Raigad's first star gazing centre to come up at Maral; Harihareshwar circumambulation path to be developed

Mumbai: The first advanced star gazing centre in Raigad district will be set up at Maral. Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare has also directed that, while developing and beautifying the circumambulation path (pradakshina marg) of the Shri Harihareshwar temple, the infrastructure to be built there be decided afresh.

A meeting on the development of the Harihareshwar pradakshina marg under Bharat Swadesh and on the Star Gazing Centre at Maral was held at Mantralaya. Ms Tatkare spoke at the meeting. The Directorate of Tourism, Deputy Engineer Sonia Mahind and other officials concerned attended.

Ms Tatkare said efforts are on for the all-round development of Maral from the tourism point of view. She said the aim is to develop Maral as an integrated tourism hub that links the beach, religious heritage, nature, rural lifestyle and the local economy.

The tourist destinations in the Maral area, Harihareshwar, Shrivardhan, Diveagar and Aravi, are currently being developed. She said Shrivardhan taluka has been declared a tourism taluka.

Harihareshwar is famous as "Dakshin Kashi". Taking this religious heritage as the reference, the Maral area is being developed from the religious as well as the tourism point of view. Ms Tatkare therefore said the infrastructure to be built at Harihareshwar should be decided afresh.

She also said the officials concerned should visit the site proposed for the star gazing centre at Maral and inspect it. She further directed that the proposal to be submitted to the tourism department be prepared covering all necessary points and be submitted urgently.

In all, she gave three directions to the officials: to decide afresh the facilities on the pradakshina marg, to inspect the site for the centre in person, and to submit the proposal to the tourism department urgently.