Travel is back, more foreign tourists

SONEPUR: It is a sort of irony that the grandeur of the Harihar Kshetra Mela is gradually diminishing for Indians year after year but for foreign tourists the fair is turning more and more attractive than even the world-famed Pushkar fair in Rajasthan.
The sprawling campus of Swiss cottages, which have been set up by the Bihar State Tourism Corporation, was buzzing with the arrival of visitors from France, UK, Canada and Belgium on the first day of the mela on Thursday.
Talking to ToI, the manager of the Swiss cottages Ashok Sinha said that about 20 foreign tourists, mostly from France and Belgium, had booked the Swiss cottages this year. "In 2003, only 26 foreign tourists had visited the mela, but this year their number has swelled to 20 on the very first day," Sinha said. He further said that while five foreign tourists from France, Belgium, Holland and UK had already been provided accommodation, the rest of them were heading to the mela venue from different parts of the state.
Alexander from Holland told ToI that he visited the Sonepur mela for the first time after coming to know about its agro-religious fervour.
Anna, Christina and Merry, all friends, from France have already shifted in the Swiss cottages and they roamed the mela areas throughout the day on Thursday. "The fair is really charming and lovely," said Anna.
For the first time, the booking for accommodation in Swiss cottages was also done through the Internet.
A team of well-qualified guides has also been made available to foreign tourists this time.