STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Winter series of one-day treks by Tawi Trekkers J&K got underway with 102 students, including 51 girls of Oriental Academy Senior Secondary School, Jammu participating in the short trek from Kattal Batal (five kms from Nagrota) to Aitham (seven kms short of Surinsar) via Bhaid Devta.
The group was led by president of the Club, Ram Khajuria. Principal of the participating School, Vivek Chauhan; senior members Sonam Sidharth and Suksham Verma and three teachers of the school, Arvinder Kaur, Sudesh Kumar and Pinki Sharma along with Ananjan Raghav, a member of the club, also accompanied the group.
The participants had a nice time enjoying the first three kilometers stroll from Kattal Batal to Bhed Devta. At Bhed Devta, the trekkers were thrilled to see large number of sacred fish in river Tawi which are worshiped here.
Further four kms of gentle ascent on a well laid out path amidst the charming pines and a streamlet was found to be even more attractive.
The participants enjoyed their refreshment of fresh fruits and juice at a point amidst the cool and serene streamlet which Tawi Trekkers has named Apple Point. All the students who were on their maiden trek fully enjoyed the trek from Bhed Devta to Aitham.
After having lunch at a View point at Aitham the trekkers proceeded to Surinsar lake and had a round of the beautiful lake. But they were a little dismayed to see the condition of the pathway around the lake which was badly broken at many places.
“The purpose of organising “One day Short trek Series” was to initiate children into ourdoor life and inculcate in them the spirit of adventure and love of nature. The purpose is also to promote heritage sites and lesser frequented beauty spots of Jammu like Mohore Garh, Dhergarh, Bhupnergarh, Purmandal and Bhed Devta by linking them for creating an adventure, heritage and pilgrimage circuit,” informed Ram Khajuria.
The ‘One Day Short Trek Series Programme’ in which about 2000 boys and girls are expected to participate during winter months is being organised by Tawi Trekkers J&K with active cooperation of local institutions and in collaboration with Mountaineering Association of J&K under the patronage of J&K Sports Council.