• By : Mohmmad Saqib Wani
Nature is pleased with simplicity and nature is no dummy.
Isaac Newton
As we know, the Kashmir valley received the lowest number of tourists in the past six years, from August 2019. If government figures are to be believed, only few thousands of tourists visited the Valley since August 2019 compared with 2,67,955 persons who travelled to Kashmir in year 2018. As we are well aware about the fact that, the newly turned UT is enclosed by Himalayan mountains. It is the home to several valleys like Sindh valley, and lidder valley. But the most liked one is the Kashmir valley. “Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror but you are the eternity and you are the mirror”
Kashmir,the paradise of endless pleasure is often called the heaven on earth, but there is a place in Kashmir namely, Gulmarg coheres the lash green forests, Snow caped mountains, alpine, sweet springs, wonderful scenery, perennial rivers, and pleasant climate made the world to baptise it as the heaven in Kashmir.
It was the Yousuf Shah Chak, ruler of Kashmir who changed its name from Gaurimarg to Gulmarg, naming it after flowers.
Gulmarg is well known for its natural environment. It is counted as one of the unique tourist destinations of India. As it is having not only the beauty but it is having some more distinct features like it is having Special gondola ride, Alpine skiing, Special Horse riding, Some special snow games. Gulmarg is the “heartland of winter sports in India” and was rated as Asia’s seventh best ski destinations.
Gulmarg has great potential as a tourist attraction. A Gondola ride may prove highly appealing to nature lovers. As per tourism officials, the best time to visit Gulmarg is between May and September, but I believe that Gulmarg can attract tourists throughout the year just as Switzerland does.
I think you are familiar with Highland golf course which is situated at an altitude of 2650m. It is the highest green golf course in the world. “If you truely love nature you will find beauty everywhere. ”
Gulmarg is the best and favourite destination for Bollywood too. Gulmarg meadows offer a best place to stay. It is both a summer and winter destination with a perennial flow of tourists all year around.
“Those who find beauty in all of nature will find themselves at one with the secrets of life itself.”
So,the tourists which came from nearly every corner of the world are in need of facilities, guidance etc. So there is a department engaged with these activities like facilities of visitors in the form of housing & transport. This department is having guides,travel agents etc, which guide the tourists to make their journey smooth and comfortable. This is the tourism department. Tourism is considered as the most exciting and progressive industry. This travel & tourism industry is one of the largest and most dynamic industry in today’s global economy.
Tourism is extremely labour intensive and significant source of employment. The encouragements of tourism in kashmir will mean the economic improvement of kashmir as tourism is the attraction tool for economic growth.
As you know about the bloody lumpish and unmean lockdowns in Kashmir that had influenced our economy badly. Now the only key to raise the economy and employment is i think the tourism department. In Jammu and Kashmir, tourism has a great potential for employment generation even for the people without specialized skills. It also promotes the marketing of some other sectors like handicrafts, handlooms and some special fruits of Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir is I think the only site where the scope of large factories, industries, and mills is very limited.
So our youth is not getting sufficient or comfortable jobs. But the role of tourism can be blue chip in generating employment and developing economy.
Now the role of government is identified as to develop the tourism industry in entire Jammu and Kashmir to overcome these problems.
“Things are beautiful if you love them.
Author is a student at Jawhar Navodiya Vidyaliya Shahkot, Baramulla.
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