Kolkata, July 28 (IANS): Now, visitors to West Bengal can experience rural culture first hand and see how indigenous crafts are fabricated at 11 cultural tourism hubs that were launched across the state recently.
Be it the Chauu dance of Purulia, the enchanting Baul rhythms in Nadia or the patachitra art of Midnapore, the hubs scattered through the state will facilitate tourists to plan short trips to the spots and indulge in various activities.
"The hubs will showcase the arts, crafts and performing arts of those very specific areas," Moumita Kundu of NGO Banglanatak, that led the initiative as part of a deal inked with UNESCO last year, told IANS.
The community-led cultural tourism endeavour dubbed "tourEast", that was flagged-off last week, is aimed at empowering local communities in tandem with boosting tourism prospects in rural areas.
The venture has been supported by the state's micro, small and medi um enterprises and textile department to promote tourism in cohesion with culture and heritage.