Two hot reasons to head to Himachal

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government is considering opening scores of its quaint forest rest houses to visitors.

Under the new eco-tourism scheme, double-bed rooms will be available for hire at Rs 500 a night in 183 of the 550 forest rest houses spread across the hill state.

However, if one is looking for some luxury, there is a package priced at Rs 750-1,000 per day.

Officials said guides and porters would be available to take tourists for sight seeing.

Local folk singers and dancers will entertain tourists during their stay at the rest houses.

The luxury package will be available in only those rest houses that are connected by motorable roads, explained forest department officials.

"The state government has given permission to go ahead with this eco-tourism plan and has requested the central government for funds," said J S Walia, a forest department official.

These rest houses will be run with the expertise of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corp (HPTDC), a state-run company that manages 57 properties across the state.

Forest Minister Ram Lal Thakur said, "Once this plan gets under way, it will give a big boost to tourism in the lesser known areas of the state."

Some of the forest rest house bungalows belong to the British era and are located in some of the most scenic locations. But many are in a dilapidated condition due to shortage of funds.

Currently, only forest department employees and other top officials with special passes can stay in the forest rest houses.

Meanwhile, tourists visiting Himachal Pradesh this monsoon can avail discounts of up to 40 per cent in all properties owned by the state's tourism development corporation. The offer comes into effect from Thursday.

"Discounts will vary from 20 per cent to 40 per cent in all Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) properties across the state," Rajendra Sharma, a senior HPTDC official (DGM HPTDC), said here Wednesday.

"These packages will be effective from July 5 to July 14 to raise the occupancy in our hotels," he said.

HPTDC hotels have already been booked in advance at several popular destinations, officials said.