Tourism Director Shri Naman Priyesh Lakra Flags Off Culinary Expedition to Ghatshila

Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Ranchi organised the inaugural ceremony of the Jharkhand Tourism Conclave and Culinary Expedition 2026, being held from 24 to 26 September 2026, with the theme “Destination Jharkhand: From Hidden Gem to Global Attraction.” The three-day initiative seeks to showcase Jharkhand’s natural beauty, rich tribal heritage, traditional culinary practices and tourism potential at the national and international level.

The event commenced with a flag-off ceremony at Hotel Birsa Vihar, Ranchi, where Tourism Director, Government of Jharkhand, Shri Naman Priyesh Lakra, flagged off the culinary expedition to Chengjora Heritage Village and tourist destination in Ghatshila. The ceremony was graced by Shri Prem Ranjan, Managing Director, Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC), Shri Rajiv Kumar, Deputy Director, Tourism Department and General Manager, JTDC, Shri Yogesh Kumar, General Manager, Ramada Ranchi, Shri Sapnil Kalkar, General Manager, Hotel Radisson Blu Ranchi, Dr. Bhupesh Kumar, Principal, IHM Ranchi and other dignitaries.

The culinary expedition brings together chefs, culinary professionals and tourism experts to provide an immersive understanding of Jharkhand’s indigenous food traditions, local ingredients, community practices and culinary heritage. The participating culinary experts include Chef Pranay Kumar Singh, Chef Manish Kumar Malhotra, Chef Dhruv Oberoi, Shri Anubhav Sapra, Chef Nishant Choubey, Chef Nishikant, Chef Vaibhav Bhargava, Ms. Jyoti Shukla, Shri Anurag Yadav, Shri Praveen Raman, Chef Asit Kundu, Chef Joy Dhabal Dev and Dr. Ashish Dahiya, among others.

On the first day, the expedition team will visit Chengjora Heritage Village in Ghatshila to experience the traditional food knowledge and culinary practices of the Santhal and Ho communities. The programme will provide exposure to local grains, seasonal forest produce, indigenous vegetables, tubers, wild fruits, local spices and traditional food preservation techniques. The programme at the heritage village will include a village walk, live tribal cuisine experience, food tasting sessions, live cooking demonstrations by chefs, interaction for exchange of traditional culinary knowledge, and traditional folk dance and music performances.

On the second day, the participants will visit Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary and the Dalma landscape, including a short hiking experience and an exploration of local medicinal and seasonal food plants. The expedition will thereafter proceed to Dassam Falls, where a dedicated culinary tourism experience will showcase the linkages between local cuisine, natural landscapes and tourism.

Speaking on the occasion, Tourism Director Shri Naman Priyes Lakra appreciated the initiative undertaken by IHM Ranchi. He stated that initiatives of this nature would help provide wider recognition to local cuisines, indigenous ingredients and traditional knowledge systems. Such efforts can also contribute towards ensuring that the benefits of tourism development reach local communities and strengthen Jharkhand’s identity as a distinctive tourism destination.

Dr. Bhupesh Kumar, Principal, IHM Ranchi, said that the initiative aims to present Jharkhand’s natural beauty, tribal heritage and culinary traditions as an integrated tourism experience. He said that the expedition to Chengjora Heritage Village, Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary and Dassam Falls would provide participating chefs and culinary professionals an opportunity to understand the State’s natural environment, local lifestyle and traditional food practices closely. He further stated that the conclave would facilitate expert discussions on tourism infrastructure, branding and marketing, adventure tourism and culinary tourism.