Astrotourism is a mix of astronomy and tourism. Passengers participate in activities such as stargazing, planet watching, peering into other galaxies, observing eclipses, and more. Popular sites such as the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve in New Zealand, Rhön Biosphere Reserve in Germany, and the Atacama Desert in Chile have continued to capture the interest of tourists worldwide. But, in India, it’s a novel travel trend that is quickly gaining popularity. There are various cheap flights to Mumbai from USA, it will make your journey more affordable and comfortable.
ASTRO TOURISM IN INDIA
Rajasthan became the first state to initiate a night sky tourism campaign in March 2022. They build high-quality telescopes in all 33 districts, in addition to the current stargazing locations such as Jantar-Mantar, Amber Fort, University of Maharaja, and Jawahar Kala Kendra.
In Jaipur, we organize monthly events at different spots, aligning with the positions of the stars and planets. It’s a way to bring celestial wonders closer to everyone. “The decision to install these telescopes would aid in the promotion of science, astronomy, and night sky Astro Tourism in the state.” People interested in reading the stars and the sky can visit Jaipur and other areas to experience night tourism,” Mugdha Sinha, Secretary of the state Department of Science and Technology, said in a statement to PTI.
Soon after, India’s first black sky reserve was established near the Ladakhi village of Hanle in partnership with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, owing to its zero light pollution and dark night skies. Later that month, Uttarakhand’s Benital was declared as India’s first astro-village, filled with a dedicated observatory kept with telescopes and other astronomical instruments. There are further astro parks in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh, and Haldwani, Dehradun. Visit Tripbeam.ca for flight offers for your next trip to India from Canada.
In 2015, Ramashish Ray and CEO Paul Savio founded Starscapes, bringing stargazing shows to Kausani, Uttarakhand. From there, they expanded to enchanting locations like Ooty, Bhimtal, Mukteshwar, and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh. Starscapes observatories now grace 30 Club Mahindra spots across India. Paul Savio emphasizes breaking down barriers, making astronomy accessible. Their goal is to make stargazing hassle-free, letting people dive into the celestial wonders without worrying about planning, equipment, or where to go. It’s about bringing the magic of the skies closer to enthusiasts everywhere.
Inside the Hype: A Deep Dive
Both Asgotraa and Savio share a common observation. They note that although more people are intrigued by astronomical experiences. However, they haven’t witnessed visitors specifically journeying to their facilities solely for a sky-gazing adventure. Astro-tourism is growing, but it’s early days.
Savio says, “Currently, we don’t have many astro-tourists.” Tourists are present. They’re visiting a specific location and gaining new experiences. Sky viewing is one of them.” Savio echoes Asgotraa, stating, “So far, I haven’t seen anyone travel to Ladakh solely to visit our Cosmo Hub or for Astro Stays. They are in Ladakh and heard about us somewhere and decided to pay us a visit. We’ve got a lot of tourists like that.” It’s about integrating celestial experiences into broader travel adventures. On the other hand, for traveling purposes, if you want to travel and need an affordable ticket to travel abroad, you need to check cheap airline tickets to India from USA. This will make your trip budget-friendly.
Asgotraa believes that astro tourism holds the potential to bring positive change to rural and offbeat areas, which haven’t benefited from the overwhelming tourism in Ladakh’s popular spots. He explains, “These experiences need dark skies, and the best places for that are offbeat areas. This not only brings stargazing joy but also economic benefits to these lesser-explored regions.” It’s about spreading the magic of the night sky to places that often go unnoticed, creating opportunities for local communities in the process.
Despite problems and obstacles, both Starscapes and Astro Stays indicate a noticeable growth, with “an increased number of interested people visiting since the pandemic,” according to Savio, strengthening his prediction that “conversations will be around space from now on.” On the other hand, if you want to travel and need an affordable ticket to travel abroad, you need to check cheap airline tickets to India from USA. This will make your trip budget friendly.
Also Read: 7 Exquisite Travel Destinations To Visit In India For An Incredible Experience
