Coffee plantations in Maharashtra! Not many would believe it. But there are. In little-known Chikhaldara in Vidarbha.
And now, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) is planning to lure tourists to that place. Chikhaldara, is about 230km from Nagpur.
The state tourism corporation is also planning to promote this hill station in Amravati district as an adventure tourism destination apt for study tours. MTDC feels home stays can come up there and tourists can stay in the company of the local Korku tribe.
MTDC general manager Kishori Gadre told dna that the corporation was planning to capitalize on Chikhaldara being the only place in Maharashtra with coffee plantations.
"Unless we highlight the uniqueness of a place, tourists would feel it's just like any other hill-station," said Gadre. According to her, locals who sell coffee, claim that the variety of coffee grown here has a different aroma.
"The main constraint in promoting tourism there is the non-availability of water," said Gadre, adding that the corporation intended to promote rain water harvesting (RWH) in Chikhaldara to conserve water just like the British had done. During the British era, the place had coffee plantations in about 70 acres, but there has been a gradual fall since they left, she added.
Gadre also said MTDC was also looking to promote surrounding areas like Semadoh and Kolkaz, which have thick forests, wildlife and tribal hamlets, as locations for home-stays, hiking, study tours and adventure tourism.
MTDC now plans to take tour operators to that place for a visit to help them promote the region. Home-stays would also help the impoverished tribes there, she feels.
Apart from the tiger project and the bamboo centre at Melghat (which is known more for the malnutrition deaths among its tribal children), the orange plantations en route to Chikhaldara would also attract tourists.
Where Bhima killed Kichaka
Chikhaldara is said to be the place where the legendary Bhima (Mahabharata) is said to have killed Kichaka, the general of King Virata, for harassing Draupadi when Pandavas were in exile. It's also the only hill-station in Vidarbha.
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