Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 10: To tap the 'unexplored' adventure tourism especially in the parts of Jammu Region, the government is all set to take various measures for which the Directorate of Tourism, Jammu has tightened its belt.
The advisory committee framed by the government to explore and map the adventure potential of the region, on Friday met here under the chairmanship of Dr Naseem Javaid Chowdhary, Director, Jammu Tourism.
Focussing the Jammu Region that offers number of adventure activities may it be the foothills of Jammu, the magnificent mountains and unexplored terrains of Kishtwar, the alpine lakes of Rajouri-Poonch or the serene meadows of Bhaderwah and Patnitop, the meeting was convened to finalize the modalities including mapping and identification of new potential areas besides promotion of already notified areas as per the J&K Tourism Policy.
A battery of experts in the meeting from National Institutes comprising Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering, Gulmarg, Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports, Pahalgam, National Institute of Water Sports, Goa, Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Gwalior and Paragliding Association of India, suggested safety measures, insurance of the participants, adventure enthusiast, world class equipments, trained staff, sustainability and involvement cum training of locals youth must be ensured before the start of adventure activities.
As per official communique issued by the Jammu Tourism Department, this meeting jointly focussed on major aspects like Technical including national, international reputed institutes along with their capacity building program, intangible aspect of adventure tourism and supporting pillars in form of promotional offers.
"Jammu is already famous as a pilgrimage destination but the adventure potential is still to be explored," says the Director.
The meeting also deliberated upon notified spots in the field of trekking, rafting, hiking, paragliding, para-sailing camping, Zipline, skiing by qualified experts and the committee charted out a detailed plan which includes mapping of potential areas by concerned CEO's and AD's of respective regions, followed by trials and feasibility by experts which will be invited from reputed Institutions across the country to finalise the future course of action.
The committee however, also approved some heritage routes including Mansar to Mahoregarh, Mansar to Deragarh, Jia Pota to Ambaran, Akhnoor, Mansar to Babore Temples, Manwal etc, the trekking routes approved were from Sanasar to Shankhpal, Jammu to Pehad Devta, Loran to Nandishool, Rajouri-Darhal-Budh Khanari-Shakkarmarg. Etc, approved MTB Routes were from Mansar to Surinsar, Bani-Basohli-Bhaderwah-Jai Valley, Atal Setu Bridge to Purthu and bike routes from Bhaderwah-Jai Valley- Gandoh-Bhallessa via Bhaj Dhar Thathri - Pul Doda- Bhaderwah and Kathua-Bani ? Basohli-Bhaderwah-Gandoh via Bhajdhar-Thatri-Kishtwar-Paddar-back to Bhaderwah via Puldoda.
The committee further agreed to work with allied departments over development of camping sites at Sanasar, Padri and Purthu and also to work up modalities with concerned allied agencies for issuance of one time NOC for the adventure activity.
|
