Tourists flock to Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani to soak in the Maharashtra Tourism Festival
1
2
Kolhapur:
Maharashtra Tourism Festival
is attracting visitors in large numbers to the twin hill stations of
Mahabaleshwar
and
Panchgani
with several events and activities lined up. The festival was inaugurated on Friday.
On Saturday, the second day of the festival, tourism minister Shambhuraj Desai inaugurated 'Carnival Parade' from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Chowk in Mahabaleshwar. MTDC general manager Chandrasekhar Jaiswal, senior regional manager Hanumant Hede, Wai provincial officer Rajendra Kachare, regional manager Deepak Harne, Mahabaleshwar Tehsildar Tejaswini Patil and CO Yogesh Patil were present.
Besides, a fun run, cyclothon, helicopter ride, farm visit, floating market, temple visit, carnival procession, display of forts and ammunition, cultural event, laser show, helicopter ride,and other events were also organised. Renowned flutist Amar Oak presented Morning Ragaaz leaving tourists and local citizens spellbound.
People were seen hopping around the hill stations, making the most of the festival. Sumit Oswal, a tourist at Tent City from Pimpri-Chinchwad, said, "Visit to Tent City gave the Run of Kacch vibes. It was a great experience witnessing the colourful procession, exhibition of forts, floating market, and laser show. If we knew there was so much to witness, I would have planned my stay for all three days here. It was a great experience for me and my family on Saturday."
The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has organised a three-day Maharashtra Tourism Festival to promote the state's tourist destination at both national and international levels.
Another tourist, Sumedha Kulkarni from Baramati, said, "Visiting Mahabaleshwar has always been special, and this time with the Maharashtra Tourism Festival, our journey became a lot more memorable. So much to do and so little time is what I can say about this festival. At a few places, we faced traffic congestion. On Sunday, more tourists will arrive, and the administration needs to plan accordingly."
The festival includes
cultural programs
by various renowned artists, forts and vintage ammunition exhibition, food festival, adventure sports activities, children's workshops, helicopter rides, drone shows, food stalls, flea market, visits to temples and other tourist spots, photography workshops, floating market at Venna Lake, laser show, yoga session and morning ragas - instrumental music, fun runs and cyclothon, lectures regarding opportunities in water tourism, biodynamic farming, Tourism Policy of Maharashtra, Carnival Parade, Fun Street, Boat exhibition, etc.
The festival will conclude on Sunday.
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