After a successful first edition of Jal Mahotsav, the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation turned the activity-based event into a month-long festival this year on the incredibly beautiful man-made island of Hanuwantiya, near the Indira Sagar Dam in Khandwa district By Saloni Bhatia
Indira Sagar is one of the largest man-made dams in the country and the land of Hanuwantiya enjoys pristine views of the large reservoir of Narmada river built by the dam. Making the best use of this location and its novelty, Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC) transformed the land for Jal Mahotsav in order to showcase the potential and possibilities for travel and adventure tourism in the state. The event was inaugurated by Shivraj Singh Chauhan, chief minister, Madhya Pradesh in the presence of other dignitaries of the tourism industry in December 2016. An entire tent city was built with Swiss cottages, designated play areas, culture centre and food hall.
The event was managed by Aum Event and Promotion India, an Ahmedabad-based event company. It was extended to a month long festival due to its popularity among domestic travellers. Several water-based activities such as wind surfing, parasailing, water skiing, jet skiing, water zorbing and air activities such as hot air ballooning and para motors were organised like in the first edition of the event. The Swiss cottages were tented to enjoy the best views of the river and guests had easy access to the main areas. People were also seen hiring cycles from the booth, free of cost, to enjoy rides in the open area.
The land and water based activities were the major attractions as many tourists, regardless of their age, were keen to enjoy the experience. Keeping in mind the families visiting the festival, the activities were organised for all age groups. While kids were seen enjoying activities like adventure sports, parents were indulging in cultural activities and shopping. A special craft zone was created to display the various products created by local artisans and craftsmen. Earthen pots, local handicrafts and paintings were displayed among other things.
The new attraction this year were the houseboats. Built in the Kerala and Kashmir styles, the houseboats had three rooms and the upper deck was well equipped as a meeting area. While in the day time, the deck was used for rides across the river, at night it offered a private dining place for about 35-40 people.
Cruise, Jalpari and motorboat facilities were organised to transport people to Hanumatiya. The staff positioned at the water-based activities area were well trained and certified to ensure the safety of tourists.
On the cultural front, guests enjoyed the regular cultural shows which included regional dances and play. While a magician kept people occupied during the dinner time, families were seen enjoying games post dinner. In the same manner, visitors were seen indulging in early morning Yoga sessions, right next to the river.
The nearby attractions include cultural cities like Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Indore, Mandu and Mandaleshwar. Each of these cities is unique in culture, architecture, religion and nature. Omkareshwar known for the temple of Omkar Mandhata is a religious centre visited by tourists riund the year, and is located about 85 kms from Hanuwantiya. While Maheshwar, 150 kms away, is famous for its temples, fort and ghats. The city of Mandu glorifies medieval architecture. All the cities can be visited while on the way to the main city Indore.
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Talking to Express TravelWorld on the latest footfall, Bharat Kundalia, director, Aum Event and Promotions India shared, “The New Year weekend witnessed 100 per cent occupancy and the first week shows only a small downfall to 60 per cent. New Year’s day saw more than 100,000 tourists visit the festival. The people had to be sent back in order to avoid heavy rush and crowding.”
He added, “While a minimum of one night stay is selling best, there are couples who have also extended their stays to four nights and five days.”
The ideal duration of the stay at Hanuwantiya can start from two night three days and extend upto four nights and five days. Travellers can also pick nearby destinations to explore more about the state. The best way to reach Hanuwantiya by air is to reach Indore and then commence the three-hour-long journey to the island. The nearest railhead is Khandwa, which falls on the Delhi-Howrah and Mumbai-Howrah line.