Alipurduar, Sept. 13 -- Kayaking has made its debut in Alipurduar with a two-day workshop on the Kaljani River, offering a new avenue for adventure tourism in the district. The workshop, which concluded on Sunday, was attended by 30 participants from different parts of West Bengal.
The workshop was organised by Rovers and Mountaineers Club (RMC) with support from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF), East Zone. The trainees were taught the use of life jackets, how to handle a fall from a kayak, maintain a safe position in the current and respond to emergencies.
While the Dooars is known for jungle and elephant safaris and trekking, river-based adventure activities remain largely unexplored. The organisers said kayaking could add a new dimension to tourism in the district. RMC joint general secretary Sanjit Roy said kayaking bases could be developed on the Kaljani, Torsa, Raidak and Sankosh rivers with proper planning, trained guides and adequate safety arrangements.
IMF East Zone secretary Pallab Das said Alipurduar has "considerable potential" for kayaking and noted that the sport also helps participants learn how to respond during disasters.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.