Dehradun:-Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board is hosting the 3-day grandeur ‘Ganga Kayak Festival’ organized by ‘The Adventure Sports Society’ with the aim to promote adventure tourism in the state. The event commenced yesterday swooning the visitors and participants with a wide range of adventure tourism activities. The first day of the event was filled with Kayak sprint competitions which were inaugurated by MLA Ritu Khanduri Bhooshan.

Tourism Minister, Mr. Satpal Maharaaz said “Ganga Kayak Festival is an international competition which hosts a wide range of participants and I am sure that these activities will level up adventure tourism in the state and put Uttarakhand on the world map for ideal adventure tourism destination”.

Secretary Tourism, Dilip Jawalkar said “. For the last few years, we are constantly working to develop infrastructure to promote adventure tourism in Uttarakhand. Ganga Kayak Festival is being organized with the motive to bring all the adventure enthusiasts together and witness the thrilling rush that Uttarakhand has to offer.”

The winners of the Kayak sprint competition and Giant Slalom were also felicitated today. In the sprint competition Sanjay Singh Rana, Kuldeep Singh and Rishi Rana were announced first, second and third respectively in the men’s category. Naina Adhikari, Nidhi Bhardwaj and Priyanka Rana were announced first, second and third respectively in the women’s category. In the Giant slalom competition Vijay Thapa, Ashish Rawat and Daman Singh were announced first, second and third respectively in the men's category. Priyanka Rana, Naina Adhikari and Nidhi Bhardwaj were announced first, second and third respectively in the women's category. The event also witnessed participants across India. Kunga from Ladakh, Suman Tamang from Nepal, Nidhi Bhardwaj from Delhi, Rishabh Thakkar from Mumbai participated in the competition. A total of 73 contestants participated in the competition out of which 63 were from Uttarakhand.

Bheem Singh Chauhan, President, Harendra Rawat and Vishal Bhandari, Secretary and Sandeep Rana, Treasurer from The Adventure Sports Society were also present at the event.