Ranchi, Sep. 24 : The three-day Jharkhand Tourism Conclave and Culinary Expedition 2026 began here on Thursday under the aegis of the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Ranchi, with a focus on showcasing the state’s natural beauty, tribal heritage, traditional cuisine and tourism potential.
Held on the theme “Destination Jharkhand: From Unexplored Gems to Global Tourism Attractions”, the event aims to promote Jharkhand’s diverse tourism offerings on national and international platforms.
Tourism Department Director Naman Priyes Lakra flagged off the culinary expedition team from Hotel Birsa Vihar in Ranchi for Chengjora Heritage Village in Ghatshila.
Lakra appreciated the initiative and said efforts to document and promote local cuisines and traditional knowledge could help provide greater recognition to indigenous food practices while creating livelihood and employment opportunities in rural areas.
IHM Ranchi Principal Dr Bhupesh Kumar said the programme seeks to present the state’s rich cultural heritage through an integrated tourism experience, bringing together food, traditional knowledge, nature and local communities.
Culinary Expedition
On the first day, a team of expert chefs will visit Chengjora to study the traditional food knowledge of the Santhal and Ho communities. The programme will cover forest produce, roots and tubers, as well as traditional food preservation techniques.
On the second and third days, the team will visit Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary and Dassam Falls for sessions on medicinal plants and culinary tourism.
The expedition features several chefs and experts, including Pranay Kumar Singh, Manish Kumar Malhotra, Dhruv Oberoi, Nishant Choubey, Vaibhav Bhargava, Dr Ashish Dahiya and Shireen Mehrotra.
JharÂkhand Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Prem Ranjan, Deputy Director Rajiv Kumar, Yogesh Kumar and Sapnil Kalkar were among those present at the inaugural programme.
