Govt to promote of pilgrim tourism in Jammu: Jora ---- Jammu emerging as tourism hub: Bhalla

3-Day Baisakhi Festival concludes

Govt to promote of pilgrim tourism in Jammu: Jora

Jammu emerging as tourism hub: Bhalla

Jammu, April 15: Three day Baisakhi Festival, organized by Tourism Department in collaboration with Tour and Travel stake holders, concluded here this evening. The objective of the festival was  to highlight the varied tourism potential of Jammu region, especially pilgrim and heritage tourism.

The valedictory function was attended by Minister for Tourism, Mr Rigzin Jora and Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr Raman Bhalla, besides Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Mr. M. K. Dwivedi, Managing Director JKTDC, Mr. Satesh Nehru, Special Secretary Culture, Mr. T. R. Sharma and other senior state and divisional level officers of various departments. 

The concluding functions started with a grand road show comprising cultural troops and people which started from Bagh-e-Bahu and culminated at Hari Poodi temple on the banks of Surya Putri river Tawi. 

The cultural procession was flagged off by Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Nawang Rigzin Jora and Minister for Revenue and Rehabilitation, Mr. Raman Bhalla.

At Harki Poodi, a famous pilgrim spot of city of Temples, Maha Aarti was performed for peace and prosperity of the State, in which Ministers besides Pandits and a large number of devotees participated.

On the occasion, the locals took pledge to contribute whole heartedly for exploring the rich tourism potential of the region with special thrust on pilgrim tourism.

Mr. Jora and Mr. Bhalla also inaugurated two view points constructed enroute to Harki Poodi constructed at a cost of Rs. 20 lakh. The view points over looking panoramic view of the City of Temples.

In his address, Mr. Jora   said that the Government was committed to provide equal opportunities of development of all the three regions of the State for exploiting tourism potential. He said Jammu being the potential pilgrim tourism destination, is receiving focused attention of the government. He said the places of religious importance are being projected by roping in tour and travel operators, besides holding publicity campaigns at state national and international level.    

The Minister said that a massive infrastructure developmental programme has also been started in the region under tourism sector. He said a large number of infrastructure facilities have been created at prime tourist destination, besides taking up the development of   new tourism destinations.

Mr. Jora said “to meet the challenges in tourism our emphasis is on diversification and providing requisite infrastructure facilities for adventure, pilgrims   and heritage tourism in the State”.

The Minister said that efforts are being made so that pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi to other tourist resorts of the region that will not generate economic activities but will also go a long way in bringing these spots on the tourism map. He said tourist reception Centers, wayside facilities and huts have been developed along the way to almost all the tourist destinations, including Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Udhampur and Kathua.

Giving the details of some initiatives taken by the Government for development and upgrading of tourism infrastructure in Jammu division, the Minister said that the restoration and conservation work of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs.200 crore, adding that out of which Rs.50 crore,  have been approved by the  Centre for the  current financial year.

Mr. Jora said that illumination at Kudh Patnitop is being taken up at a cost of  Rs.1.11 crore. He said a TRC Complex at Sharthal Devi Ji Kishtwar would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs.3.50 crore, adding that the development and conservation of pilgrim spot Peerkho has been taken up at a cost of Rs.3.50 crore. He said Rs.11.87 crore have been spent on three tourist circuits in Jammu region during the last financial year.

The Minister said that Akhnoor a revered pilgrim site is being explored by upgrading infrastructure facilities and creating other attraction for the visiting devotees. He said so far Rs.7 crore have been utilized for creating various infrastructure facilities at the site, adding that the Government have earmarked Rs.5 crore to create more infrastructure facilities at Akhnoor and its vicinity for devotees. He said the Government intends to development water sports tourism on River Chenab at Akhnoor, for which river sports events would be organized.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr Raman Bhalla, reiterated that the Government was paying focused attention for exploiting the varied tourism potential of Jammu division.

Mr. Bhalla said that a number of measures have been taken to development new tourism spots and conservation of century old monuments of the region. He said that focused attention was being paid for conservation and restoration of pristine glory of Mubarak Mandi Palace, Bahu-Fort and other heritage places, besides upgradation of tourism related infrastructure, in order to attract domestic and foreign tourists towards City of Temples. 

He said the major endeavors of the Government were to develop an artificial lake in River Tawi at a cost of Rs. 25 crore, installation of Ropeway from Mubarak Mandi to Bagh-e-Bahu and chair lift at Patnitop. He said Golf Tourism in Jammu was also being developed on the pattern of Srinagar, adding that development of Sidhra Golf Course was the first step in this direction. He said the Ist phase of the Rs.44 crore Golf Course is ready to take off. He assured the people that keeping in view the importance of pilgrims tourism in the division, necessary facilities would be provided to the devotees at all pilgrim  spots.