He gave up a govt job to follow passion for Ladakh
Monday, Oct 28, 2013, 0:44 IST | Place: Pune | Agency: DNA
DNA Correspondent
Parab toured Ladakh for more than 400 times to promote tourism, was feted in Pune
Atmaram Parab (left) being felicitated by historian Ninad Bedekar in Pune
Atmaram Parab (left) being felicitated by historian Ninad Bedekar in Pune - Shailendra Paranjpe/DNA
Atmaram Parab, who has visited Ladakh for hundred times alone and has made more than four hundred trips to the place to promote tourism, was felicitated by Eklavya Nyas in Pune on Saturday evening. Earlier, he has been felicitated thrice by Jammu and Kashmir government for promoting Ladakh as a tourist destination.
Parab said that he had visited Ladakh for the first time in 1995 with a group of seven motorcyclists. He fell in love with the place and toured again and again.
He said, “Initially, I used to narrate enthusiastically about Ladakh to others. Later, I started taking other people there and eventually I started my own tourism company to Ladakh.”
Parab informed he takes tourist to Ladakh during the Independence Day and to Kargil on Kargil Diwas (July 26). He also makes tour to Ladakh to celebrate Raksha Bandhan with defence personnel deployed at the border.
Eklavya Nyas, a trust working for destitute children organised the programme, during which historian Ninad Bedekar felicitated Parab for his contributions. Moreover, the second edition of the book `Ladakh Pravas Ajun Suru Aahe’ (Ladakh Journey is still on), penned by software consultant Narendra Prabhu, based on Parab’s journey to Ladakh was released at the programme. Parab is associated with Eklavya Nyas for last 23 years.
He informed dna that he had left his job as a customs officer in 2005 to take up tourism as full-time career. Till now he has taken 6,500 tourists to Ladakh. He also started winter tourism in Ladakah when the temperature dips down to -10 to -15 degrees Celsius.
