Desi City Guide for Las Vegas

Sin City - Las Vegas, also called Resort city, is a relatively a new city built in the middle of the desert of Nevada. The constructions of the Hoover Dam, the legalization of gambling and the opening of the luxurious El Rancho Vegas resort have propelled it to become the Entertainment capital of the World. There are more than 35 wedding chapels and with Nevada’s lenient regulations, about 150,000 couples get married every year making Las Vegas as the wedding capital of the world.

South Asians, largely constitute about 5.5% of the 583,756 residents of Las Vegas. The South Asian community in Las Vegas is fairly sparse as compared to the other cities and states of the U.S.The economy is largely driven by tourism and gaming and consequently the retail and restaurant industries have grown and contributed to the growth. The city is a popular destination for production of  films and television programs,South Asian movies are shot here too. Efforts are being made to diversify the economy from tourism by attracting light manufacturing, banking, due to high demands in commercial interests.

DESI ATTRACTIONS IN LAS VEGAS

The major attractions in Las Vegas are the casinos and restaurants on the Las Vegas Boulevard, known as the Las Vegas Strip. The city houses nearly 160 high-rises, 42 of them more than 400 feet. The tallest tower is The Stratosphere tower, which rises to about 1,149 feet. MGM Grand Hotel and Casino is another famous monument that was the first of its kind. Other must visits nearby are Mt. Charleston, Hoover dam and Red Rock Canyon.  There is a mall with a Viva vision canopy, where unique glittering light shows are performed every hour from 8.30 pm to midnight. Other attractions are Musical fountain shows at Bellagio, Neon museum, Botanical gardens, Flamingo gardens, Lion habitats and China town. The Desi’s  love entertainment so these are a must visit for them.

Preview Thursdays and First Fridays are festivals conducted every month where artists get to showcase their work, and new gallery exhibitions. Helldorado Days is an annual festival of parade, carnival and rodeo, based on the cowboy theme. This the time a prospective Desi  tourist should visit

There are about 1700 casinos, and 197,441 slot machines in the city. For those who would like  other activities  can consider- roller coaster rides, X-Scream rides, Indoor skydiving, and helicopter tours. Las Vegas comes to life at night, clubs are open till 4 AM, music is played all night and shows run till midnight. The charm of night  life is a reason why South Asians flock to Las Vegas for a Desi experience.

There are few South Asian retuarents in Las Vegas.Favored transportation is the RTC transit, a bus transportation system providing services throughout the city.  Strip & Downtown Express takes travelers through Downtown Las Vegas, the Strip, the Las Vegas Convention Center, and Town Square. This is a very Desi attraction.