Tourists to be pampered with ‘kayakalp’ therapies – The Tribune

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 10

The Himachal Government will promote Ayush tourism in a big way by setting up Ayush resorts, spas and hospitals so that naturopathy and ancient healing techniques can be popularized among people.

The government today notified its Ayush Policy 2019 while deciding to re-name the Ayurveda department as Ayush department. Efforts will be made to set up herbal gardens to make HP biggest producer of medicinal herbs, much in demand world over. This, in turn, will provide people with an additional source of income.

Though the Ayurveda Department has been rendering its services since decades it has failed to emerge as a popular choice. As per the Ayush policy kayakalp institutes will be set up at all popular tourist destinations. These kayakalp Institutes will provide rejuvenation from aroma therapy, spa, panchkarma, relaxation and meditation and skin pampering treatments and clinics.

These institutes will also provide full Panchkarma services along with the prescribed diet to be followed with regular yoga and meditation sessions to bring about the holistic well-being of the individuals. These rejuvenation centres can become a major attraction to local and international tourists by focusing on experiential and spiritual health.

As per the policy, incentives will be given for setting up of health resorts, ayush medicity, hospitals, multi-specialty hospitals, yoga and meditation centres, convalescence centres and Ayush pharmaceuticals and pharmacies.

The state already has 1,178 ayurvedic health centres, 34 ayurvedic hospitals, 14 homoeopathic health centres 14 and three Unani health centres. The state also has a post graduate college of ayurveda at Paprola near Baijnath in Kangra, besides three ayurvedic pharmacies and four herbal gardens.

The policy is aimed at making Himachal a major herbal state in the country by 2025 with recognition of the medicinal and aromatic plant resources of the state. Cultivation of herbs and medicinal plants will help supplement income of rural population. At the same time enabling legislations and institutional mechanism will be put in place to develop this sector and conserve germplasm of medicinal plants diversity of the state in its natural habitat.