Uttarakhand tourism department has started a chopper service in Nainital, offering an aerial view of the ravishing Naini Lake and its surrounding areas. The tourists can savour a 360-degree view of the emerald green Naini Lake and the verdant hills from 10.000 feet above the ground. The chopper will carry five people in one round, charging a fare of Rs. 4,125 each. The chopper service will be available on two days i.e. Saturday and Sunday until February 15, 2016.
The General Manager, Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVM), Trilok Singh Martolia who is currently at Dehradun for an important meeting, to finalize a helicopter from a private company said, “The scheme aims to promote tourism in Nainital”.
Online booking facility will be soon available at KMVN website. Currently, tourists can book the chopper ride from KVMNs tourist rest house in Kathgodam. In an interview with HT, the KMVN officials told that 12 advance bookings have already been made.
The chopper will hover at 8,000-10,000 feet above ground and take four rounds in a day, offering a tour of Naini Lake, Bheemtal, Sattal, Khurpatal, Nakuchiatal and other pristine lakes in the vicinity. The adventurous tour will last for more than an hour. The chopper will take off from the helipad at Forest Training Institute in Haldwani.
To flourish tourism sector in the state, KMVN is determined to carry forward other plans. With a motive to promote Nainital tourism, Martolia said, “If this project turns out to be a success as we hope, chopper rides will also be planned for ‘Himalaya Darshan’ after January 15. Under this scheme, chopper rides will be available for higher reaches of the region from where one can relish the majestic snow clad Himalayan peaks such as Munsyari, Nanda Devi and Trishul”.
News Source: TOI