Minister of State Indranil Naik Visits Various Sites During Mahabaleshwar Tour

Satara : Indranil Naik, Minister of State for Tourism, Industry, Public Works, Higher and Technical Education, Tribal Development, and Soil and Water Conservation, was on an official tour of Mahabaleshwar. During his visit, he inspected the Honey Museum and Sales Centre, as well as the Regional Office of the Maharashtra State Khadi and Village Industries Board. He also explored the scenic natural surroundings and ancient temples of Mahabaleshwar.

The minister first visited the Panchganga Temple, where five rivers converge, offering prayers and inspecting the temple premises. He then visited the ancient Mahabaleshwar Temple, known for its Hemadpanthi architectural style and its reverence as an old Shiva temple. He also offered prayers at the Krishnamai Temple, situated at the origin of the Krishna River.

Following these spiritual visits, Naik toured the Madhusagar Centre, which houses a honey museum and sales outlet. He also visited the Directorate of Honey, established to boost the honey industry, where he gathered insights on honey production, marketing, and collection. He interacted with local producers to encourage honey-related businesses and promote local products.

To support rural industries and empower local artisans, the Maharashtra State Khadi and Village Industries Board was set up. Minister Naik visited its regional office in Mahabaleshwar and reviewed the products made through khadi and village industries.

Speaking on the occasion, he stated, “Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani are popular hill stations that attract countless tourists from across India and abroad each year. In a similar manner, the Tourism Department is focused on branding other destinations across Maharashtra to increase tourist footfall. This visit was part of that larger study and effort.”

Also present during the tour were Mahabaleshwar Tehsildar Mrs. Tejaswini Khochare Patil, Vishal Jadhav, Talathi Sagar Shinde, and other local officials.