Solan: Bahra University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism, located in Waknaghat, Solan, celebrated Tourism Week 2026 with a series of academic, cultural, and experiential events to mark World Tourism Day. The week-long programme focused on adventure tourism, environmental sustainability, culinary heritage, art, and artificial intelligence, offering students practical industry exposure beyond traditional classroom learning.
The university’s Catalyst Club organized an educational trekking expedition to Karol Tibba to give students practical insights into adventure tourism and eco-friendly travel practices. Throughout the trek, guided by Assistant Professors Varun Thakur and Ruchi Sharma, participants collected litter along the trail to emphasize the importance of environmental conservation in natural tourist destinations.
Art Contests and Culinary Feats Take Spotlight
Creative capabilities were highlighted through interdepartmental poster-making and wall-painting competitions. In the poster-making contest, Gauri took first place, Tenzin finished second, and Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM) student Hamza secured third. In the wall-painting category, BA students Husanpreet and Anshika claimed top honors. The sessions were evaluated by Soft Skills Trainer Ms. Harshita and Assistant Professor Ms. Priyanka.
A key highlight of the week was the recognition of Associate Professor Dr. Vaibhav Verma in the Limca Book of Records. In collaboration with the HimAnchal Chefs Association (HIMCA), Dr. Verma prepared 451 distinct variations of Siddu, a traditional Himachali steamed bread. Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap presented the honor, recognizing his effort to promote the state’s gastronomic heritage and regional culinary tourism.
Achievements in AI Film and Culinary Competitions
Bahra University students also competed at the ‘Him Virasat’ World Tourism Week event organized by Himachal Pradesh University’s Institute of Vocational Studies in Shimla. BHM third-semester students Kashish and Ritik secured third prize in an AI-Generated Short Film Competition, while MTTM students Sonam Palmo and Sahil Thakur represented the institution in the state-level quiz competition.
In addition, students demonstrated their culinary skill at the Himachal Culinary and Tourism Festival 2026 hosted by HIMCA. Mentored by Associate Professors Chef Ritik Kashyap and Chef Yashwant, student Joginder won a gold medal, while Stanzin bagged a silver medal.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) R. S. Nainta, Registrar Vineet Kumar, and Head of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Dr. Vikesh Kashyap congratulated the participants and faculty. They stated that experiential learning, technology integration, and cultural preservation remain vital components in preparing students for the modern global hospitality and tourism sector.
