Dharamshala, a small city in Kangra district within the hill state of Himachal Pradesh, obtained wonderful visibility throughout the globe with among the ongoing ICC World Cup matches being performed within the picturesque cricket stadium, nestled within the lap of snow-clad Dhauladhar mountain ranges.
The India-New Zealand match on 22nd October noticed the city jam-packed with cricket lovers from all around the world reaching Dharamshala and the same inflow is predicted within the run as much as the match between New Zealand and Australia on 28th October in the identical stadium.
In a method, the 5 World Cup matches, 4 already performed, at Dharamshala have given a essential push to tourism, which suffered badly within the wake of Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 adopted by the unprecedented pure fury in Himachal Pradesh in Monsoons this 12 months.
The flights from Delhi to Dharamshala have been all full across the weekend with charges rising four-fold, the inns had elevated occupancy the entire of October for the matches, with the determine touching 80- one hundred pc on dates across the India- New Zealand and New Zealand –Australia match. Many individuals needed to cancel their bookings in Dharamshala as they could not get tickets for the match.
“Now we have been getting quite a few telephone calls in regards to the stunning venue of the matches from all around the world. Everybody related to Cricket and lots of others who watched the World Cup matches on this stadium dwell on Tv need to come right here. Social media is stuffed with reward. It’s serving to tourism in Dharamshala in an enormous method,” Chairman of IPL, Arun Singh Dhumal, who hails from Himachal Pradesh and has been related to Himachal Pradesh Cricket Affiliation (HPCA) for over twenty years instructed this reporter on telephone.
Arun Singh Dhumal is the youthful brother of Union Minister for Data and Broadcasting, Youth Providers and Sports activities, Anurag Thakur.
Anurag Thakur headed HPCA for a very long time and this HPCA cricket stadium with scenic background of mountains was his brainchild after he took over the reins of the state Cricket physique within the 12 months 2000.
The IPL Chairman mentioned there was a time when Dharamshala stadium didn’t get accreditation as there have been few inns and the power didn’t match worldwide requirements. “Steadily because the HPCA developed the stadium, making ready it for the worldwide matches, huge resort manufacturers like Radison and Hyatt and so forth additionally got here to Dharamshala. The city and its outskirts noticed a surge within the variety of luxurious inns, native inns, resorts and even dwelling stays additionally with the passage of time to cater to the push of cricket lovers throughout matches and common vacationers over time.”
He mentioned the success of this sports activities tourism is {that a} good variety of vacationers go to Dharamshala stadium on day by day foundation even in any other case, attracted by its stunning location.
The New Zealand group is staying in Dharamshala for 9 days. The World Cup matches in Dharamshala additionally coincide with worldwide Kullu Dussehra pageant that begins on 24th October and the Navratras that helped in bringing vacationer rush to the shakti peethas (Devi temples) in Kangra district. The Cricket gamers from completely different nations, who got here to play the World Cup matches in Dharamshala, praised the city for the pure magnificence and cultural richness of the place.
Situated at an altitude of 1457 metres above sea stage, it’s the highest stadium the place worldwide matches are being performed. It’s a small stadium with a seating capability of round 23,000 individuals.
The repeated digicam give attention to the mountain ranges seen from the stadium throughout matches add worth and appeal to the sports activities venue for anybody watching the match on Tv. The stadium is an architectural marvel, impressed by Tibetan fashion.
There’s a contact of custom too. Earlier than each match, the HPCA officers pray earlier than the native deity ‘Indrunag’ asking for clear climate throughout the match, with Dharamshala identified for unsure rains.
The journey to this world class stadium within the hills has been fairly struggleful for the HPCA, headed by Anurag Thakur then, because the Affiliation needed to face a lot of hurdles from the state authorities of the day. Nevertheless, Thakur demonstrated the desire to go forward with this dream mission and succeeded in bringing worldwide popularity of the endeavor. Building of the stadium was a tricky job given the slope down the hill, however it got here up quick and was accomplished in 2004.
