Suhasini Gupta
Tourism is the activity of travelling to a place for pleasure. Tourism makes an enormous contribution to local economies by creating employment opportunities and sustainable development Jammu and Kashmir is the north eastern state of India. The Mughal emperor Jhangir said that if there is paradise on earth, it is here. J&K is also known as “Paradise on Earth”. J&K is well known for its scenic beauty, natural waterfall, apple valleys, deep gorges, poplar trees, deodar trees , chinars, wonderful panorama, pollution free air, snow clad mountains, fascinating gardens, enchanting lakes etc. Tourism in J&K is one of the most important sector of economy. Being the largest service industry, tourism is a significant contributor to the state GDP, foreign exchange for the country, provides widespread employment, yields tax revenue etc. Jammu and Kashmir has immense potential for Pilgrimage tourism also. Therefore, it attracts large number of pilgrims from various parts of India. Pilgrimage tourism thus provides an extra boost to the state’s economy. The state of Jammu and Kashmir has three distinct regions viz, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. All the three regions have immense potential for tourism from both domestic as well as international tourists. While mountainous landscape of Kashmir valley has attracted tourists for centuries across the globe. Some notable tourist places in Kashmir valley are Dal lake, Mughal gardens, Nishat Bagh, Gulmarg, Phalgam etc. Kashmiri’s natural landscape has made it one of the popular destinations for adventure tourism in South Asia. Marked by four distinct seasons, ski enthusiasts can enjoy the exotic Himalayan powder during winters. Gulmarg is indeed amongst the best places to visit in Jammu & Kashmir. Located approximately 52kms away from capital city Srinagar, Meadow of Flowers as it is popularly called Gulmarg is a haven for adventure enthusiasts. Along with prominent skiing options, trekking, snowboarding, golfing, mount biking and fishing are the prime options that Gulmarg overwhelms tourist with. Jammu is called “city of temples”. Jammu is known for its ancient temples, Hindu shrines, gardens and forts. The Hindu holy shrine of Amarnath in Kashmir attracts millions of Hindu devotees every year and Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu region also attracts tens of thousands of Hindu devotees every year. The unmatched divinity at Raghunath temple, Ranbireshwar temple, Mahamaya temple, Peer Baba and Peer Khoh touches every corner of Jammu invigorates visitors. One must visit the Bahu temple, which is situated inside the majestic Bahu Fort. The temple is dedicated to presiding deity of Jammu, Goddess Kali or Bawe Wali Mata as she is popularly called in the region. Besides the temple, a travel enthusiast can witness architectural grandeur of Bahu Fort and Mubarak Mandi Palace. The Aquarium at Bagh-e-Bahu (Bahu Fort) also catches the eyes of the tourists as it is the largest underground aquarium in the country Jammu’s historic monuments feature a unique blend of Islamic and Hindu architecture styles. The Rajauri district which is 158 km away from Jammu is blessed with many charming places to visit; Dehra Ki Gali, Thanna Mandi and Kotranka Budhal are few places that are apt for sightseeing. One can retire to these remote places in summers as the weather remains pleasant here all year round. The magnificent Rajauri Fort, Balidan Bhavan, Dhanidar Fort and Rama Temple are few places that can be visited in the vicinity of Rajauri. Gulmarg is indeed amongst the best places to visit in Jammu & Kashmir. Located approximately 52kms away from capital city Srinagar, Meadow of Flowers as it is popularly called Gulmarg is a haven for adventure enthusiasts. Along with prominent skiing options, trekking, snowboarding, golfing, mount biking and fishing are the prime options that Gulmarg overwhelms you with. Ladakh, the third and important region of the State has emerged as a major hub for adventure tourism. This part of Greater Himalaya called “Moon on Earth” comprising of naked peaks and deep gorges was once known for the silk route to Asia from subcontinent.
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