A new coffee table book to promote Himachal Pradesh

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal unveiled the book in the presence of the state’s top dignitaries,including Leader of Opposition Vidya Stokes,PCC President Kaul Singh Thakur,Cabinet ministers,former Tourism Minister Major (Rtd) Vijai Singh Mankotia and senior bureaucrats.

The 180-page book with 300 rare pictures from the state’s remotest valleys and incredible tourist destinations has come within three months of the launch of another coffee table book Har Ghar Kuchh Kehta Hai,also brought out by the tourism department.

The book contains some interesting facts,such as trivia about Shimla’s squash court,fossils in Kasauli,Shimla-Kalka heritage train,old British landmarks etc. “We also have evidence to show that 60 per cent of Mahabharata epic has some connection with Himachal soil,” said Sharma,proposing to market Himachal’s brand of tourism by linking it to those stories.

He admitted that the recently introduced “Himachal Hat” concept has proved to be a failure but that will not stop the department from going ahead with two new Himachal Hats. Talks are already underway with film makers and producers of TV serials to shoot in Himachal locations as every village has some unique story to tell. A project Har Gaon Ki Kahani is already underway. Twelve private ‘spans’ (manually operated ropeways used for crossing rivers in Kullu valley) have been identified for linking with tourism.

Speaking at the function,Dhumal said the previous book Har Ghar Kuchh Kehta Hai had proved to be a big success,as people who have connections with Shimla are keen to know about its historical aspects.