Bhagalpur admn to promote ecotourism

Bhagalpur: Keeping in mind the gradual decline in the number of visitors to

Bhagalpur

in the last two decades, the tourism department in association with the forest and environment department has envisaged a plan to promote ecotourism in the district.

While nearly 32.5 lakh tourists, including silk importers and exporters from across the world, visited Bhagalpur in 2002, the number dipped to 9.3 lakh in 2014. Ecotourism is directed towards exotic natural environments, intended to support conservation efforts and observe wildlife.

"Our effort is to promote tourism by showcasing the unique flora and fauna and the historical monuments of the district. The dolphin sanctuary, the Vikramshila Mahavihara, the

Ajgabinath Temple

in the middle of the

Ganga

, the

Burhanath

and the Bateshwarnath temples, the Jain temple, the Teen Pahari and the silk industries are major tourist attractions," district forest officer (DFO) Sanjay Kumar Sinha said, adding two motorboats would be used to attract tourists and generate revenue in the region.