Mirik sunrise view point

BIRESWAR BANERJEE, TT, Jun 05, 2018, Siliguri: Tourists visiting Mirik will soon have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the sunrise from a vantage point and move into areas where new facilities would come up in the tiny hill town.

The Trinamul-run civic body in Mirik has drawn up plans to come up with new attractions and pull tourists. As of now, the town is mostly known for Sumendu Lake and tea plantations nearby.

The civic body is working to develop a site at Kawleygaon, located 3km from the town, said elected representatives.

"We have planned to develop the town under the Green City Mission and have submitted a detailed project report to the state municipal affairs department. We have started the landscaping of the banks of the lake and working for sunrise point at Kawleygaon," said L.B. Rai, the chairman of the municipality.

The other projects include illumination of streets, a swimming pool and parks in all nine wards of the town.

In total, around Rs 30 crore would be spent on the projects, said the civic chairman.

Located around 50km from Mirik, the town attracts thousands of tourists every year. But most of them pay daily visits while ascending to or descending from Darjeeling and other destinations.

"A new sunrise point, which is adjacent to the town has been planned to encourage tourists to spend a night or two here. The landscaping of the lake, with an open theatre next to it and illumination across the town, can also bring in more tourists for a nightstay," said a tour operator in Mirik.

They also have plans to rope in local folk artistes to perform at the theatre in the evening hours. "This would be a new entertainment for the tourists," he added.

As of now, tourists mainly flock to Darjeeling to view the sunrise.