Vintage Car Rally to promote cultures, traditions of India and Bhutan

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, Siliguri, 6 Nov 2015: In order to highlight the cultures and traditions of India and Bhutan, a group of overseas tour operators, tourism stakeholders including writers have converged in Siliguri to organise an Indo-Bhutan Vintage Car Rally. There are 40 participants in all, 15 among them female. 

The rally will start from Siliguri on Saturday where one can feast upon 20 vintage cars built between 1927 and 1929. The event is being organised by an association of car owners based in New Zealand and the participants are from the US, the Netherlands, Australia, Poland, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and many more countries. 

Photos: TT

Rally coordinator Heidi Winterborn said, "We have organised the rally to learn about the cultures, traditions, foods and lifestyle of India and Bhutan and will share them with the world.” On Friday the cars were taken for a test drive to the hills in Darjeeling along NH 55. 

The rally will cover almost 5,000km from Siliguri to Bhutan, the dragon country. During the event, the participants will halt at several villages, towns and meet people to learn and exchange culture, tradition and many more. 

Raj Basu, convener of Help Tourism, Siliguri said the rally will promote tourism and help attract international tourists. He noted it is a good move to promote culture and tradition and is highly appreciable.