Dharamsala residents ready to play hosts

Dharamsala: With fewer hotel rooms to accommodate thousands of Indian Premier League (IPL) fans, residents of the northern state of Himachal Pradesh will play hosts by throwing open their doors for visitors for the two IPL matches scheduled here today and on Saturday.

The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium, located at an altitude of 4,000 feet with the mighty snow-clad Dhauladhar range forming the backdrop, will host Kings XI Punjab's two home matches — expected to be watched by over 20,000 cricket fans, most of them from outside the state.

"Since this town [Dharamsala] is facing a shortage of hotels and we are expecting a good rush, we have asked the locals to throw open their doors to the visitors,' HPCA president Anurag Thakur said.

He said a few locals, mostly settled on the outskirts of the town, have volunteered to extend hospitality to the visiting fans by providing them boarding and lodging in their houses.

The town has 56 registered hotels and guest houses with a total bed capacity of 1,100.

Similarly, Mcleodganj, 8km from Dharamsala and the abode of Tibetan leader Dalai Lama, has around 91 registered hotels with a capacity to accommodate 1,000 people. But there is no five-star hotel in the vicinity of the town.

HPCA press secretary Mohit Sood said the HPCA got a good response from the locals, especially those in Naddi and Bhagsunag villages, the popular tourist destinations.