Govt Gives Big Push To Eco-Tourism In Jammu-Kashmir, New Trekking Routes Opened For Tourists

The decision will allow online booking of 29 forest rest houses and inspection huts in Kashmir and Jammu divisions; under a common brand and logo from 1st May 2021.

Representative Image (File Photo/ Getty)

In a mega push to promote eco-tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, government has approved the development of 7 new trekking routes in various wildlife protected areas of the union territory. Govt has also approved the use of the infrastructure of wildlife and tourism department including rest houses and inspection huts to tourists and wildlife enthusiasts.

 

The decision will allow online booking of 29 forest rest houses and inspection huts in Kashmir and Jammu divisions; under a common brand and logo from 1st May 2021.

 

The new trekking routes which will be opened for general tourists are in Bahu Conservation Reserve, Sudhmahadev Conservation Reserve, Thein Wildlife Conservation Reserve, Tral Wildlife Sanctuary-Dachigam National Park-Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary, Thajwas Wildlife Sanctuary, Khrew Wildlife Conservation Reserve-Dachigam National Park-Khonmoh Conservation Reserve, and Khrew Wildlife Conservation Reserve.

Forest department will put a user-friendly online portal for bookings of these  rest houses on a first-come, first-serve basis as per their availability and intake capacity in the first phase while it is refurbish and open another batch of 58 rest houses and huts to tourists by 1st July 2021.  

 

The move will allow tourists to visit areas which have so far remained out of bounds for ordinary citizens and tourists. Most of the rest houses and other

accommodations are located in different forest divisions at the quaintest places amidst pristine nature. 

 

Till now the rest houses which were reserved for forest officers, and were used only during official tours will now be used by trekkers. The trekking avenues will  range from short day-long treks up and down mountain slopes, to long-trans-mountain traverses involving a week of trekking and camping in the wilderness.

 

The target group for this new adventure will be the young and enthusiastic wildlife lovers from not only cross India but from foreign countries as well as these treks are well sought-after destinations for trekkers.

 

According to the officials, all the new trekking routes pass through scenic splendors, with wild fauna and flora and the development of these trekking routes will provide gainful employment to the local population and tap the adventure/eco-tourism potential of the UT.