Jamshedpur, Jan 30: �With onset of autumn season, the footfall at the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary has started witnessing a major boost this year. The scenic wildlife sanctuary, 30 km from Jamshedpur, is abuzz with tourists spending quality time amid natural surroundings.
The forest department�s focus on infrastructure development has played a key role in increasing revenue as well as the footfall this time. The Dalma sanctuary, known for its scenic beauty and large presence of the elephants has witnessed a gradual improvement on the infrastructure front with setting up of mud houses, cafeteria, watch tower and rest rooms.
�In January alone this year we have generated revenue of Rs 2.35 lakhs. The footfall has increased in compere to last year. The improvement in infrastructure has definitely helped us to attract tourists from across the State and neighbouring places. We are taking every step to improve facilities at the sanctuary,� said Dalma range officer (West) Dinesh Chandra.
He said that facilities like Mud House and Cafeteria is proving a major boost to attract tourists. He said that tourists from different states are pouring in. Accommodation options at the Dalma sanctuary comprises four AC cottages and three non-AC rooms, bamboo huts and mud cottages at Makulakocha as well as three non-AC rooms near Pinderbera forest guesthouse on the top.
Dalma sprawls over an area of 193 square kilometres and
houses 85 villages inside the enclave and 51 villages in its periphery. Dalma is frequently visited people of Odisha and Kolkata.
In fact a large number of foreigners also
visited Dalma last year.
Sensing the need of visitors, the state forest department turned a guesthouse
near the main entrance in Makulakocha into a luxury address. The rooms have
attached toilets, a large kitchen-cum-hall, and ample space in the front. The
rooms and toilets as well as the kitchen space have tiles. New beds, mattresses
and blankets are also in place.
�We want people to stay
closer to the nature. We have guest houses, thatched roofs made of hay and
bamboo to keep the huts warm during winter and cool during summer. Guests are served
food prepared from organic vegetables grown in the farm and organic milk, said
another official.
Dalma Hills, to the north of Subarnarekha River and about 10 kms from the city, is famous for its herds of wild elephants, barking deers, sloth bears, leopards, porcupines, gaurs and chitals. In these hills is Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary. Elephants are the star attraction here as during summer they migrate in great numbers to this sanctuary from neighbouring areas. Some mahouts even take their elephants through the tree-lined streets of Jamshedpur.
