tea garden set to find place on tourism map in Arunachal

Itanagar, Feb 25 (PTI) A private tea garden in a remotelocation of Arunachal Pradesh is all set to emerge as thelatest tourist destination in the scenic Himalayan state,official sources said.

Siru-Rijo Tea Garden Company Pvt Ltd, located 5 km awayfrom Gankak village in West Siang district, is all set tofigure on the state tourist map thanks to the untiring effortsof Yajum and Tugo Gangkak, a couple, who began their dreammission way back in 1995.

Nestled atop a hill, the tea estate can be reached aftera 17 km drive on the winding hilly road and is surrounded bylush green forests and mountain springs.

The guest house, equipped with all modern amenities likeround the clock water and electiricty, is slated forinauguration by the state''s Power Minister Jarbom Gamlin onMarch 7.

The fully equipped factory of the garden will beinaugurated on the same day by Gojen Gadi, ParliamentarySecretary for Tourism.

�We look at the event ahead from tourism perspectiveand it emits a ray of optimism to put the place on thetourism map of the district and state as two stalwarts of thedepartment are gracing it and hectic preparations are on togive a befitting receptions�, Tugo Gangkak said.

The tea garden has a private helipad, a mini hydel,sugarcane factory, poultry, small scale industry, saw mill,fishery, shops, cottages and barracks to accommodate about600 people.

Anyone who visits Yomcha takes out time to drivealong the garden and it is turning into a sought afterholiday resort. The climb up the highest hill top in thevicinity offers the tourist a panoramic view of the villagesthat fall under Yomcha and Aalo.

The Tasum Tase Geko that joins the garden are narrowjungle passages in the low-lying area that intersect and meeteach other at different points.

�We have plans to introduce essential services likeschool and medical sub-centre along with other added economicactivities to turn the place into a special economic zone inthe years to come", he added.