Prof. (Dr) R.D. Gupta
Tourism has been well recognized as an Industry and as such it will have to be managed accordingly. If it is properly managed, it has vast potential of employment both directly and indirectly. There is no doubt that Kashmir has remained famous as a paradise on the planet earth since time immemorial. The poets, the travellers , the tourists and the kings, all have showered praises/appreciations on the endless charm on the vale of Kashmir. However, it is not only the valley of Kashmir alone, which fascinates the tourists/visitors, but the whole of Jammu region of the Jammu and Kashmir state, has a tremendous scope of religious tourism provided greater attention is given to it.
Unlike Kashmir and Ladakh regions, Jammu province extends from subtropical to submountainous Siwaliks locally known as Kandi; subtemperate, temperate and cold arid (part of Kishtwar district touching Zanskar of Ladakh) zones. The Jammu region is very popular among pilgrims. In the Jammu city itself there are number of temples, mosques and gurdawaras for the attraction of pilgrims/ visitors. Raghunath temple; Ranbirshwar; Panchbaktar and Pir Kho temples, Gurdawars of Jain bazaar, Gumat bazaar and Raghunath bazaar and Mosques of Pirmitha; Gumat and Talab Khitikan, are the glaring examples on this behalf. Bhau Fort, Mohamaya, Chichi mata and temples of Mansar and Suriansar lakes are some of the representatives in Kandi belt of Jammu which are quite dependent upon pilgrims/tourists who visit vaishno Devi as well as local people of Jammu. However, presence of Vaishno Devi pilgrims in this region does not go beyond two or three days. Efforts should be therefore, made to develop high end tourism sector in this region. This move certainly assists the region to become one of the favourite destinations.
There is lot of scope of religious tourism in Jammu region and greater attention should be given to it. Lakhs of pilgrims visit Vaishno Devi Divine shrine every year and their number is looming year after year.30,000 devotees visited Vaishno Devi in 1950-51 year. Their number swelled to 1.6 lakhs in 1961 which further enchanced to 3.26 lakhs in 1971. The number of pilgrims touched to 12-13 lakhs in 1981 and 15 lakhs in 1985 which has presently more than a crore. Other religious places in the Reasi district are Shiv Khori Shrine, Dera Baba Banda Bahadur Siarh Baba, Deva Mai, Dhansar Baba and Baba Agar Jitto. There is also a waterfall in Baba Agar Jitto, where a lagre number of people visit to take bath as its water cures those who are suffering from skin diseases. Bhimgarh Fort and Sulla Park are also important tourist places in Reasi.
Situated at a distance of 120 km from Jammu, Patnitop is the first choice among tourists with Sanasar, Sudh Mahadev and Mantalai following the pursuit by the enthusiasts. During summer Patnitop and Sanasar witness huge influx of tourists, who in a bid to escape intense heat wave descend upon these two easily accessible tourist resorts in Jammu region. Forts of Ramnagar as well as Kud and Batote hill station are worth seeing places of Udhampur district. A temple on bank of the river Devika in Udhampur and Krimchi temple built by the Pandav in old Nagara style on a raised platfarm provide attractive look to the tourists.
Of the lesser known Shakti shrines of the mother Goddess in Jammu region, Sarthal Devi, Shrine of Goddess Sharika at Sarthal, Chond Mata, Kund Mata and Rahushir Devi are the most popular in Kishtwar, and Mata Bala Sundri (Bhadu Billawar) and Jourian Devi (Basohli) in Kathua Districts. Sukrala Mata shrine in Kathua district and Pingla Devi shrine in Udhampur district , have rapidly gained popularity. Like Mata Vaishno Devi Board, Mata Sukrala Board also stands establisehed. Noori Chhamb, Behram Gala, Surankote Budha Amar Nath, Ziarat Saih Miran Sahib, Nangali Sahib, Ziarat Chhowlay Sahib, Ram Kund, are some of the main resorts of Poonch District. Apart from this, the most attractive scenic spot which the nature has endowed in Poonch District is Sawjian – Gagrian valley which is located exactly on the opposite side of renowned hill resort of Gulmarg in Kashmir.
Strategies Upgrading Health care Facilities: It is an urgent call to upgrade the health care facilities at all the tourist resorts. Health minister of J&K Government is requested to provide one ambulance for Glumarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam hill resorts as well as to Batote Patnitop and Sanasar hill resorts. Water supply and other essential services too required to be augmented without any further delay to facilities to the tourists and local.
Setting up of Emporia: The Government should also issue instructions for setting up an emporia at all the tourist resorts to promote the marketing of handicrafts, handloom products and other aircrafts of the state.
Engaging Services of Reputed Experts: The services of reputed experts is required to be engaged for maintenance of the world renowned royal springs golf course at Srinagar and improvement of golf courses at Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Patnitop / Sanasar.
A new golf course of International standards is required to be laid out at other places like Sonamarg, Khillanmarg and Patnitop.
Creation of other Facilities: Development of Parks, picnic spots, creation of wayside facilities and landscaping also require to be taken up on a large scale by the development authorities wherever it becomes necessary. Possibilities are needed to be explored for creating facilities for ice and roller skating at tourist places as an added attraction to the tourists and adventure sports festival, the tourism in the Kashmir valley becomes Gulmarg- centeric because of snow skiing. Just 30-40 percent of the tourists visit Pahalgam while Sonamarg remains out of bounds both for the foreign and domestic tourists. Similar facilities are also required to be explored in Jammu region, where it becomes possible.
Integrated Projects for Holistic Development: where ever it is possible, the Government is required to formulate an integrated project for holistic development as has been resorted in Sonamarg with private sector participation to promote it as independent destination and gateway of Ladakh.
Design an Alternate Strategy: We urgently require to design an alternate strategy for tourism, one that acts as a force for conservation rather than destruction. A strategy for tourism that is both environment friendly and which does not damage the culture ethos of this artistically rich country. We require a human tourism strategy that is well conceived so that it shuns wastes undue pressure on wildlife culture and land of the local people.
Restoration of Forest Cover: As tourism is essentially a forest based industry , particularly in the Himalayan region, so it is absolutely necessary that forest cover on the bare Himalayan slopes be restored. Forests are the basis of natural environment and ecological balance and from which ever ecological balance, and from which ever point one may start a discussion, on environment and cecology, it ends in forests.
Promotional literature: Although we have lot of promotional literature yet there is lack of promotional literature on some tourist spots of Jammu Provience, especially places like Sudh Maha Dev, Shiv Khori- Utterbeni, Parmandal, MAnsar and Suriansar lakes and Raghunath temple has not been adequately publicized.
Prevention of Damage to our Heritage Tourism: Our living natural and cultural heritage is of paramount importance in all development programmes. It is imperative that all tourism projects should prevent devaluation or damage to our natural human and artistically heritage.
(The author is Ex-Associate Dean cum chief Scientist KVK, SKAUST-Jammu)
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