Kashmir Tourism at Boom after Years of Conflict

PIR KI GALI (J&K): Jammu and Kashmir tourism authority are doing their best to promote the tourism these days. Recently the ancient Mughal Road’s revival in Jammu and Kashmir has fascinated the visitors as now they can enjoy the pristine scenic locations beside the places of immense heritage, eco, adventure tourism, easy accessible for them.

The tourism authorities are promotion the region in the Himalayan Pir Panjal range as a tourist circuit with diverse             places of attractions that include Mughal Era Monuments, pristine lush green forests, evergreen Rolling Meadows, pristine springs and lakes and holy shrines.

The circuit is going to emerge as the next best thing among state tourism sites and boost the tourism industry which has started to look forward after years of conflict.

During the era of 1588, Mughal emperors built several monuments, especially when Emperor Akbar used to conquer Kashmir. The road with the elevations upto 13,000 feet is currently motorable till Baflaiz in Poonch and connected Kashmir with Lahore. It also promises to be an alternative of all weather condition routes to the outside world.

“It is a wonderful opportunity as it is a uqique packages and perhaps one of its kinds in such circuit in India, said tourism (Kashmir) director Talat Parvez. He said they were also planning for an ancient route to recreate the journey which was undertaken along the route by the Mughals.

Further 12 kms, the road passes through Hirapur Wildlife Sanctuary, which is home to rare and endangered Markhoor Wildgoat species. Far untouched are the roalling meadows of Dubjan and Pir Ki Gali which are the most popular tourism destination among the tourists from the other commercialized resorts like Gulmarg and Srinagar.

Pir Ki Gali is a holy place at an altitude of 11,500 where the famous Sufi saint stayed while Dubjan is famous for spring which is said to have magical qualities. Along the roadside are the famous monuments Chingus Sarai, where Emperor jahangir’s entails were buried after he died on route to Lahore in 1627. Later his entails were removed to preserve his body for burial in Lahore.

“Chingus is quite significant not only being the place where the entails are buried but also for hiding the fact and secret of Jahangir’s death that would have arouse the situation of succession war,”said Saleem Beigh of The Indian Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage.

Jahangir, is quite known for his excessive love for Kashmir and he visit the paradise several times with his all time favorite queen, Noor Jahan. He had built a glass castle for here to bathe under a pristine casdcading waterfall at Noori Chamb along the route.

The beauty of the nature and the road fascinated him so much that he got his room drawn with paintings of nature.

Parvez added, they plan to link these historical sites to present the world with different aura along with the region’s rich flora and fauna which is virgin and untouched. “The circuit is planned for Aharbal the picturesque waterfall and religious places like Shadra Sharif Shrine in Rajouri and seven beautiful lakes there, “he said. We are also on the move to add the Buddha Amarnath pilgrimage to a cave shrine in Poonch district. It is an important and holy pilgrimage destination for Shavites with the rock formation of Shiva and Parvati.

He also said, an annual car rally and cultural tours are being planned to promote the tourism circuit. The conservationists are not satisfied with the move as they have point that the government is concerned on the quality of the road rather that highlighting the cultural importance of the region.