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JAIPUR: For a state that boasts of being the only one to have a cow ministry, there can’t be anything better than this to show its “love for bovines”. Rajasthan plans to launch a “cow safari” with grand plans that may put tiger safaris to shame. The Hingonia Gaushala on the outskirts of Jaipur will allow people to spend time among its nearly 15,000 cows.

Visitors will be able to watch the cows graze in the open land, feed them, clean them, massage them and milk them while temporarily residing at the state-run cow rehabilitation centre. The safari includes climb-up machan huts on trees where visitors can stay.

The safari, which is set to begin after Janmashtami, will take people on bullock carts through the muddy terrain and water bodies of the forest area housing the Hingonia Gaushala.

Tourism development was part of our memorandum of understanding with the state government. We have started the development of huts on trees and a wall around the forest area. While the cow safari will be free for visitors, tariff will be fixed for staying in the machan huts overnight. The project will be launched on Janmashtami,” said Radha Priya Das, in charge of Hingonia Gaushala.

Visitors will be able to interact with 30 breeds of desi cows, like Tharparkar, Rendi, Gir, Kankrej, Red Sindhi, Rathi, etc in. It would be an educational safari for visitors who will be informed about native cow breeds and their characteristics. Those interested will also be allowed to adopt a cow at the shelter.

The gaushala had hit headlines in 2016 when thousands of cows died within two months due to mismanagement by government authorities It was handed over to an NGO, which is now developing it as a breeding centre for desi cows. 30 bulls and 20 cows of the Tharparkar breed have been brought to the gaushala fromBikaner.

Once the cow safari gets going, the centre will start a “bull safari” as it has around 10,000 bulls on the adjoining land.

