Visakhapatnam :

Around 1,000 outstation delegates (both Indian and foreigners), who are set to make the City of Destiny their ‘home’ during the International Fleet Review (IFR) slated to be held from February 4 to 8, would be put up at around a dozen hotels in the city.

The delegates would also be treated to traditional Indian dishes wherever the Indian Navy hosts official banquets. They would also get a taste of international cuisines in the star hotels.

According to highly-placed sources in the Indian Navy, almost all star hotels (three-star and above) have been booked for the IFR delegates. All the senior naval officers of the admiral and vice-admiral ranks would be accommodated in the five-star hotels, especially those dotting the Beach Road while other delegates would be kept in three and four star hotels.

As for the cuisine, traditional Indian food from different states would be served during the official banquets including the opening and closing ceremonies as well as presidential and prime ministerial banquets. “Hyderabadi biryani, nawabi and Punjabi dishes, besides Andhra and other South Indian food are on the menu. Some of the Indian cuisines would be available at IFR villages too,” said the source, adding that Araku coffee and ‘khadi’ as a traditional fabric would also be promoted during the mega event.

A district tourism official also revealed that a special traditional lunch would be dished out to 300 delegates at an APTDC resort while they tour the tribal belt at Tyda-Ananthagiri and Borra Caves. Tribal dance would also be showcased to them at lunch time.