MANALI: An a time when number of tourist increases more than bedding capacity and mountains of Manali have mushroomed with unplanned hotels, accommodation in tents has found its own way of nature friendly stay, with over one hundred youths offering their services to tourists here.
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| Luxury camps in Manali |
The small scale tourism entrepreneurs, mostly from surrounding villages, have set an example of innovation by providing luxury services to their guests in a nominal tariff. Tent accommodation is giving tough competition to the hotels. Gone are the days when honeymooners used to prefer staying in luxury hotels to avail the world class services and comfort. Hundreds of honeymooners are enjoying warm hospitality in tents that have been installed so close to the nature and boasts of all modern facilities.
Meet Vishal Thakur, a young entrepreneur from Balsari village, who has chosen tent service as his passion and also mode of earning livelihood. Inspired by him, many of his friends too have now adopted this business and are earning good money. “I could not own a hotel but I fulfilled my dream to host the tourists by installing variety of tents at low investment. My formula to provide luxury in tents worked well for me and now I’ve over two dozen permanent camps at Chandertal lake where hotels are not available,” he said.
Not only the luxury tents are cheaper than hotels but the rewarding advantage of tents is that they can be installed anywhere and can fulfill the need of accommodation even at those places where hotels are not easily available. Deluxe room, luxury room or honeymoon suite, one can find tents of all types anywhere in Manali. Most of the villagers have installed tents in apple orchards which helps them attract the tourists.
Another youth, Kapil Negi, has earned respect by providing well managed and clean tent service to his customers for last few years. He said, “Kids, youths and elders, tourists of all age group love their stay in clean and big tents. Most of the youths organize DJ parties, bonfire, candle light dinners and honeymoon arrangements for their guests. Our youths are earning handsome money with a little investment. Tents and cottages are the future of tourism on mountains.”
The only drawback of the tents was lack of warmth in winter months. So, most of the tents and camps provide only seasonal service. Another problem that tent and camp owners were facing was no provision of registration of their property with tourism department.
