SPORTS REPORTER
JAMMU: Silver Jubilee Himalayan Trekking Programme, organised by Tawi Trekkers J and K at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh and Moungri in Udhampur District, concluded on Monday with the last group of trekkers of JK Public School returning from Dharamshala to Jammu after a successful venture.
The programme started on 29th May with a group of 49 students of Oriental Academy Senior Secondary School, Jammu leaving for Chamunda to participate in the Dharamshala Trekking Programme. The group was followed by a group of trekkers from RM Public School, Chowadi, here for the Moungri trekking cum adventure camp on 4th June.
A total of over 369 persons including 25 teachers of Shiksha Niketan Senior Secondary School, Jeevan Nagar, St. Xavier Senior Secondary School, Barnai, Jammu, Shangrilla Public School, Sarwal, Jammu besides Oriental Academy Senior Secondary School, JK Public School, Jammu and RM Public School, Chowadi participated in the programme. On the last day of the trek of each group a lucky draw was also held and the winners, one boy and one girl of each group, was presented a gift
The Moungri programme was organised in the beautiful, calm and serene Moungri area, north of the Trikuta hills, in Pancheri block, about 50 kms from Udhampur. Besides trekking to the sacred Shiv Parvati cave and Gouri Mitti (7000ft), the participants were also imparted practical training in rock climbing, rappelling, jummaring, artificial river crossing and other adventure activities by experts in the field.
They also learnt about the bio diversity of the area during their venture. For boarding and lodging of the participants the camp had been established at Youth Hostel, Moungri wherefrom all the activities were conducted under the supervision of camp leaders.
“Besides offering young boys and girls a healthy outdoor activity during summer vacations and thus initiate them into adventure life, the purpose of the programme was also to highlight the adventure tourism potential of the otherwise neglected and lesser known beauty spots of Jammu and thus bring them on the tourist map of J&K,” Vice President of Tawi Trekkers, Ram Khajuria told.
The Dharamshala programme with a base camp at Chamunda Devi, was organized around Macleodganj area. The budding trekkers visited Bhagshu Nag, Water fall, Dharamkot, known as mini Israel, Dalai Lama templeand Tapovan. However, the highlight of the programme was a trek to Galu temple which every body enjoyed.
Whereas Everester Ram Singh Slathia headed the task force committee as Field Director of Moungri programme Sonam Sidharth, Joint Secretary of the Tawi Trekkers was over all in charge of the Dharamshala programme.
Shawetica Khajuria, the general secretary of the Club, who led a group each to Moungri as well as Dharamshala was the organising secretary of the programme. Anil Kumar, Puneet Sharma, Manik Slathia, Shashi Kant and Aman Arora were the group leaders.
The programme was organized in cooperation with the Directorate of Tourism, Jammu, J and K Armed Police, J and K State Sports Council, Mountaineering Association of J and K, Ibex Adventure Club, Samba, J and K Mountaineering and Allied Sports Club and Snow Trail Mountaineers, Jammu.
