Reaffirming the government’s commitment to promoting Kashmir as a world-class tourist desti-nation, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday informed the Legislative Assembly about a series of initiatives aimed at boosting infrastructure development in rural and offbeat tourist destinations across the Union Territory.
In response to a question raised by MLA Sunil Kumar Sharma, the House was informed that the Padder area of Kishtwar district holds significant potential for both adventure and religious tour-ism. The smooth conduct of the Machil Mata Yatra, which attracted 3 lakh devotees to the shrine last year, marked a major milestone in the development of religious tourism in the region.
To further promote tourism in the Padder area, the government revealed that various develop-mental works amounting to Rs 787.20 lakh are currently underway under the Capex Budget 2024-25. In addition, Rs 264.09 lakh has been allocated to establish tourism infrastructure in Gu-labgarh, Padder, under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
The government also highlighted its efforts to promote adventure tourism in Kishtwar, focusing on activities like trekking, mountaineering, and river rafting. “The Department of Tourism has taken several steps to promote adventure and religious tourism in the region. Over 30 youth have been trained in basic mountaineering, adventure courses, river rafting, and paragliding to increase local participation in adventure tourism,” the government stated.
In terms of river rafting, the government notified a rafting stretch from Shiv Mandir Padder to Kundal, and adventure tour operators have been authorized to operate commercial rafting activi-ties on this route. Additionally, various trekking routes have been identified by the department to further promote the activity in these areas.
The tourism department has also organized several events in Kishtwar district to popularize these destinations. As part of its annual tourism promotion calendar, the department has proposed events celebrating religious sites and trekking routes for the current year. Some of the major reli-gious events include the Urs of Shah Farid Ud Din, the Annual Kounsarnag Yatra 2025, Machil Yatra, and the Bimal Naag Yatra.
In response to a query regarding incentives for local homestays and tourism-related businesses, the House was informed that under the Home-Stay Policy, the government aims to increase the number of registered homestays to improve accommodation options and generate more livelihood opportunities. “The focus will be on promoting homestays in rural and offbeat areas to enhance tourism while ensuring sustainability and community involvement,” the government added.
The government also intends to develop eco-tourism infrastructure in Kishtwar. Plans are in place to establish tented accommodations at Gulabgarh, and works for public conveniences and kiosks along the Gulabgarh–Machil route have already been tendered. Additionally, works for shelter sheds, parks, toilet blocks, solar lights, and other related facilities are underway, with tenders in-vited for the same.
