JAMMU, Aug 04: Blessed with many pious and sacred places holding immense religious significance , Udhampur, Katra and Kishtwar of Jammu region are all geared up to offer a unique religious tourism circuit, first of its kind in Northern India.
The work for development of many of the ancient religious sites is underprocess in these areas.
The officials revealed that the central government is keeping a close watch on the ongoing works and has already given directions for their completion within the specified time frame.
The religious tourist sites mainly include River Devika Rejuvenation Project worth Rs 190 Cr, the first-ever River Rejuvenation project of North India which was approved by the Government of India (GoI) for the renovation and beautification of holy River Devika in Udhampur.
The other projects underway include Mantalai Project, Mansar lake under Swadesh Yojana, Sudh Mahadev, Surinsar facility etc.
The Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said the development of the ancient religious tourism sites in the country has been possible under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“All these religious tourism sites have been taken care of and developed for the first time for ease of religious pilgrimage and revival of religious tourism in the country,” Dr Jitendra Singh said.
On Delhi Katra Express Highway, historic Kamakhya (Assam) to Katra (Vaishno Devi) train and Vande Bharat Express, are the best gifts provided by PM Narendra Modi which will give boost to religious tourism in J&K, Dr Singh said.
PRASAD scheme, which includes Katra Vaishno Devi, also aims at paving the way for the development and promotion of religious tourism.
The Mantalai project was initially started by Late Dhirendra Brahamchari, who happened to be the Yog Guru of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and obtained the land on lease.
However, midway through the project, Dhirendra Bhrahmchari suddenly died following an air crash and since then the successive governments did not attend to it and allowed it to turn into shambles.
“It was only after the Modi government took over in 2014 that the project was revived nearly three decades later and now a State-of-the-art Wellness Centre cum Tourist Resort has come up at this location,” Singh said.
Similar is the case of River Devika which had remained unattended all these years and only after PM Modi took over as Prime Minister, North India’s first-ever River Rejuvenation project was approved for the renovation and beautification of River Devika, which is held in holy esteem, he added.
The holy town of Katra Vaishno Devi got its railway station only after the Modi government took over in 2014 and now the entire area has been included in the national PRASAD scheme, he said.
In addition, the Inter-modal Station, the holy spot of Sudhmahadev, also received attention only after 2014 with an alternative national highway under construction for facilitating connectivity.
While Mantalai and Mansar are already being included in the official tourist circuit, Shiv Khori is also expected to become part of it in times to come.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency is blessed with the treasure of ancient religious tourism sites, unique in the country and are being developed for the first time.
The Delhi Katra Express Highway, historic Kamakhya (Assam) to Katra (Vaishno Devi) train covering a distance of more than 2,000 Km and connecting the two important destinations of religious pilgrimage and Vande Bharat Express will give a major boost to religious tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.
The religious tourism circuit in Udhampur, Katra and Kishtwar has a very important role in the development and progress of the region as pilgrims across India visit these pious places.
From the very first day being sworn in as the Prime Minister of India, PM Narendra Modi fostered a vision to connect places of religious interest across the country with a safe, efficient and comfortable network, Dr. Singh added.
PRASAD scheme ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive’ aims to integrate pilgrimage destinations in a prioritised, planned and sustainable manner to provide a complete religious tourism experience and it is because of this scheme of the government that religious tourism has been revived.
