATVs being launched which
we feel is a good thing as there are many places there we have to walk which is
difficult for those who come from the plains.Now we can enjoy the scenic beauty
while riding those vehicles.”
