When you hear the word Ladakh, most likely the thing that comes to your mind is an adventurous road trip in arguably one of the most beautiful places in India. Now, what if we told you that people from Bihar can visit Ladakh without paying the extremely high travel costs? You’d say, “How is that possible?” Well, you’d be surprised to know that the Bihar Government has announced a new scheme under which eligible residents can receive financial assistance of up to Rs 20,000 for their Ladakh trip.
Recently, the Bihar Cabinet has approved the new Sindhu Darshan Pilgrimage Financial Assistance Grant Scheme. Under this scheme, residents of Bihar who travel to Ladakh for the Sindhu Darshan pilgrimage can claim reimbursement for a part of their travel expenses. Along with this announcement, the state government has also approved new helicopter tourism services within Bihar as part of its broader push to promote tourism.
The new scheme was approved during a Bihar Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. It has been introduced after the Bihar Tourism Department proposed providing financial assistance to people wishing to visit Ladakh.
Under this scheme, eligible applicants will receive either 50 percent of their total travel expenses or Rs 20,000, whichever is lower. However, this is not an advance payment. Pilgrims will first have to complete their journey to Ladakh and only then apply for reimbursement. After verification, the government will release the eligible amount.
The government believes that the high cost of travelling to Ladakh has prevented many people from making the pilgrimage. So, with this financial assistance, more residents of Bihar are expected to visit the region and experience its cultural and historical significance.
The Bihar Government has also laid down a number of eligibility conditions for the scheme. First of all, the applicant must be a permanent resident of Bihar. The scheme is meant only for people living in the state and cannot be availed of by residents of other states.
Secondly, the applicant must be at least 18 years old. Minors will not be eligible for financial assistance. Another important condition is that the journey has to be completed before applying for the grant. Since this is a reimbursement scheme, the applicants will have to submit proof of travel and other required documents after returning from Ladakh.
The government has also placed an annual limit on the scheme. During the initial phase, only 100 pilgrims every year will receive the financial assistance. More detailed information regarding the application process and required documents is expected to be announced by the Bihar Tourism Department in the coming weeks.
Now, you may be wondering why the Government of Bihar is helping people with their Ladakh trip, right? Well, most people know Ladakh as one of India’s most popular tourist destinations and a favourite among road trip enthusiasts. It is important to note that it also holds immense religious and cultural importance.
The Sindhu, or Indus River, is regarded as one of the foundations of India’s civilisation and cultural heritage. Every year, the Sindhu Darshan Festival is celebrated at Sindhu Ghat near Leh to honour the river. So, with the help of this scheme, the Bihar Government aims to encourage more people to experience this important pilgrimage.
In recent years, travelling to Ladakh has also become much easier. The road connectivity has improved a lot and has made the region more accessible than ever before for both tourists and pilgrims.
Apart from the Ladakh grant, the Bihar Cabinet has also approved several initiatives to boost tourism within the state. New helicopter services will connect Patna with Rajgir, Kaimur, and Valmikinagar. The fares have been fixed at Rs 4,000 for Rajgir, Rs 6,000 for Kaimur, and Rs 5,000 for Valmikinagar per passenger. The government will also introduce helicopter joy rides in Patna. These flights will last around 10 minutes and will cost Rs 2,100 per person.
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