AHMEDABAD, SEPTEMBER 12– The Department of Tourism, Jammu and Kashmir today organized a Road Show at Ahmedabad with a view to promote Jammu and Kashmir as all season tourist destination.
Director Tourism, Jammu led a delegation of officials and Tour and Travel Operators and prominent hoteliers from Jammu and Kashmir to showcase the tourist potential destinations of Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief Executive Officer, Sonamarg Development Authority, Mr Shabir Ahmad Bhat and Deputy Director Publicity Mr Sushil Kumar Attri, were also part of the delegation.
They had an extensive interaction with the Tour and Travel Operators from Ahmedabad and announced 40% discount on accommodation during autumn season both in the J&K TDC owned and private sector accommodations.
The media and tour and travel operators were informed that Jammu and Kashmir’s world famous destinations like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg, Yousmarg, Aharbal, Kokernag, Verinag, Lolab Valley besides other destinations of historical and heritage importance have world class tourist infrastructure for the comfortable stay of the tourists. These destinations are famous for leisure and adventure tourism activities round the year. They were told that Kashmir is an ideal destination for MICE tourism and told about the world class convention centre on the banks of world famous Dal Lake which provides a unique place for organizing corporate conventions and conferences.
It was further informed that with the existing world class Royal Springs Golf Course at Srinagar and the upcoming Jammu Tawi Golf Course, Jammu and Kashmir will soon become a Golf Circuit for the Golfers in the coming days.
The J&K delegation also gave a detailed resume of tourist destinations of Jammu and told the gathering about Patnitop, a most popular hill resort of Jammu region located at a distance of 112 Km from Jammu and 87 Km from Katra and 2024 meters above the Sea Level perched on a beautiful plateau across which the Jammu-Srinagar Highway passes. They were informed about the sprawling meadows and thick forests of Deodar and Kail trees spread around Patnitop.
The delegation also informed about the Dam site of Baglihar Hydro-Electric project situated at a distance of 10 kms from Patnitop and availability of good quality accommodation in hotels, guest houses, J&K Tourism Development Corporation’s luxury huts in the area.
They were also told about other places of tourist interest like Sanasar lake – 18 Kms from Patnitop, which is surrounded by deodar trees and 9-hole Golf Course and is famous for adventure activities like Paragliding, trekking, skiing, zorbing etc, Sudh-Mahadev – the highly revered Shiva temple located at a distance of 43 Kms from Patnitop.
Giving details about the Sudh- Mahadev pilgrimage, the gathering was told about Gouri Kund, just short of Sudh Mahadev.
The legend has it that after bathing at a spring the Goddess Parvati would worship the Shivling here that is believed to be at least 3000 years old. “A few Kms further ahead of Sudh Mahadev is Mantalai where one can visit a complex created by Late Swami Dhirendra Brahamchari” they were tol further. The State Government has now planned to develop Manatali into an “International Yoga Centre” the stakeholders were told .
The delegation also informed about Bhaderwah valley known as “Chhota Kashmir” which offers the tourists a variety of beautiful landscapes, colourful local fairs, joyous festival moods and a unique mosaic of culture. Meadows of Seoj, Chinta Valley, Jai Valley, Kailash Kund are the places which one must not miss. Besides this, places of interest like Shahadra Sharief, Mangla Mata, Mangla Devi, Nangali Sahib, Budha Amarnath, Tata Pani in Poonch and Rajouri Districts are worth seeing.