IHM Ranchi Organises Three-Day Jharkhand Tourism Conclave and Culinary Expedition 2026
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Tourism Director Shri Naman Priyesh Lakra Flags Off Culinary Expedition to Ghatshila
Ranchi, September 2026: The Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Ranchi, inaugurated the Jharkhand Tourism Conclave and Culinary Expedition 2026, a three-day event being held from September 24 to 26, 2026, under the theme “Destination Jharkhand: From Hidden Gem to Global Attraction.”
The initiative aims to showcase Jharkhand’s natural beauty, rich tribal heritage, traditional culinary practices, and tourism potential at national and international platforms.
The event commenced with a flag-off ceremony at Hotel Birsa Vihar, Ranchi, where Tourism Director, Government of Jharkhand, Shri Naman Priyesh Lakra, flagged off the culinary expedition to Chengjora Heritage Village and other tourist destinations in Ghatshila.
The ceremony was attended by Shri Prem Ranjan, Managing Director, Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC); Shri Rajiv Kumar, Deputy Director, Tourism Department and General Manager, JTDC; Shri Yogesh Kumar, General Manager, Ramada Ranchi; Shri Sapnil Kalkar, General Manager, Radisson Blu Ranchi; Dr. Bhupesh Kumar, Principal, IHM Ranchi; and several other dignitaries.
The culinary expedition brings together renowned chefs, culinary professionals, and tourism experts to gain an immersive understanding of Jharkhand’s indigenous food traditions, local ingredients, community practices, and culinary heritage. Participating experts include Chef Pranay Kumar Singh, Chef Manish Kumar Malhotra, Chef Dhruv Oberoi, Shri Anubhav Sapra, Chef Nishant Choubey, Chef Nishikant, Chef Vaibhav Bhargava, Ms. Jyoti Shukla, Shri Anurag Yadav, Shri Praveen Raman, Chef Asit Kundu, Chef Joy Dhabal Dev, and Dr. Ashish Dahiya, among others.
On the first day, the expedition team will visit Chengjora Heritage Village in Ghatshila to experience the traditional food knowledge and culinary practices of the Santhal and Ho communities. Participants will explore local grains, seasonal forest produce, indigenous vegetables, tubers, wild fruits, local spices, and traditional food preservation techniques.
Activities at the heritage village include a village walk, tribal cuisine experiences, food-tasting sessions, live cooking demonstrations by chefs, interactive knowledge-exchange sessions with local communities, and traditional folk dance and music performances.
On the second day, participants will visit Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary and the surrounding Dalma landscape, where they will undertake a short trekking experience and explore local medicinal and seasonal food plants. The expedition will then proceed to Dassam Falls for a dedicated culinary tourism experience highlighting the relationship between local cuisine, natural landscapes, and tourism.
Speaking on the occasion, Tourism Director Shri Naman Priyesh Lakra lauded the initiative undertaken by IHM Ranchi. He said such efforts would provide greater recognition to local cuisines, indigenous ingredients, and traditional knowledge systems while ensuring that the benefits of tourism development reach local communities. He further emphasized that these initiatives would strengthen Jharkhand’s identity as a distinct and attractive tourism destination.
Dr. Bhupesh Kumar, Principal, IHM Ranchi, stated that the initiative seeks to present Jharkhand’s natural beauty, tribal heritage, and culinary traditions as an integrated tourism experience. He noted that visits to Chengjora Heritage Village, Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, and Dassam Falls would provide chefs and culinary professionals with a deeper understanding of the state's environment, local lifestyle, and traditional food practices.
He further added that the conclave would serve as a platform for expert discussions on tourism infrastructure, destination branding and marketing, adventure tourism, and culinary tourism, contributing to the long-term promotion of Jharkhand as a leading tourism destination.
