Naldehra: Set in a picturesque glade at a height of 2,044 metres, a century-old nine-hole golf course in the Himalayan foothills in northern India is set for a complete makeover to bring it up to international standards.

The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC), which runs the golf course, has conceptualised a Rs.50 million ($1.2 mn) project to add to its fairways and greens and add other facilities to attract high-end tourists, especially foreigners.

There are even plans to construct a helipad at Naldehra, 22 km from state capital Shimla, and to operate helicopter services to the golf course from the Annandale helipad here.

"Over the years, golf has emerged as the most vital segment of the tourism industry and we are working overtime to get our share of the pie," HPTDC managing director Ram Subhag Singh told IANS.

The golf course owes its existence to Lord Curzon, who, when he was Viceroy, fell in love with the place and decided to develop the huge natural glade, surrounded by cedars, into a golf course. So enchanted was Curzon by the place that he gave his daughter Alexandra "Naldehra" as her second name.

As part of the re-development, work is under way to realign the Shimla-Tattpani state highway that winds its way through the golf course. The highway will now skirt the golf course and its length will be about 1.30 km.