 Early Times Report
srinagar, Jan 4: Just 45 kilometres from J&K's summer capital Srinagar Yusmarg witnessed a heavy rush in Summer of 2012. The tourist boom last year has at least shot five times up as compared to year 2011 located in central Kashmir's Budgam district Yousmarg is attracting tourists from within and outside the State and also from abroad. "As Amarnath Yatra was in its full swing, local tourists avoided going to Pahalgam and Sonamarg making Yusmarg one of the favourite destinations for the locals," tourism traders here said.
Yusmarg is on tourist map since 1960s when two three-bedroom huts were constructed during the regime of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad. "Both the huts were gutted during 1965 war due to heavy gunfight between Pakistan and India at Yusmarg," said a local.
"The motarable road to Yusmarg was also constructed during the regime of Bakshi" he added. In June last year a mega 3 day Panchayati Raj and Good Governance Conference was organised by New Delhi based Gandhi Samrithi Darshan Samiti in collaboration with Centre for Rural Development and Yousmarg Development Authority (YDA). National Advisory Council Member and renowned Social and RTI activist Aruna Roy also attended this progremme.
Chief Executive Officer Yusmarg Development Authority Ghalib Mohiudeen while talking to Early Times said that with a view to promote Yusmarg the YDA has introduced adventure sports at Yusmarg. "We are introducing various adventure sports shortly in association with some local adventure sports associations and travel agencies. Bungee jumping, trampoline, Zorbing, trekking, camping, etc. will be introduced soon. The possibility of introducing paragliding, zip line, mountain climbing and river rafting is also being explored," he disclosed. In order to train local youth to adventure sports the YDA organized a short preliminary training camp last year, in which the participants were trained in rock-climbing, abseiling, river crossing, paragliding, Zorbing and some other allied activities. |
