Holiday the military way
The initiative by the Maharashtra Ex-servicemen Corporation (MESCO) is a unique concept will encourage civilians to explore various facets of the defence mechanism of India and its evolution. By Supriya Aggarwal
The pride of uniform, calculated body language, the sense of guarding the Indian borders, fighter planes, submarines…all of this and more have always intrigued the Indian citizens, especially the ones who do not belong to the defence background. But you can experience the military life with Veer Yatra, a military tourism initiative by MESCO. In this month of Independence, we celebrate the glory and might of Indian defence forces and salute them for their bravery.
Veer Yatra offers the Indian citizens an opportunity to experience the brave and thrilling world of our heroic security forces up and close. There are numerous specially curated tours to enable the travellers to experience the excitement, the challenges and the triumphs of the men in uniform. The visits to the awe-inspiring military installations, naval bases, breathtaking monuments, armament displays and scintillating parades, challenging war games, mock rescue operations, gruelling adventure sports and stories of famous wars can give goosebumps to anyone. It is also a humble way to know about the legacies and sacrifices of the brave defence personnel who have devoted their lives to the security and peace of India.
This vacation head towards a Siddhi king at Fort Janjira, defend Raigad Fort against the Mughals or embark on a voyage of the military history of famous forts in the Konkan. Meet the war heroes and indulge in a heart-to-heart talk with their fascinating stories and bone-chilling experiences. Add some more thrill with military games, scrumptious Konkani food, campfires at colonial era guesthouses, river rafting, wildlife sightings and many more exciting adventures.
MESCO also plans to venture into border tourism, especially in the areas like Kargil, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and North East.
On the objective behind “Veer Yatra”, Col (Retd.) Suhas Jatkar, Managing Director of MESCO, said in a press conference that they have a large force of ex-servicemen who have lived in all border areas for a considerable period. “They’re in the best position to explain conditions prevailing in those areas and difficulties faced during their national duties. Our unique selling point is we also provide tourism with security and foreigners prefer it. Since, it’s a government enterprise with the chief minister of Maharashtra at the helm of affairs, we provide best of service at lowest cost.”
War memorials, border posts, naval bases, defence academies, Army workshops, army hospitals, army colleges, warfare art centres, war museums, air force stations and military hostels fall under the purview of Indian Military Tourism.
The initiative also aims to provide meaningful and gainful employment to ex-servicemen and army widows. It will also strengthen the emotional bonds between the military and the civilians, besides inculcating a spirit of patriotism among the youngsters. With India’s large military, long borders spread in ‘strategic’ and often picturesque sites in the country, it’s time to explore them with Military Tourism.
