MTDC to develop Igatpuri as yoga hub

Fancy getting some Ayurvedic treatments for lifestyle diseases or a mud bath to rid your body of toxins? Or perhaps, a round of aroma therapy or spa treatments to enhance your mood after a difficult week at work?

If the state tourism department's plans bear fruit, people may soon be able to head to Igatpuri near Nashik for these holistic treatments. The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) is planning to establish a wellness zone housing centres offering a range of treatments from Ayurveda to yoga, reiki and physiotherapy.

This will also help attract medical tourism to the hill station located at a distance of around 130 km from Mumbai.

"We are planning to create a wellness hub at Igatpuri considering its scenic location and misty atmosphere. This can prove to be a tourist magnet as other hill stations like Lonavla have already saturated. The MTDC is trying to identify around 100 acre of government land in the vicinity of Igatpuri and is also willing to enter into public private partnerships (PPP) arrangements with private parties in case they have land with the state creating the necessary infrastructure," Jaykumar Rawal, Minister for Tourism and Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS), told DNA.

BOOST TO TOURISM

• The proposed wellness zone will serve as a magnet for tourists.
   
• It will also spark people's interest in holistic systems of medicine.