In a significant initiative aimed at showcasing Jharkhand’s natural beauty, rich tribal culture, traditional cuisine and immense tourism potential on national and international platforms, the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) Ranchi will organise the Jharkhand Tourism Conclave & Culinary Expedition 2026 from 24 to 26 September 2026 under the theme “Destination Jharkhand: From Hidden Gem to Global Attraction.”

The three-day event is proposed to be organised in association with the Department of Tourism, Art, Culture, Sports & Youth Affairs, Government of Jharkhand; Department of Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Government of Jharkhand; Kalamandir, Chengjora, Ghatshila; and Canara Bank.

The Conclave will be an important initiative to bring Jharkhand’s tourism potential and culinary heritage onto a common platform. Renowned chefs, tourism experts, policymakers, hospitality industry representatives, culinary professionals, culinary influencers and academicians will participate in the event. Through a series of experiences and discussions, the programme will showcase the state’s natural and cultural diversity, tribal heritage, indigenous food traditions and potential for eco-tourism and adventure tourism.

Culinary Expedition: Exploring Jharkhand Through Its Food and Communities

As part of the Culinary Expedition, renowned chefs will visit Chengjora Heritage Village, Ghatshila, along with important tourism and heritage locations in the region. The participants will be introduced to the traditional food knowledge of the Santhal and Ho communities, including local grains, seasonal forest produce, indigenous vegetables, roots and tubers, forest fruits, local spices, and traditional methods of food preservation and processing.

The expedition will include village visits, live tribal cuisine experiences, demonstrations and tastings of traditional indigenous dishes, and live cooking demonstrations by master chefs. It will also facilitate knowledge exchange between professional chefs and local tribal cooks on traditional cooking techniques, seasonal cuisine, forest-based ingredients and preservation practices. Folk dance and music performances will further provide participants with an immersive experience of Jharkhand’s living cultural heritage.

On the second day of the Culinary Expedition, participants will experience the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary and Dalma landscape, including short hikes, natural and riverine landscapes, and an introduction to local plants and seasonal edible resources. This will be followed by a Culinary Tourism Experience at Dassam Falls, demonstrating how local cuisine can be integrated with nature-based tourism to create distinctive destination experiences.

Promoting Jharkhand’s Culinary Diplomacy

A major objective of the Conclave is to promote Jharkhand’s “culinary diplomacy” by positioning its regional and tribal cuisines on the global gastronomic map and strengthening collaboration among chefs, tourism organisations, the hospitality industry and the private sector.

The Conclave will also deliberate on maintaining a balance between tourism development, environmental conservation, rural development and preservation of cultural heritage. Expert sessions will focus on tourism branding and marketing, digital storytelling, content creation, tourism infrastructure, eco-resorts, sustainable tourism and public-private partnerships.

Discussions on adventure tourism will explore the potential of trekking, rock climbing, forest trails and water-based activities, along with safety standards and skill development, to strengthen Jharkhand’s position as an important adventure tourism destination in Eastern India.

Similarly, culinary tourism will be explored as a powerful medium for connecting Jharkhand’s rich tribal traditions, indigenous cuisine and distinctive flavours with travellers from India and across the world.

Through this initiative, culinary experts from across the country will gain first-hand exposure to Jharkhand’s local and tribal food traditions. Their interaction with local communities is expected to help bring greater national and international visibility to the state’s indigenous cuisine and culinary heritage.

Strategic Dialogue on Tourism Development

The third day of the Conclave will feature a Strategic Dialogue comprising major sessions on Tourism Infrastructure Development, Branding & Marketing, Adventure Tourism and Culinary Tourism. The sessions will examine strategies for strengthening tourism infrastructure, enhancing Jharkhand’s destination branding and connecting its local and tribal culinary heritage with meaningful tourism experiences.

For the session on Tourism Infrastructure Development, Shri Naman Priyesh Lakra, Director Tourism, will deliver the keynote address. The panel discussion will feature Shri Rajeev Chadha, Chadha Associates; Shri Pawan Bajaj, Hotel Ramada; Shri Manav Mukherjee, President, IATO; and Shri Vijay Shankar Dubey, DFO, who will share their perspectives and expertise.

The Branding & Marketing session will feature Dr. Shiv Mohan, Principal, IHM Dehradun, as the keynote speaker. The panel discussion will include Dr. Manisha Oraon; Shri Sapnil Kalkar, General Manager, Radisson Blu; Shri Amardeep Sahay, President, Travel Association of Jharkhand; and Shri Amitabh Ghosh, Kalamandir, Chengjora, Ghatshila.

The panel discussion on Adventure Tourism will feature Shri Ashish Budhia, Shri Gurpreet Singh and Shri Abhay Kumar, who will deliberate on opportunities for developing and promoting adventure tourism experiences in Jharkhand.

For the Culinary Tourism session, Dr. Ashish Dahiya, MDU Rohtak, will deliver the keynote address, followed by a panel discussion featuring Chef Pranay, Chef Nishant, Smt. Jyoti Shukla and Chef Manish Malhotra. The session will explore strategies for transforming Jharkhand’s indigenous food traditions, local ingredients and culinary heritage into distinctive tourism experiences.

Connecting Jharkhand’s Heritage with the Global Tourism Landscape

Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Bhupesh Kumar, Principal, IHM Ranchi, said:

“Jharkhand is blessed with abundant natural resources, vibrant tribal culture and a rich traditional culinary heritage. The objective of this Conclave is not merely to showcase these distinctive strengths, but to connect them with the global landscape of tourism, hospitality and gastronomy. Through the Culinary Expedition, renowned chefs and experts from across the country will directly engage with local communities and experience their traditional food culture. Our endeavour is to create greater recognition for Jharkhand’s indigenous cuisine, local ingredients and traditional culinary knowledge, while ensuring that tourism development also creates meaningful opportunities for local communities.”

“IHM Ranchi is committed to strengthening the interface between education and industry while contributing to the preservation and promotion of Jharkhand’s tourism and culinary heritage. The Jharkhand Tourism Conclave & Culinary Expedition 2026 will provide a platform for dialogue, collaboration and new ideas, and contribute meaningfully towards positioning Jharkhand as a distinctive global tourism destination.”