AKHILESH AT BATESHWAR

Agra October 22 (IANS)

 

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav today said his government was determined to promote heritage tourism and develop infrastructural facilities to accelerate growth rate in this vital sector.

 

Yadav was speaking at a function to display "horse-power" skills by trained horses, at the famous Bateshwar cattle fair, 70 km from Agra city.

 

The chief minister said Bateshwar cattle fair the biggest in UP, would be promoted on lines of Pushkar fair in Rajasthan. "For this all required assistance would be provided by the government," he promised.

 

The unique horse riding performances by six trained persons had the chief minister in awe and was all praise for the amazing display led by Awagarh's Rishi Raj Singh.

 

Akhilesh said fairs were a precious heritage and promoted cultural understanding while bridging gaps in society.

 

Bateshwar is famous for the 101 Shiva temples in a row along the bank of Yamuna. Also it is the birth place of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In a few months the new rail link will become operational.

 

The UP chief minister said a plan was being drawn up for renovation of all the temples and repair of the Yamuna ghats in Bateshwar which because of its proximity to Chambal crocodile and aligator sanctuary is emerging as a major tourist attraction.  He said Varanasi, Alahabad, Lucknow and Agra would be the new tourist arc and taken up on priority for developing heritage tourism. This arc would be joined by the Etawah lion safari park and  Bateshwar. Funds allocation will not be a hurdle