Humaira Bano
Bangus is part of a unique biological environment that includes mountain & grasslands with flora, Taiga, or Coniferous woodland and is only 48 kilometres from District Headquarters, Kupwara. The Valley is situated in Handwara, District Kupwara, as gorgeous as Gulmarg & Pahalgam but less spoilt and cleaner. This Valley is abundant in natural greenery and wildflowers. This region has remained untouched for many years, yet it is currently emerging as among Kashmir’s most fascinating locations.
The verdant meadows and lovely hills are two main reasons Bangus Valley is so popular with tourists. The abundance of lush flora in the form of coniferous trees contributes to the Valley’s natural charm. Bangus Valley appears to be a young bloom blossoming into a magnificent flower throughout the summer. The existence of streams & seasonal rivers enhances the Valley’s charm. During the winter season, however, the entire world of Bangus Valley is blanketed in white carpets of snow, transforming the Valley into a paradise of white splendor. Everything is blanketed in snow, from trees to plains, hills to streams
The valley which lies at an altitude of around 10,000 ft. above sea level is in the northern part of district Kupwara within the Handwara sub District. Just 48 km from District Headquarters, Kupwara, situated in the lap of Himalayan mountains, bangus is part of a unique ecological area, comprising mountain and grassland with flora, Taiga, or Coniferous forest. Bangus Valley has three routes through which people can reach the place, one is from the Mawer side of Handwara, the second one is from the Rajwar side of Handwara and the third one is from Chowkibal, Kupwara. After years of planning, Bangus was recently made motorable via the Mawer route while work is in full swing on the Chowkibal and Rajwar routes. It is high altitude and unpredictable weather conditions were a huge obstacle but the administration has materialized this project in a short period. Until two years ago, the valley was not an easy destination due to its proximity to the LoC (25 km) but the reinstallation of better security systems after the abrogation of Article 370, has helped to increase the faith of explorers who earlier did not find it safe to visit. Bangus is replete with a diverse variety of flora and fauna. The meadows and the slopes of the side plateaus are covered with a range of flowers and medicinal plants. Freshwater fishes of moderate size and their fingerlings inhabit the streams. The valley’s forests and plains serve as the breeding, feeding, and protection grounds for many wild animal species. The wildlife includes about 50 species of animals and about 10 species of birds. The animal species include the musk deer, antelope, snow leopard, brown bear, black bear, monkey, and red fox.[2] A large number of residents and migratory birds can also be found feeding and breeding in the valley. The prominent resident birds include pheasants, tragopan, monal pheasants, black partridge, bush quail, and wildfowl. Bangus is a tourist destination and there is no doubt about that. But yes the rush of tourists that we expected is not happening yet due to various reasons. It lacks basic facilities such as accommodation and many more. The current year saw a good number of local visitors to Bangus Valley. The BDA (Block Development Authority) says it is their hard work that they collaborated with local schools and colleges to choose Bangus Valley for their field trips. Promotion is very important to boost tourism in Bangus and with the help of the promotion of bangus valley through social media, tourists from other states start visiting this beautiful destination called Bangus Valley. The local administration has decided to declare it as a Botanical garden and a DPR has been handed over to the forest department. This marvelous valley consists of several small streams, which include the Roshan Kul, Tiliwan Kul, and Douda Kul being fed by the waters of the Qazinag and Satkulnag springs. In the last year, the Bangus Valley emerged as a tourist destination because of the completion of the road work. But that’s not sufficient govt has to think about all the other facilities which include accommodation. Now the main reason that many people don’t visit Bangus is the lack of accommodation. The main valley is divided into two sections known as Bod Bangus (Big Bangus) and Lokut Bangus (Small Bangus), each of which is about 300 square kilometers in size. Bangus is a beautiful destination more than the Pahalgam and doodhpathri, Even last year when authorities enforced strict lockdown due to a surge in COVID-19, people would prefer to visit Bangus and spend time in the lush green meadows. People have appealed to the LG administration and the Central Government to develop the Bangus Valley as an International tourist resort so that the people across the Kupwara district may get a source of livelihood. Last year the administration organized a mela in the bangus valley where LG was the chief guest. That mela give a boost to tourism where they organized various cultural activities and functions.LG promised that the administration tries its best to develop the Bangus Valley and boost tourism. Since that day, The government of Jammu and Kashmir is aggressively taking measures to protect the cultural and ecological heritage of the valley. As a method to enjoy the beauty of the valley and have as little of a detrimental impact on the ecosystem as possible, eco-trekking and camping are recommended. A multitude of campgrounds equipped with necessities like tents, mattresses, and food have been kept available by the tourism administration all over the valley. Local organizations that have received training in hospitality and catering run the campgrounds, providing the locals with a reliable source of income. The undiscovered, hidden valley is a genuine gem. Its spectacular beauty and extensive cultural heritage offer visitors the ideal environment to enjoy the finest of both nature and culture. With responsible tourism policies in place, Bangus is positioned to rank among the top vacation spots for tourists looking for undiscovered and unusual locations. The landscape is dominated by verdant meadows, undulating hills, and towering mountains, and the crisp mountain air gave me a jolt of energizing energy. The road to Bangus Valley is curvy and narrow, and the steep ascent gives adventurers a thrilling experience. One is awestruck by the grandeur of the location as one ascends. With its sparkling streams, verdant meadows, and majestic snow-capped mountains, the Bangus Valley is a reflection of heaven. The Bangus Valley has a high potential for ecotourism because of its picturesque splendor, sloppy geology, grassland with plants, and streams teeming with trout fish. The area has a lot of potential to become a popular worldwide tourism destination. According to experts, Asia’s most extensive golf course may be built in this location, which features verdant meadows swirling across hundreds of canals.
(The writer is from Department of Journalism & Media Studies Jammu University).
