Excelsior Correspondent
PATNITOP, Oct 1: A trekking expedition was organised today by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) and Patnitop Development Authority (PDA) alongwith the support of the Department of Excise, Jammu and Kashmir, Directorate of Tourism, Jammu, and District Administration, Udhampur.
The expedition was organised on spiritual trek from Patnitop to Gouri Kund.
The trek started from the Nag temple, notable for its construction using stones, a deviation from the prevalent use of Deodar wood in the region. It concluded at the sacred Gauri Kund Temple, dedicated to Bhagwan Shiv and Mata Parvati. Legend has it that Mata Parvati would daily bathe in its natural spring. Here, the participants accompanied by the officials and staff from PDA and Wildlife Department, relished traditional cuisines offered in year-long bhandara by the temple.
The students and faculty of SMVDU, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Chattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and even Nepal, were enthralled by the picturesque vistas and the mystical aura that enveloped them throughout the trek. They thanked the authorities for making them part of this endeavour. After trek, they also paid obeisance at the revered Sudh Mahadev temple.
Nagendra Singh Jamwal, Registrar of SMVDU, expressed, “SMVDU, in partnership with PDA, will continue organizing treks to internationally renowned trails within PDA’s jurisdiction. The university places great importance on the holistic development of its students, and we believe that these treks will inspire students to embrace a healthy lifestyle while steering clear of the pitfalls of substance abuse.”
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