JAMMU — The army has invited people across country for different tourism related activities and has also extended support to tourism department for exploring new destinations.
Official sources told news agency Kashmir News Observer, the army units have been inviting people across the country to explore the virgin treks, waterfalls and new destinations of Jammu division.
The army is facilitating the stay of visiting tourists and also making them aware of local landscape and history.
Official sources said that besides organizing events in far flung areas of Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Poonch and Rajouri in coordination with civil administration. The army now invites people from across the country on trekking expeditions in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Udhampur districts.
“The move aimed to showcase the real picture of peace in development in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly post abrogation of 370 besides improving the living standards of people residing in far off areas of Jammu division,” a senior army officer told KNO.
“The tourism is synonymous with tranquillity and development. If tourists come and visit the unexplored destinations of bordering Rajouri- Poonch or explore the mountains of militancy affected Doda-Kishtwar, it will give a clear and loud messages of peace in Jammu and Kashmir,” the officer said and adding, “Government of India is banking high on development of tourist destinations and army just supplement the government’s intend as we have the assess to all the areas.”
The officers quoted above said that from past few months’ army officials and tourism authorities in unison inviting civilian populations particularly travel bloggers and sports enthusiast from various parts of the country on trekking and mountaineering trekking expeditions in mountainous Doda-Kishtwar districts and also felicitating tourists at unexplored valleys and lakes of Rajouri-Poonch.
Recently, the Army’s Mendhar Gunners Battalion under the Ace of Spade Gunners Brigade brought a group of tourists from Maharashtra to Poonch’s Mendhar and took them to various untouched tourist spots and places of religious importance.
As per army officials, the visiting group takes to Upper Dharana Park near the Line of Control, Ancient Ram Kund Temple, Pir Baba Chhote Shah Dargah, Buddhist Viharas in Sakhi Pir, Hanuman Temple at Mendhar and other places.
Tourists from Maharashtra included Dr Kirtish Balpande, Dr Kiran Rajole, Dr Mugdha Jungari, Rishikesh Parmar and others enthralled by the beauty of Mendhar. The group expressed gratitude to the Army for inviting them and providing opportunities to explore border tourism. They said that tourists from all over the country must come here as the atmosphere here is serene, peaceful and blissful.
“There are many tourist places in the border areas of Mendhar which have been a victim of neglect for a long time. To promote tourism and revive such places, the army takes the lead to develop a tourism eco-system for the border and far-off areas,” another officer said.
“Tourists are the best brand ambassadors. They can build the narrative which big advertisements and statements can’t, if tourists feel safe and relaxed in the part of Jammu they definitely pass the word and help in promoting the tourism industry,” he added. — (KNO)