Sonepur (Bihar): Having promised to
develop the Sonepur mela, Asia's famed cattle fair, as an
international fair on lines of Pushkar in Rajasthan, the
Bihar government today estimated there would be a substantial
rise in inflow of foreign tourists this time.
"We expect that the inflow of foreign tourists will
increase manifold at the almost month-long cattle fair this
time," Deputy Chief Minister S K Modi, who inaugurated the
fair here on November 1, said.
Around 2.15 lakh visitors have already arrived.
"According to the state tourism department figures,
over 50 foreign tourists have arrived so far and several
others are expected to reach here soon", he said.
Modi said the state government had decided to develop
the Sonepur fair as an "international fair" on the pattern of
Harihar Kshetra mela in Pushkar, Rajasthan.
"We have launched a website www.sonepurmela.org, for
national and international tourists."
State tourism department sources said most of the
rooms in the huts raised for accommodating foreign tourists
have been booked but arrangements were on for the lodging all
the tourists.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, November 03, 2009, 22:37