Trend focuses on rural India

ASTRO-TOURISM has become the latest travel trend in India.

Astro-tourism combines astronomy and tourism, allowing travellers to stargaze under the skies free from light pollution.

Dinesh Kumar Kotha, co-founder chief executive of Confirmtkt, a train booking app, said that astro-tourism thrived on sustainable travel and drew travellers to remote communities.

He said plans were being made to explore the untapped potential of rural villages as hot spots for astro-tourism.

Kotha said the Benital Village in Uttarakhand, located at 2 600m above sea level, was set to be one of the first astro-villages in India.

“The atmosphere of rural India, coupled with stargazing, sun observation, star parties and experiential science activities, make the most of what one can expect while astrotouring,” he said. |