DAYA SAGAR
Let us have a very brief reference to the potential areas for high potential summer/ winter/ pilgrim/adventure /health resort/ sports tourism potential in areas extending over Kathua/ Udhampur/Doda/ Kishtwar/ Rajouri/Poonch districts where the project “one state, one global tourist destination” could be laid .
Kishtwar and Doda Districts of J&K are relatively still economically and administratively backward even after 77 years of Independence inspite of the fact that these areas have substantial potential for exploitable commercial summer tourism as well as pilgrim tourism. “One” may plead that the climate enroute to possible exploitable tourist spots / areas in Jammu region is warm/ rough in summer unlike that in Kashmir valley but the governments cannot take shelter under such pleas keeping in view that even in desserts like Dubai and similarly situated areas in HP high potential commercial tourism has been promoted& sold successfully even abroad. Ghulam Nabi Azad on 19-08-2006 when he was inaugurating week long “Kailash Tourism festival” at Bhaderwah had said that Doda, Poonch, Rajouri, some parts of Kathua, Udhampur , Kupwara and Baramulla are glaring example of discriminatory policies which were propagated by the successive Governments in the State. Mr. Muzaffar Hussain Baig too had then accused previous governments for discriminating with Jammu saying that Jammu region has huge tourism potential but Governments had not cared to explore the potential. But only aa few tiny tourist projects / circuits of values of just 5 to 20 crore INR have been talked of by the political leadership for these areas. To quote block Panchari earlier fell nearly in three assembly constituencies viz Reasi, Chenani and Udhampur but here to summer tourism potential has not been commercially exploited even when area is so near to District HQ Udhampur and the Katra Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
The Greens and Valleys lying in and around Trikuta Hills, River Chenab and Natha Top hills have reasonably high potential for commercial and the pilgrim tourism. Pancheri/ Moungri area some Gandola Sites could be from Moungri to Deber Thayar with 3 to 4 Km span , Moungari to Achal (Ajjal) Dhabbar with another4-5 Km Span, Dubey Gali to Khargali with 4 km span and Laki (BadsarDevta) to Basnote Top about 3 km span . The Sankhri Devta Shrine is situated on a beautiful and sloppy hill top called ”Sankhri Dabbar” about 3 kilometer from Panchari in Tehsil Udhampur. Large meadow of 3 to 4 Acre, Pine forest, Deodar forest, springs and Bowalies are in and around the small cool and beautiful hill of Pancheri.
Pancheri is about 7 Km from Kanth Gali, 30 Kilometer from Kainthgali is the Mongri Cave of Shiv Parvati, Bamhaal is a cool pine forest near Mongri, about 5 Km from Mongri is about 2 acre Jalsar, nearby spots like Saroli Dhar are nearly as beautiful as is Gulmarg and with a height as large as Natha Top; Two cave shrines of Lord-Shiv-Parvati have 9½ ft high exquisite self-carved rock Shivlingam . Sar Dabbar, Sanara, Tibba Kandroo, Ajjal in Mongri and Cheman Mata in Basnote could attract tourist& pilgrims to this area. To add lush green Deodar forest stretches at Damnote and Panchar too are there around along with breath-taking green slopes, ancient Devasthans at Bariot/ Badsar Devta at Laki ;the Sankhri Devsthan there is a uphill nearly Kacha path of about 2 Km from Village Mir. On way to Pancheri are Kirmachi historical temples claimed as built by Pandwa from where Kainthgali is just 25Km .
Access to potential areas /places like Bhaderwah / Paddar/ Machail Mata for the tourist could be given via Basohli as well as from Chamba (HP) .
Patnitop and Sanasar are so talked about spots but these too have not been properly looked after even after 1990.A just 18 Km road from Patni to Sanasar speaks well of the tourism sector in Jammu region.
The job can be started even now for taking the tourists to the vast deodar forests, the meadows, the springs and snows of Jammu Province on the tracks passing through the shrines and places of worship in Kathua /Udhampur/ since the region also has large potential for Pilgrim Tourism. Commercial Tourism potential from Udhampur to Bhaderwah has been the victim of all round neglect.
The sector other than conventional tourist resorts/recreation parks/ pleasant weather /snows that makes local people to still visit an area even under poor means of communication and comforts is that which comprises of places of pilgrimage/ ancient temples / shrines/sacred rivers – lakes- mountains and hence the pilgrim tourism could be used as seed input for promoting commercial tourism in potential areas Mansar, Saruinsar, Paed Devta , Sudh Mahadev (Shiva temple, Gauri Kund), Sukrala Mata, Machail Mata and like.
From Udhampur tourist could be conducted to Bhaderwah via Duddoo.
Udhampur through Sudh Mahadev Tourist could be conducted via Maan Talai to areas of pleasant weather, beautiful meadow, hills and forests. There the tourist can stay/ relax after negotiating through hot and dry zones of Jammu province in and around Laati that is 15 to 20 km from Mantalai . Nearly eight Km from Lati is Jakhed where there is an ancient Naag temple & a small Masjid with very cool weather/ deodar trees / beautiful meadows around with River Tawi passing and places for 2 to 3 day stay around with about 20 km is Basant Garh( 80 Km Udhampur)with lotmany Deodar trees around/ frequent rains. Basant Garh (Basaar )has holy shrine of PurdaarDevta/ Nag Devta with many economically weaker population with beautiful Khaned 8 to 10 Km ahead with beautiful meadows and a local river/ nallah to welcome the tourist with people on one bank of Dogra race and the other bank speaking Kashmiri.
15 Km from Basant Garh is fascinating scenario of Duddo with about 4 Km on the north is Shiv Gali (Sehogali) inheriting Chamanda Mandir and about 10km from Seogali in the north east is Kakddi Dhar mountain range ( named so since itsof the shape of a melon/ kakaddi ) with on top of it a very large meadow/ plains with very cool & pleasant weather. And nearly 10 km Ahead of Seogali is Gandh Top with a Nag Temple a local fair is also held. Dareoo, Potato, maize, Guchchi are found in abundance in this area. Local Gaddies rear sheep / goat. Blankets/ kambal and loyees are available. A very cool village Majohiis 7 km ahead of Gandh Top taking one to Kalaunta( some call it Kalbanta).
From Ramnagar( district Udhampur ) one could go to Kalonta( 14 Km), then to Majauri( 40 Km), then to Gandh Top (nearly 7 Km) and Duddo( 25 Km) with Ram Nagar Fort. Sudhmahadev could also be approached from Ram Nagar via Basant Garh and enroute Majauri & Gandh Top can provide enough to the visitors to relish and stay. Duddo leads to Suez Dhar ( 15 km from Bhaderwah). on the way to Kailash Kund.
From Padri Top/Dhaar/ Sone Bawali a tourist can also go to Chamba Himachal Pradesh via Bhaderwah Ghot . Bal Padri Bhadherwah touches Tehsil Gandoh. Between J&K and HP Bhaderwah Ghot is boundary point. Bhaderwah Sarthal Chamba ( Sarthal to Chamba and Sarthal to Bani ) road links could be improved so that people visit from HP for religious purposes also. Tourist from Dalhauji, Khajiar and Chamba side could enter Doda District from Bhaderwah side bypassing the warm areas during the summer.
Access to potential areas /places for the tourist could be given via Basohli as well as from Chamba (HP).
To be continued
(The writer is Senior Journalist and analyst J&K affairs)