Opportunity for J&K to focus on areas outside Valley for a ‘one state, one global standard tourist destination’

• PM Modi has been first to give idea of promoting a ‘one state, one global standard tourist destination’
• Omar Abdullah must take on call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• Substantial unexploited potential around Shivaliks/Chenab /Pir Panchal for commercial summer / winter/Pilgrim tourism

DAYA SAGAR
Access to potential areas /places like Bhaderwah / Paddar/ Machail Mata for the tourist could be given also via Basohli as well as from Chamba (HP) .
The job can be started even now for taking the tourists to the vast deodar forests, the meadows, the springs and snows of Jammu Province on the tracks passing through the shrines and places of worship in Kathua /Udhampur/ since the region also has large potential for Pilgrim Tourism.
The sector other than conventional tourist resorts/recreation parks/ pleasant weather /snows that makes local people to still visit an area even under poor means of communication and comforts is that which comprises of places of pilgrimage/ ancient temples / shrines/sacred rivers – lakes- mountains and hence the pilgrim tourism could be used as seed input for promoting commercial tourism in potential areas Mansar, Saruinsar, Paed Devta , Sudh Mahadev ( Shiva temple, Gauri Kund) , Sukrala Mata, Machail Mata and like .
From Udhampur tourist could be conducted to Bhaderwah via Duddoo too. Udhampur through to Sudh Mahadev Tourist could be conducted via Maan Talai to areas of pleasant weather, beautiful meadow, hills and forests. There the tourist can stay/ relax after negotiating through hot and dry zones of Jammu province in and around Laati that is 15 to 20 km from Mantalai . Nearly eight Km from Lati is Jakhed where there is an ancient Naag temple & a small Masjid with very cool weather/ deodar trees / beautiful meadows around with River Tawi passing through and places for 2 to 3 day stay around with about 20 km is Basantgarh( 80 Km Udhampur) with lot many Deodar trees around/ with frequent rains.
Basant Garh ( Basaar )has holy shrine of Purdaar Devta/ Nag Devta ( economically weaker population around ) with beautiful Khaned 8 to 10 Km ahead with beautiful meadows and a local river/ nallah to welcome the tourist with people on one bank of Dogra race and the other bank speaking Kashmiri.15 Km from Basant Garh is fascinating scenario of Duddo with about 4 Km on the north is Shiv Gali (Sehogali) inheriting Chamanda Mandir and about 10km from Seogali in the north east is Kakddi Dhar mountain range ( named so since its of the shape of a melon/ Kakaddi ) with on top of it a very large meadow/ plains with very cool & pleasant weather. And nearly 10 km Ahead of Seogali is Gandh Top with a Nag Temple a local fair is also held. Dareoo, Potato, maize, Guchchi are found in abundance in this area. Local Gaddies rear sheep / goat. Blankets/ kambal and loyees are available. A very cool village Majohi is 7 km ahead of Gandh Top taking one to Kalaunta( some call it Kalbanta).
From Ramnagar ( districtUdhampur ) one could go to Kalonta ( 14 Km), then to Majauri ( 40 Km), then to Gandh Top (nearly 7 Km) and Duddo ( 25 Km) with Ram Nagar Fort .Sudhmahadev could also be approached from Ram Nagar via Basant Garh and enroute Majauri& Gandh Top can provide enough to the visitors to relish and stay. Duddooleads to Suez Dhar ( 15 km from Bhaderwah). on the way to Kailash Kund.
From Padri Top/Dhaar/ Sone Bawali a tourist can also go to Chamba Himachal Pradesh via Bhaderwah Ghot . Bal Padri Bhadherwah touches Tehsil Gandoh. Between J&K and HP Bhaderwah Ghot is boundary point. Bhaderwah Sarthal Chamba ( Sarthal to Chamba and Sarthal to Bani ) road links could be improved so that people visit from HP for religious purposes also. Tourist from Dalhauji, Khajiar and Chamba side could enter Doda District from Bhaderwah side bypassing the warm areas during the summer.
Access to potential areas /places for the tourist could be given via Basoli as well as from Chamba (HP).
To be continued
(The writer is Senior Journalist and analyst J&K affairs [email protected] 9419796096)