State to open visitor centre at Ujjain Kumbh Mela – Times of India

Ranchi: The state’s tourism department has tied up with Madhya Pradesh (MP) tourism department to provide devotees planning to attend the Simhastha Mahakumbh in Ujjain with facilities to make their trip memorable.The MP government has allocated 6,000 sq feet of land to Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC) to establish a tourist information centre (TIC).The TIC will be equipped with trained staff who will guide tourists and devotees from Jharkhand during their month-long stay (starting April 22) at ardh kumbh.

The department has also planned to register visitors to keep a track on pilgrims to ensure they are safe during celebrations. Also, banking and medical facilities will be provided.

“JTDC has already been given land at a prominent location to construct a TIC at Ujjain Simhastha Kumbh. The TIC will be designed along the lines of Deoghar’s Babadham temple. It will provide a host of facilities to tourists from Jharkhand. It will also help promote the state as a tourist destination,” said P K Vaghmare, tourism department director.

Simhastha Mahakumbh, based on a celestial line-up of planets and zodiac signs, is one of the four kumbh melas organized in India and draws a large number of devotees from across India and abroad.

During the event, which is organized every 12 years, saints and devotees will take a holy dip in the Kshipra River during the ‘shahi snan’, with the last one scheduled for May 21.

The department also plans to provide tourist packages on the lines of the recently concluded Chhau festival for devotees who will be visiting Ujjain.

In addition to packages, the department also aims to tie-up with local hotels and travel and tour operators to ensure pilgrims can avail of proper accommodation and conveyance. The department also plans to start a bus service from Ranchi and other major cities of Jharkhand to Ujjain.

“Ujjain ardh kumbh is a major religious festival and the tourism department is expecting a large number of tourists from the state to. We also intend to ensure tourists from Jharkhand enjoy their stay. The department will be conducting a meeting on Monday to finalize plans and a decision to send a request for a proposal for the same will be issued in the coming week,” said JTDC general manager Rajeev Ranjan.