By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 19: Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh attended the send-off programme for trek leaders training on September 19 wherein he encouraged the first batch of participants to stay focused in the training and come to the state enriched with knowledge.
The programme was also attended by the Tourism Director CVD iengdoh.
Speaking at the programme, Lyngdoh said that adventure tourism is an integral and a very significant set of tourism in Meghalaya. “It delights me that 25 trails have been mapped and identified. I am sure that in the subsequent year, we will be able to be in a position to identify more such trails,” he said
“Most of the trails happen to be connected with local history or folklores. The government has invested money and time on preparing for your trip. I would sincerely urge upon each of you to invest your time very wisely. Make sure to stay focus and come back enriched,” Paul said.
The ‘Trek the Himalayas’ is an agency empanelled by Meghalayan Age Limited for identifying multi-day Trekking and Hiking Trails in Meghalaya.
Trek the Himalayas is a certified member of ATOAI (Adventure Tour Operators Association of India), their expeditions cover over 100 peaks across the Himalayas that are permitted by the IMF (Indian Mountaineering Foundation) and their team consists of members who are qualified with Basic Mountaineering Course and Advanced Mountaineering Course.
The key objectives of the project are to prepare a detailed master plan for setting up trekking and hiking activities in which 25 multi-day trails have been identified.
It also aims to provide an experiential training or exposure trip to the local resources which is ongoing and the schedule of the training is for 120 participants.
The training dates for the first batch is September 20-30, 2023, with 30 participants in Darjeeling, the second and third batch comprises 60 participants will be on September 27-October 6, 2023, in Uttarakhand and Darjeeling and the fourth batch will be on October 3-12, 2023, that has 30 participants.
The participants of the first batch are from Pashum, Laitsohum, Diwon (3 participants from each village), Wahkhen, Laitiam, Nongblai (5 participants from each village), Mawlyngbna and Lapalang (1 participant from each village), and Mawten (4 participants only).
A team briefing was held at Shillong Club on September 15 and the founder of the Trek the Himalayas, Rakesh Pant, briefed the participants through video conference. The session was also attended by the Gregory Warjri, founder of Nomads, as a local coordinator.