FRI's eco-tourism potential remains to be explored

rajugusain

FRI's eco-tourism potential remains to be explored

Raju Gusain
Dehra Dun

If you think the Forest Research Institute (FRI) located here has just academic importance, think again. The FRI is a major tourist draw and can be promoted as an excellent center for eco-tourism. For this, however, co-ordination between the state and central governments is required.
In the last season (from March 2002 to April 2003) 56,589 tourists visited the FRI. Incidentally, the Institute's magnificent colonial era main building is the most photographed structure in the state capital. The Indian Military Academy's Chetwode building could have been a contender but for security reasons, it remains beyond the reach of most tourists.
The FRI is the premier institute for forestry and education in India. It is home to six forestry museums, one world-class herbarium and the vegetation inside the campus adds beauty by presenting a picture postcard like setting, making it every tourist's delight.
This heritage monument built in the Roman architectural style has not only attracted tourists but also a few filmmakers from Bollywood. A number of Hindi movies have been shot here. The latest was 'Rehna Hai Teri Dil Main', featuring Saif Ali Khan and Madhavan, in which the building was filmed as a college
The credit for designing the main building goes to CG Blomfield. It was inaugurated by the then Vicerory of India, Lord Irwin on 7 November, 1929.
The sprawling 1150 acre campus with a backdrop of the Shivalik hills offers a most picturesque location. Everyday, school children and tourists can be spotted in large numbers taking in the museums or strolling on the spacious lawns.
Dr. Padam Prakash Bhojvaid, Director of the Institute, says, "We can start battery operated buses to facilitate movement of tourists. A one-day itinerary can be chalked out, but for this we need start-up financial assistance from the state government."
For nature lovers, it's a divine experience to visit the FRI herbarium which contains 3,30,000 specimens and offers one of the richest collections of worldwide plants in the country.
The botanical garden located close to the herbarium is another treat as 30 percent of its plants are exotic. There are more than 30 varieties of Bamboo to lure any plant lover's heart.
The FRI remains open for tourists all round the year, except on festivals.
The six museums in the campus are gaining popularity with the rise in awareness amongst the public regarding environmental issues.
The social forestry museum deals with the effect of the environment. The pathology museum deals with important timber diseases, the silviculture museum with scientific management of forest, the timber museum with research in the field of timber, the non-wood forest products museum with products other than timber and the entomology museum with forest insects/pests causing damage to the wood.
For visitors, the convocation hall is a jaw opening wonder, as it is the largest wood paneled hall in the country.
Another facility that the Institute offers to visitors is the availability of 75-room guesthouse accommodation.
Uttaranchal is promoting itself as a tourism state and serious efforts need to be made to make the Forest Research Institute an ideal spot for eco-tourism.

Website: www.icfre.org
E-mail: singhp@icfre.org

Photo: The FRI's main building in Dehra Dun, styled on Roman architecture, also attracts filmmakers.

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Samsara

Thanks for the information, it looks very interesting.

Alan D

The FRI grounds in Dehra Dun is a great place to visit - nice buildings, peaceful, well kept grounds, a tremendous variety of trees and plants and not surprisingly an excellent place for bird-watching. Well worth a day or half day of anyone's time.

Shannon

How do you enter FRI? I lived literally across the street from the main entrance for 10 months, waited for vikrams at the gate almost every day, but could never figure out how to actually visit it. the gate was always locked without guards. I am headed back and would love to visit this time.

Thanks,
Shannon

rajugusain

The main gate remains open only on selected occassions but the other gate is open all round the clock.
Contact Mr. Paramjeet (PRO) at FRI. His phone numbers:
0135-2756359 (R) and 0135-2752925 (O)
Regards,
Raju Gusain

Shannon

Thank you, Raju! I'll check it out this time.

Shannon