Photographer takes Trishna into top tourism destinations

Agartala, Jul 18 (UNI) A landscape photographer with his lens has been able to take Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary in Tripura into the list of top tourist destinations of the country.

Photographer Bikash Koleay, with his masterpiece, had grabbed the first prize in 'Tour and Travel Expo-2007' organised in Kolkata from July 13 to 15 by tourism promotion agencies in West Bengal.

Tourism officials here today said the pictures captured by Mr Koleay last November amidst the pristine nature dotted with cystal clear water bodies bringing out the elegance of Trishna in the soft rays of sun in the dawn.

Trishna sanctuary is famous for big-bull Bison, while a number of rare species of monkeys, deer and pythons are also some major attractions for the tourists.

Huge water bodies in Trishna adds beauty to the verdant landscape of 194.90 square km with thick tree canopies stretching out in the horizon.

According to record, more than a lakh of domestic tourists have visited the sanctuary last fiscal. The state government have set up two bungalows with all facilities for the tourists, tourism officials said adding that some more projects are in the pipeline.

The sanctuary also known to possess a tigress with her two cubs, according to locals.

However, there was no Tiger Force militant or NLFT cadres.

The sanctuary is also a home to cobras, huge black bear and leopard.

Of seven endangered primates, six were available here. Wild animals, birds and reptiles are abundant in Trishna and thousands of migratory birds flock in two lakes in winter.

''It is also coming as wildlife education, as school students from various parts of the state are making trips to get them acquainted with wildlife and inculcate a sense of love among children for animals,''Principal Chief Conservator of Forest R P Tangwan said.

Electric fencing had been erected to prevent the wild animals moving out of the sanctuary and check poaching activities.

UNI