Telangana woos tourists from Bengal

Kolkata: Showcasing its rich culture and heritage, Telangana today offered a number of packages covering forts, palaces, wildlife, temples, eco-tourism and medical tourism to attract tourists from West Bengal.

“Apart from high-end (income) visitors, people in West Bengal are also known for their inclination towards heritage and leisure. Bengal has thus emerged as an important market for tourism industry in the country and is now on our radar,” Managing Director of Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) Christina Z Chongthu said here.

At a roadshow on the occasion of Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF), Chongthu also looked forward to have tie-ups with tour operators in West Bengal for more tourists from Bengal to Telangana.

Chongthu, who is also Commissioner, Department of Tourism said, “Telangana invites millions of tourists, not only because of rich heritage, but also because of various tourist attraction covering heritage, archaeology, religion, wildlife, eco-tourism and handicrafts.”

These include capital city of Nizams – a fascinating fusion of history and modernity- Hyderabad, gateway to history – a legacy of royal heritage – Warangal, a pilgrimage to Lord Rama’s abode – Bhadrachalam, trannquil and wonderful scared grove – Kondagattu, enchanting eco-destinations for exhilaring weekends – Ananthagiri and Jannaram, where history and nature abound – Nizamabad, marvellous Medak, blissful environs and architectural onders – Nagarjunasagar, she said.

She said Telangana has a large number of interesting archaeological and heritage sites, which date back to Mesolithic times to early Christian era.

“This is a testimony of the rich cultural confluence of the state. Also from rock arts to Buddhist stupas, Telangana is a treasure to be explored,” Chongthu said.

“The state attracts tourists from both the domestic and foreign sectors. Buddhist circuit also attracts tourists of that religion,” she said.

The state government was also taking special initiative to develop the sector through a PPP model, besides encouraging greenfield projects in tourism, she added.