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| Unexplored Tourism Destinations of Peer Panjal | | |  Arif Qureshi
Tourism around the globe is a major tool of Economic Growth and Development. As for as the Jammu and Kashmir UT is concerned tourism is one of the fastest growing and most reliable sectors, Famous Peerpanjal, a part of lesser Himalayas is an integral part of twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
Nature has bestowed Peer Panjal with incredible beauty. Snow capped mountains, lush green valleys, glittering lakes, pleasant climate, varieties of flora and fauna enriches the beauty of Peer Panjal.
Lakes of Peerpanjal area are the backbone of tourism in this area. A continuous chain of Lakes starts from Nandan Sar in the West to the Simar Sar in the East near Budhal. All the tourist spots including these lakes are above the height of 13000 ft from the sea level. Starting from Nandan Sar Lake, which is almost at a distance of 8 -10 kms towards East from famous Peer ki Gali The most famous and highest motor able pass of Pirpanjal region .From Peer ki Gali walking towards The East, it takes almost 6-8 hrs to reach a very beautiful Nandan Sar lake, which lies in the lap of Nature between the two lofty peaks called Northern and Southern peaks of Nandan Sar.
Nandan Sar is the largest, Voluminous and the most famous among the all other lakes of Pirpanjal range. This lake is almost 1 km long, oval with a tapering end having blue and fresh water and so far the most known to the travellers and visitors. Toward its north at a stride of 2 hrs comes the Katoria Sar, named after the bowl (Katori in local language). The Lake is very beautiful and remains laden with snow and icebergs till June-July every year.
Nandan Sar and Katori Sar Lakes lie on either sides of a high mountain called Nandan Sar chot (peak). Another Chandan Sar (considerd Secred for Nomads), almost equal to the size of Nandan Sar lies just at half an hour stride from Nandan Sar.
Towards East at a walking distance of 1 hour comes Kaldichni Sar, which is blackish in color, horror in looks, very deep and oval in shape. In the same row towards North-East at a walking distance of 1 hour comes the famous Sukh Sar, which is another beautiful medium sized lake located in this region.
Towards the South-East of Sukh Sar, at a stride of half an hour in the lap of nature comes another beautiful and very attractive lake called Neel Sar. As its name indicate, it has crystal clear blue, clean and fresh water. The next destination after Neel Sar towards the North-East by foot for 2 hrs comes the Handu Sar, which is round in shape and comparatively smaller in size. Finally in this series of seven famous lakes the next one is Gum Sar, which is also a scenic beauty. It is an oval shaped lake near to Nandan Sar. One can reach to Gum Sar by crossing the Nandan Pass towards the South of Nandan Sar. The nomads from Rajouri District pass through these series of seven famous lakes to reach the Kashmir Valley during summer every year, in search of food and fodder for the cattle.
Another group of Lakes is Rawi wali Marg group of lakes located toward the West of Katoria Sar. This group consists of four famous lakes which are Kokar Sar, Neel Sar, Bhag Sar (in Rupri Marg) and Ding Sar, all above the altitude of 33000 ft, could be the one of best camping site for tourists. Other famous lakes of this 90 km long stretch are Jang wali Sar and Kagalna Sar lakes towards the North-West at 2 hrs long walk from the famous Shakar Marg. Another very famous lake called Smat Sar also known as Richh Bagla Sar, very much known for frequent visits of people and school children of Budhal and Bakori for excursions. It is just at a distance of 4-6 hrs stride towards the North of the Budhal town. It is almost 1 km long lake with fresh, clean and cold water. Other lakes mostly inaccessible, smaller in size and known to very few are Kala Sar(between Peer ki Gali and Nandan sar), Chammar Sar (near Chammar Marg), a triangular Akhil Darshani Sar (near Sukh Sar), lamp shaped Diya Sar, and Padyaran Sar I & II (near Kalakote through Rajouri pass.
The lush green Meadows without presence of the high conifers and other woody trees, with fresh clean and cold air presents a heart throbbing view all around become a great attraction for visitors.
These Meadows has the stretch from Budhal Dhoks (summer destinations for nomads) in the East to the Poonch Dhoks in the West. The famous Meadows (Margs) are Peer Marg near the famous Peer Ki Gali pass, near to it toward North is Doongi Marg. Then comes the famous Shakar Marg, the (Southern) most of all the Meadows adjoining to the boundaries of Darhal of district Rajouri. Adjoining to this is Doodh Wali Marg, Khari Marg and Chammar Marg, all the three are towards North-West of Shakkar Marg almost at half an hour’s walking distance. Rupri Marg and Sheikh Marg adjoining to the Budhal area are also very beautiful meadows of Pir Panjal region. Jaddi Marg and Ravi Wali Marg are two famous meadows under the jurisdiction of Poonch District. Other tourist spots worth visiting are Phanjari Marg, Goray Battay, Tegyar Choti(peak), Kgora, Namnad, Byadh, Khunali, Kagganali, Chapar Nalo, Kuthgal, Banj, Kundaan Dher, Kafar katha, Gordiyan, Shaitani Paida, Girjan, Badjori Marg, Sari Mastaan, Marguri, Rupri Gali, Seti, Che Sari, Bela Marg and Sarota Marg(valley of flowers). All these places are either Dhoks for keeping cattle during summer, as well as for the sites of summer camping and tours.
It lacks basic tourism infrastructure like road, huts, staying facilities, non-availability of edible items en route to spot makes it difficult for the visitors to reach the spot.
Therefore, tourism department should pay special attention towards this incredible tourists spot. Some basic arrangements should be ensured like road connectivity, huts, staying facilities preferably tents at different places must be pitched enroute to spot. It would be highly appreciable effort if the tourism department develops some basic tourism infrastructure in the proximity of the spot. Furthermore, this effort of the department would not only attract the large numbers of tourists across the UT but it would also provide employment opportunities to the locals.
Resident of Rajouri Umer Malik said that district Rajouri / Poonch has beautiful lakes from the ancient times but got neglected in development Sector. He said that these places should be development by way of tourism so that the people from across the nation can visit these places. Umer said that development of these areas will lead to increase in visitors in district Rajouri and also give employment to the people of district. |
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