Jhalana safari booking price lowered, tourists heave a sigh of relief
Earlier tourist had to book a gypsy that cost them nearly Rs 25,00 irrespective of the number of persons who wanted to visit the park in a vehicle. Now the price has become very cost effective for tourists visiting alone or with a couple of friends.
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Image credit: Post Staff
Jaipur: The booking price for Jhalana jungle safari in Jaipur has been lowered amid the protest against exorbitant entry fee that the tourists were being made to pay. Now the forest department will charge only Rs 250 per person.
Earlier tourist had to book a gypsy that cost them nearly Rs 25,00 irrespective of the number of persons who wanted to visit the park in a vehicle. Now the price has become very cost effective for tourists visiting alone or with a couple of friends.
Forest minister Gajendra Singh Khinwsar had directed the forest department officials to lower the booking price. He had received many complaints regarding the entry fee being exorbitant.
Despite getting the orders, the forest department officials didn’t decrease the entry fee. The minister took a tough stand and asked the officials again to comply with the orders immediately following which the park’s entry fee was lowered.
Now each tourist will be charged Rs 250.
“Earlier whether a tourist is alone or is visiting the park in a group, he or she would need to hire a gypsy for Rs 25,00, but the rates have now been revised. Now the price will be based on individual visitor, not the vehicle,” said a forest department officer.
The minister said that the entry to these wildlife destinations should be affordable so that more and more people could visit these sites.
“It will increase awareness about wildlife among people,” said the minister.
The minister has also set a limit of four gypsies and 20 people in each shift.
Forest department had in April last year banned tourists from taking their own vehicles into the jungle. They now have to hire gypsies to be provided by a private contractor. A gypsy can accommodate a maximum of six people. The gypsy charge was Rs 19,00, while the entry fee for each tourist was Rs 50.
Prior to the ban on private vehicles, tourists were charged Rs 350 to take their own cars into the park. Besides, the forest department charged Rs 100 and Rs 800 per person as entry fee for domestic and foreign tourists respectively.
