AARYAN SHARMA
JAMMU: In order to tap large section of Amarnath bound pilgrims, the state Tourism Department has thought of a novel way of promoting border tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.
On Saturday the Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Priya Sethi herself led a strong group of about 94 pilgrims from the Amarnath base camp to Suchetgarh border octroi post in R.S Pura sector. MLA Sukhnandan Choudhary welcomed the pilgrims/tourists in his constituency.
The tourists travelled on a newly launched tour buses operated by the Department of Tourism in collaboration with JKSRTC from Yatri Niwas, Bhagwati Nagar.
In addition to these, the department has also launched city tour buses to take them to Ranbireshwar Temple, Raghunath Temple, Peer-Kho, Bawe Wali Mata, Fish Aquarium, Amar Mahal Palace, Mubarak Mandi and Balidaan Stambh.
Speaking on the occasion, Priya Sethi said that this is an effort by the government to promote tourism in the State. After this, the next step of the government would be to promote border tourism, she added.
“Pilgrims are ambassadors for our state and the government wants to send a message of prevailing peaceful atmosphere and cultural harmony across the country through them,” the Minister said, adding that, this initiative would become a routine process in the days to come.
The Minister further said that the government would restore old colonial Octroi building to a gallantry gallery, besides constructing multipurpose hall, children’s park and border meeting post at Suchetgarh border under Himalayan circuit of Swadesh Bharat Scheme of Central Government. The other places of historical and cultural importance including Jia Pota Ghat, Baba Chamliyal and Gharana Wetland would be included in tour circuits for promoting tourism in the state, she reiterated.
Adequate arrangements for security of Yatris have been put in place by deploying police personnel and traffic police officers in the buses, besides providing them with clean drinking water, information pamphlets and a guide for information about the places of historical and cultural importance in the city. The Department of Tourism has also installed a stall at the octroi post for assisting the pilgrims at the border.
Later, the Minister visited Shri Raghunathji temple at Suchetgarh Border.
Director Tourism, Sushma Chauhan, Joint Director, Tourism Namrita Dogra and other senior officers of the department accompanied the Minister during the tour to the border.
