Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 25: Aimed at commemorating the National Tourism Day celebration, the Tourism Department of Kashmir today launched ‘Srinagar City Heritage Tour Bus Service’ for tourists to showcase the heritage sites, cuisines and handicrafts of the city to enhance experience of visitors thronging the region from across the world.
Secretary Tourism, Sarmad Hafeez, in presence of Director Tourism G N Itoo, today flagged of the bus service which will take tourists to prominent sites of Srinagar city including Burzhama, Hariparbat, Chatipadshahi, Jamia Masjid, Hazratbal, Buddhist Site Harwan, Pari Mahal and other places.
The objective of the heritage tour is to boost heritage tourism potential of the city in addition to promotion of natural tourism.
Besides, Tourism Department simultaneously launched cross country tours at Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Aru valley, Doodpathri, Baderwah and other famous tourist destinations.
Secretary, while elaborating on this unique initiative of the Government, said that the motive of launching heritage tour bus service is to enhance the experience of tourists about heritage potential of city by providing them best facilities. He said it is an appropriate day to launch bus service to heritage sites while referring to the celebration of National Tourism Day.
He said that the Government is working under a well planned strategy to ensure that all tourist destinations and resorts remain open during winters while taking good care of safety and comfort of the tourists which is always of paramount importance for the administration.
He informed that the Tourism Department is mulling to start night skiing and night Shikara events amid strict observance of Covid protocols. He said all the stakeholders associated with travel and tour industry have been fully vaccinated to contain spread of corona virus.
Director Tourism informed that in view of National Tourism Day the department is organizing several snow events at Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Doodpathri and other places besides organizing heritage fame tour in Srinagar.
He said that on the first day of launch of the facility a team from Maharashtra will tour several places of great heritage importance like archeological sites, shrines, mosque, temples besides cuisines and handicrafts.
Meanwhile, Directorate of Tourism, Jammu, organized Heritage walk on the eve National of Tourism Day from Ambaran (Buddhist Site) to Jio Pota Ghat, Akhnoor. A group of 30 participants was flagged off jointly by Vivekanand Rai, IRS, Director Tourism, Jammu, Izhar Alam Hashmi Superintendent Archeologist, Srinagar Circle, Jammu and Naresh Kumar, Deputy Director Tourism, Jammu from Ambaran, Akhnoor.
The Joint Director Tourism, Jammu, informed that the motive of organising this Heritage Walk was to promote the historic sites in and around Jammu particularly Akhnoor which has many historical sites such as Ambaran (Budhist Site), Akhnoor Fort, Guru Dwara Sundar Singh Sahib, Pandav Guffa, Jio Pota and Kameshwar Temple.
The participants were taken to historical sites of Akhnoor to Show case the rich heritage of Town from where Dogra Rule Started. On the occasion, Director Tourism Jammu said that professional guides from Archaeological Survey of India were invited to explain the historical important of Budhist site at Ambaran and other places.
It was also disclosed that many more promotional events are in pipe line especially in hilly areas to highlight the potential of Winter Sports in Jammu Division viz skiing, sledging and Ice-Skating. Director Tourism, Jammu further informed that one more adventure sport event viz skiing and sledging is going on at Patnitop by Directorate of Tourism, Jammu. The participants in heritage walk comprised of Traveller Bloggers, Travel Agents, Travel Writers and other stake holders of Travel Trade.
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