Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: With sold-out events and a stellar campaign, Uttarakhand’s Nakshatra Sabha emerged as a pioneering step in astro-tourism and a lifeline for ghost villages set to shine again.
In a landmark initiative by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board in partnership with Starscapes, Nakshatra Sabha brought India’s pristine night skies to the centre of tourism.
Over the past year, this celestial campaign drew astrophiles across the length and breadth of India including some from as far as Norway, France, the US and the Middle East tourists, school children, scientists, influencers and even locals, who had never seen Saturn’s rings or the craters on the Moon before.
The result, a groundswell of interest in stargazing, citizen science and rural discovery, all rolled into a dynamic, inclusive tourism experience.
Spread across seven destinations including Mussoorie, Jageshwar, Takula at Nainital, Kartikswamy temple at Rudraprayag, Benital in Chamoli, Corbett and Pithoragarh, each edition of Nakshatra Sabha blended the magic of stargazing with storytelling, science and local heritage.
“Nakshatra Sabha is a one-of-a-kind starry experience curated by Starscapes-an initiative we at Magucho were truly thrilled to be a part of,” said acclaimed actress and former Miss India, Gul Panag.
“Nakshatra Sabha has ignited public imagination. It’s rare to find an initiative that combines science communication, heritage, and eco-tourism so effectively,” said Dr Dorje Angchuk, engineer at the Indian Astronomical Observatory and a known voice for astronomy outreach.
“This initiative has helped develop a new vertical, niche, sustainable tourism centred around astronomy. It’s immersive, low-impact and uniquely Uttarakhand,” said a spokesperson from the Uttarakhand Tourism Board.
At every location, the Sabhas collaborated with local homestays, artisans and eco-guides, generating income and awareness in communities often left out of mainstream tourism circuits.
The next phase of Nakshatra Sabha will focus on “ghost villages”abandoned or near-abandoned rural settlements in Uttarakhand, often emptied due to migration, lack of livelihood, or fading connectivity.
Uttarakhand is preparing to identify and designate some of these as official Dark Sky Villages, blending astro-tourism with rural revival.
From developing dark-sky policies to engaging with international bodies like IDA (International Dark Sky Association), Uttarakhand is poised to become India’s dark-sky capital, with Nakshatra Sabha as its glowing beacon.
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