Rajasthan to launch campaign to attract domestic tourists

With an aim to attract domestic tourists, the state government will launch a campaign "Rajasthan calling" from September 8 that will travel across 19 cities of the country, an official said today.

A two-day 'Mini Rajasthan Festival' will be the major highlight of the campaign which will go to Kochi, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Patna, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Patna, Ranchi, Surat, Pune, Bhubneshwar, Goa, Jammu, Ludhiana, Vadodara and Chandigarh.

The festival would provide complete information about the taditional culture, exquisite range of Rajasthani handicraft products and delicacies, Rajasthan government's principal secretary and commissioner (tourism) Usha Sharma said.

Live cultural performances, food court, free application of mehendi (heena) on palms will be the main attraction of the festival, she said.

"The food court will have stalls serving famous dal baati choorma, Rajasthani kachories, mirchi pakora and traditional sweets. The traditional dances to be performed will include famous Chari, Gujri, and Algoja forms," she said.

The state's popularity is primarily owing to its incredible tourism products: its rich heritage, its forts, lakes, colourful fairs, golden sand dunes, rich wild life, wellness tourism among others, the official added.