Jharkhand Tourism Conclave and Culinary Expedition 2026, organised by IHM Ranchi, has brought together chefs, tourism experts, and policymakers to highlight the state’s tribal heritage, indigenous cuisine, and emerging tourism potential.
The Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Ranchi has launched the three-day Jharkhand Tourism Conclave and Culinary Expedition 2026, a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at positioning Jharkhand as a distinctive tourism destination through its natural landscapes, tribal culture, and rich culinary traditions.
Being held from September 24 to 26 under the theme “Destination Jharkhand: From Hidden Gem to Global Attraction,” the conclave seeks to create greater awareness about the state’s tourism assets while promoting culinary tourism as a key driver of destination development.
The event commenced with a flag-off ceremony at Hotel Birsa Vihar in Ranchi, where Naman Priyesh Lakra, Tourism Director, Government of Jharkhand, formally flagged off a culinary expedition to Chengjora Heritage Village in Ghatshila. The ceremony was attended by senior tourism officials, hospitality leaders, hotel representatives, and culinary experts from across the country.
Among those present were Prem Ranjan, Managing Director, Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC); Rajiv Kumar, Deputy Director, Tourism Department and General Manager, JTDC; Yogesh Kumar, General Manager, Ramada Ranchi; Sapnil Kalkar, General Manager, Radisson Blu Ranchi; and Dr. Bhupesh Kumar, Principal, IHM Ranchi.
The culinary expedition has brought together an impressive lineup of chefs and gastronomic experts, including Chef Pranay Kumar Singh, Chef Manish Kumar Malhotra, Chef Dhruv Oberoi, Anubhav Sapra, Chef Nishant Choubey, Chef Nishikant, Chef Vaibhav Bhargava, Jyoti Shukla, Anurag Yadav, Praveen Raman, Chef Asit Kundu, Chef Joy Dhabal Dev, and Dr. Ashish Dahiya.
The first day of the programme focuses on Chengjora Heritage Village, where participants are experiencing the culinary traditions of the Santhal and Ho tribal communities. The programme includes exposure to indigenous grains, seasonal forest produce, local vegetables, wild fruits, traditional spices, and food preservation practices passed down through generations.
Participants are also taking part in village walks, tribal cuisine tastings, live cooking demonstrations, culinary knowledge-sharing sessions, and cultural performances featuring traditional folk music and dance.
On the second day, the delegation will explore the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary landscape, including guided experiences highlighting medicinal plants and indigenous food resources. The itinerary also includes a visit to Dassam Falls, where experts will discuss the growing linkages between nature-based tourism, local food systems, and destination branding.
Speaking at the inauguration, Naman Priyesh Lakra lauded the initiative and underscored the importance of promoting indigenous food traditions as part of the state’s tourism identity.
“Initiatives of this nature will help provide wider recognition to local cuisines, indigenous ingredients and traditional knowledge systems. Such efforts can also contribute towards ensuring that the benefits of tourism development reach local communities and strengthen Jharkhand’s identity as a distinctive tourism destination,” he said.
Highlighting the vision behind the programme, Dr. Bhupesh Kumar, Principal, IHM Ranchi, said the conclave aims to present Jharkhand’s culture, cuisine, and natural beauty as an interconnected tourism experience.
“The initiative aims to present Jharkhand’s natural beauty, tribal heritage and culinary traditions as an integrated tourism experience. The expedition to Chengjora Heritage Village, Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary and Dassam Falls will provide participating chefs and culinary professionals an opportunity to understand the state’s natural environment, local lifestyle and traditional food practices closely,” he said.
He added that the conclave will also facilitate discussions on tourism infrastructure, destination branding, marketing strategies, adventure tourism, and culinary tourism opportunities, paving the way for stronger collaboration between the hospitality and tourism sectors.
As states across India increasingly leverage food culture to attract travellers, the Jharkhand Tourism Conclave and Culinary Expedition represent a significant effort to place the state’s tribal cuisine and indigenous heritage on the national tourism map.
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