It was up to date to its current capability with companies like resort rooms, gyms and media bins for the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2009. The primary worldwide match- ODI between England and India- was performed right here in 2013. The stadium has been the venue for IPL, World Cup and T-20 Cricket matches since then with some hole in between, nonetheless.
“See the constructive final result. No authorities can organize such an enormous publicity for tourism promotion, which cricket is giving to Dharamshala,” claimed Arun Singh Dhumal. He mentioned he had invited Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, his cupboard colleagues and different leaders within the state to go to the stadium and watch the India-New Zealand match in order that they might see the influence.
“There isn’t any doubt that the game has helped the tourism trade develop in Dharamshala because the first IPL was performed right here in 2009. The World Cup matches have acted as a catalyst for revival of tourism within the city, which was witness to the droop after Covid in 2020-21 after which Monsoon havoc this 12 months,” mentioned a number one hotelier, Ashwani Bamba in Dharamshala.
Bamba is the President of Motels and Eating places Affiliation of Kangra District and Patron of Federation of Himachal Pradesh Motels and Eating places Affiliation.
“A city with a capability of simply 400-500 rooms a decade and a half in the past can now home 20,000 individuals, proper from price range to luxurious inns. A lot development has been there. With this picture enhance, nonetheless, we have to have matching amenities for the guests,” he mentioned.
Bamba discovered that parking amenities for the autos, particularly throughout the matches, the expensive and scant flights coming to Dharamshala from Delhi and recently the tax regime for the taxis coming to Himachal from exterior the state are some prime considerations. “No person desires to go to Mcleodganj, Naddi or different stunning outskirts of Dharamshala city throughout matches, fearing that they’d not be capable of attain the stadium in their very own automobile or taxi as a result of visitors chaos. In the event that they attain, the parking facility may be very restricted. This must be taken care of.”
The locals typically really feel that the World Cup matches on the HPCA stadium in Dharamshala have put highlight on Dharamshala, which can also be fashionable as Tibetan Non secular chief, The Dalai Lama’s abode “But the state authorities must money in on this in a holistic method with a modified outlook in the direction of tourism. We have to extend the keep of vacationers and make out there an surroundings with our conduct and important infrastructure in order that the vacationers really feel snug and really feel like coming again. Sadly, the tourism tradition is lacking to this point, whether or not it’s about tourism policing or hospitality,” mentioned Sandeep Parmar, a neighborhood citizen in Dharamshala. Parmar, who works within the social sector by means of an NGP and runs a Group Radio in Dharamshala, mentioned Himachal Pradesh is understood for its pure magnificence and tourism is one sector which might develop right here, if the federal government promotes it in the best perspective.
Connectivity has been one of many main hurdles to usher in home and international vacationers to Dharamshala around the 12 months. “There are two flights from Delhi to Dharamshala in routine and none in Monsoons. They too don’t have full occupancy. Perhaps due to the excessive fare and danger of cancellation. We have to have an even bigger airport, cheaper flights to encourage folks to return to Dharamshala. The railway connectivity and the highway community must be strengthened within the space,” mentioned some locals concerned within the tourism trade.
Dharamshala, the headquarters of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh, has an estimated inhabitants of 60,000. It’s nearer to Pathankot in Punjab.
As per statistics launched by the tourism division, Himachal Pradesh acquired 1.51 crore vacationers within the 12 months 2022, greater than double the state’s inhabitants. This consists of 29,233 international vacationers.
On the entire, the vacationer inflow in Kullu-Manali was the best (28.76 lakh), adopted by Shimla (25.65 lakh). Kangra district witnessed slightly over 4 lakh vacationers, majority of whom come to Dharamshala.
The state authorities headed by Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu did announce after coming into energy in December final that Kangra district could be developed as a tourism capital of Himachal Pradesh by redefining tourism coverage, growing little identified stunning and historic locations and including amenities on floor, together with elevated connectivity. The enlargement of the airport at Gaggal can also be within the pipeline.
