 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 29 : Under the supervisory vision of Secretary Tourism, Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah and Director Tourism Jammu, Vivekanand Rai an extraordinary three-day odyssey to District Poonch was led by Sunaina Sharma Mehta Joint Director Tourism, Jammu Division. This journey not only celebrated the pristine beauty of Poonch but also championed the cause of promotion of homestays, pilgrimage, rural and adventure tourism in this border district which is blessed with unparalleled natural beauty and heavenly adventures.
During her maiden tour to Poonch, Mehta paid reverential visit to the Holy Shrine of Shri Baba Buddha Amarnath Ji at Mandi, renowned for its profound spiritual and religious significance. Engaging wholeheartedly with the devoted pilgrims embarking on the Shri Baba Buddha Amarnath Ji Yatra, which commenced on August 17th, Ms. Mehta gleaned their invaluable insights for future promotional campaigns of the said pious annual Yatra. Her maiden visit was hailed by the civil society of Poonch as a mission for integrating Poonch and its pristine beauty with the National and International Tourism Map which is the voice and demand of the Youth of the area.
Addressing the media, Ms. Mehta underscored the Department’s unwavering commitment to nurturing pilgrimage tourism, Border Tourism, Adventure and Rural Tourism.
She conscientiously laid emphasis on the need to tap the immense potential of Poonch-Rajouri district and the Pir Panjal area especially regarding adventure gems, natural marvels and Sufi Pilgrimage Spirit of the area.
She further added that over 45,000 pilgrims have already paid obeisance at the Holy Shrine of Baba Buddha Amarnath Ji at Mandi in 2023. She called for decisive actions and implementable strategies to forge collaborative efforts with resounding emphasis on the existing potential of these twin districts. She added that this District is blessed with holy Shrines of great saints and Sufis like Chote Shah Shrine Sakhi Maidan, Ramkund Temple Mankote, Sain Miran Shrine, Nangali Sahib Gurudwara, Dashnami Akhara, Nav Greh Temple and many more, along with the historical Heritage Mughal Road, the unparalleled pristine Alpine Lakes, Banjhdari meadow, Nurpur meadow, Noor-i-Chhamb Waterfall, Nandishool waterfall which is also a frozen waterfall during winters, Tatakuti Peak and other natural marvels of immense beauty.
In a groundbreaking initiative, one-day Homestay Promotional Camp was organized in the enchanting Loran Mandi area of Poonch District. The esteemed presence of Joint Director Tourism Jammu, Ms. Sunaina Sharma Mehta, marked this event as a testament to the Department’s unwavering dedication towards promoting Homestay and rural tourism in the area. It heralded the dawn of a new era in tourism prosperity, one that promises to uplift the local homestay industry. The local public, wholeheartedly and with overwhelming response, embraced this pioneering effort of the department, and welcomed suchpioneering efforts in such hilly remote landscapes and distant areas. With the Department’s assurance of doorstep facilitation, the future of Poonch’s homestay industry seemsencouraging and bright. |
