Chandigarh, November 8 - The Water Sports and Adventure Sports Activities today got a major boost in Haryana after Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal inaugurated the hot air balloon safari today at Pinjore, known as the Gateway of Himachal. He was the first to take a ride on the hot air balloon safari, accompanied by Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Sh. Gian Chand Gupta and School Education and Heritage and Tourism Minister, Sh. Kanwar Pal.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that the experience of the first safari was excellent, and it was also safe. The company operating the hot air balloon has received safety certificates. He said that the initiation of hot air balloon safari in this region will not only boost tourism but also create employment opportunities.

“Haryana has immense tourism potential, and the state government is continuously expanding tourism activities. The present state government would provide a grant of Rs. 72 lakh to the company for two years as VGF (Viability Gap Funding) after assessing the practicality of this hot air balloon safari, and the company has fixed Rs. 13,000 per person per ride for the tourists,” informed Sh. Manohar Lal.

He further said that Haryana is advancing towards promoting water sports and adventure sports activities. The government has also initiated paragliding, water sports activities, jet skiing, parasailing, trekking, and other adventure sports in the Tikkar Taal area in Morni Hills. Additionally, tracks, mountain biking trails, and various other activities have been introduced. Moreover, the Forest Department has been involved in boosting eco-tourism in Morni Hills, said the Chief Minister.

He said that the state government is developing the Aravalli region from a tourism perspective in addition to the Shivalik mountain range. He shared that extensive roadmaps are being prepared to attract tourists from around the world. As part of this initiative, the world's largest jungle safari park is being developed on a 10,000-acre land in Gurugram and Nuh districts, located in the Aravalli mountain range. This will help conserve the Aravalli mountain range and also boost tourism in Gurugram and Nuh regions, informed Sh. Manohar Lal.

Permission for excavation has also been granted in Agroha, and like Rakhigarhi, a museum is being built. Additionally, paragliding possibilities are being explored to promote air sports. The area has a spiritual identity as well since great sages like Chavan Rishi have resided there. Apart from this, efforts are being made to promote air sports by studying the paragliding possibilities in the region.

The Chief Minister said that the establishment of a museum is also underway in the Rakhi Garhi. In addition, permission for excavation has also been granted in Agroha, which will help in identifying the archaeological heritage in this region. Furthermore, Dhosi Hill is being developed as a pilgrimage site, and the ropeway has also been built there. The area has a spiritual identity as well since great sages like Chyavana Rishi have resided there.

Besides this, efforts are being made to promote aero sports by studying the paragliding possibilities in the region.

ADGP CID, Sh. Alok Mittal, Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, Sh. Sushil Sarwan, DCP, Sh. Sumer Partap Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Smt. Varsha Khangwal, former MLA, Smt. Latika Sharma and other officers also remained present on this occasion.