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TRAVEL & TOURISM OCTOBER 23, 2026 | The Indian Eye 56

Sara Ali Khan, Ayushmann Khurrana Udupi’s New Eco-

Put Chandigarh on Travel Radar Tourism Trail Takes

Visitors Through

ctors Sara Ali Khan and Ayushmann Khurrana Saligrama’s
recently brought attention to Chandigarh’s food,
Aculture and tourist attractions during a promotional Mangroves
visit for their upcoming film Udta Teer, giving travellers an-
other reason to consider the city for a short getaway.
Khurrana, who hails from Chandigarh, was seen enjoy- quiet stretch of mangrove-lined
ing traditional Punjabi lassi from a large brass glass, while A in Saligrama,
backwaters
Sara embraced the local flavour in a pink Punjabi suit. The around 25 km from Udupi,
actor also shared glimpses of her visit on social media, is emerging as a new eco-tourism at-
greeting viewers with “Sat Sri Akal” and introducing Khur- traction, offering visitors an immersive
rana while highlighting the city’s Punjabi character. way to experience Karnataka’s coastal
Their visit also put the spotlight on Chandigarh’s mix biodiversity. The Saligrama Backwater
of modern architecture, landscaped spaces and cultural at- Mangrove Forest combines kayaking,
tractions. For travellers planning a short trip, the city offers birdwatching and nature exploration
several landmarks that can be covered within a few days. in a tranquil tidal ecosystem.
The Rock Garden, one of Chandigarh’s best-known The destination, located around
attractions, features sculptures and installations cre- 10 km from Brahmavar, is charac-
ated from discarded and waste materials by artist Nek terised by narrow waterways winding
Chand. Sukhna Lake offers a quieter setting for boating, through dense mangrove vegetation.
walks and sunset views, while the Rose Garden is known The ecosystem provides habitat for a
for its extensive collection of roses and other plants. variety of birds and aquatic life while
The Capitol Complex, designed by celebrated archi- also playing an important role in pro-
tect Le Corbusier, is another major attraction and a UNE- tecting the coastline from erosion, ac-
SCO World Heritage Site. The complex represents Chan- cording to Udupi Tourism.
digarh’s distinctive modernist architectural identity and Kayaking is the primary way to
includes important government buildings. explore the forest. Local operators
For families and culture enthusiasts, the International offer single and double kayaks, with
Dolls Museum offers another stop, with its collection fea- life jackets and guidance for visitors,
turing dolls gathered from different parts of the world. including beginners. The experience
With its combination of architecture, gardens, food is less about speed or adventure and
and leisurely outdoor spaces, Chandigarh continues to once again highlighted the city as an accessible option for more about slowly navigating the wa-
offer a compact travel experience. The celebrity visit has travellers looking for a quick break from the routine. terways while observing the ecosystem
around them.
The backwaters are home to
Uttarakhand Plans to Turn Natural Hot kingfishers, egrets and herons, while
white-bellied sea eagles and oth-
Springs into Tourist Attractions er birds can occasionally be spotted
overhead. The muddy banks support
fiddler crabs, mudskippers and other
small estuarine creatures, adding to
ttarakhand is planning to de- travellers undertaking long journeys geothermal springs can potentially the biodiversity of the area.
velop its natural geothermal through the mountainous region. He support spas, balneotherapy, aqua- Early mornings and late after-
Usprings as tourism destina- cited the Tapt Kund near Badrinath as culture, agriculture and greenhouse noons are considered particularly
tions, with the first proposed project an example of how natural hot springs cultivation. Balneotherapy involves suitable for exploring the mangroves,
at Madkot in Pithoragarh district fea- already serve visitors to the state. bathing in mineral-rich water for re- when temperatures are cooler and the
turing bathing pools and accommoda- The proposed initiative comes laxation and wellness, although any changing light creates favourable con-
tion for visitors. The initiative aims to amid scientific findings highlighting health-related benefits depend on the ditions for birdwatching and photog-
diversify the state’s tourism offerings Uttarakhand’s geothermal potential. water’s composition. raphy. Udupi Tourism also highlights
while exploring the potential of its Researchers at the Wadia Institute The tourism initiative also com- the area as a destination for visitors in-
natural hot-water resources. of Himalayan Geology in Dehradun plements broader efforts to explore terested in understanding the ecologi-
The Tourism Department is pre- have identified 40 active geothermal geothermal resources for power gen- cal importance of mangrove habitats.
paring to introduce facilities at Mad- springs in the state. eration. By developing suitable sites, The Saligrama experience adds
kot, where visitors would be able to The Kumaon region has a signif- the state hopes to incorporate natural another dimension to Udupi’s tourism
bathe in water sourced from a near- icant concentration of these springs. hot springs into its tourism circuits landscape, traditionally known for its
by geothermal spring. If the project A geothermal belt extending approx- and create additional visitor experi- temples, beaches and coastal attrac-
proves successful, similar facilities imately 13 kilometres near the Gori ences beyond conventional pilgrim- tions. By bringing visitors into its back-
could be developed at other suitable Ganga contains around 10 springs. age and mountain travel. waters without turning the forest into
locations across the state. Their relatively accessible locations The Madkot project is expect- a conventional tourist hub, the desti-
Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj could make them suitable for tourism ed to serve as an initial step towards nation offers a slower, nature-focused
said the springs could provide a re- and other applications. evaluating the tourism potential of alternative for travellers seeking an es-
freshing experience for pilgrims and Beyond recreational bathing, Uttarakhand’s geothermal resources. cape from crowded coastal spots.

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