Rising KashmirRising KashmirRising Kashmir
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • News
    • Kashmir
    • City
    • Jammu
    • Politics
  • Health
  • Anchor
  • Features
  • Interview
  • Video
Search

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022

Categories

  • Anchor
  • Breaking
  • Business
  • City
  • Developing Story
  • Editorial
  • Education
  • Features
  • Health
  • Interview
  • Jammu
  • Jammu and Kashmir News
  • Kashmir
  • Kashmir Tourism
  • Kath Bath
  • National
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Top Stories
  • Trending
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Viewpoint
  • World
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Kokernag:  The tourist destination needs re-imagination
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Rising KashmirRising Kashmir
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • News
  • Health
  • Anchor
  • Features
  • Interview
  • Video
Search
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • News
    • Kashmir
    • City
    • Jammu
    • Politics
  • Health
  • Anchor
  • Features
  • Interview
  • Video
Follow US
© 2024. All Rights Reserved.
Rising Kashmir > Blog > Viewpoint > Kokernag:  The tourist destination needs re-imagination
Viewpoint

Kokernag:  The tourist destination needs re-imagination

SYED MUIZ QADRI
Last updated: September 22, 2023 10:23 pm
SYED MUIZ QADRI
Published: September 22, 2023
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

Kokernag is a famous tourist destination located at around 83 kms from Srinagar. This place is known for its enchanting botanical garden and also hosts one of the largest trout fish farms in south Asia. The moment the word Kokernag comes to our mind, we instantly begin to think about this botanical garden. However Kokernag is much more than that as it is not confined to the walls of the botanical garden or the trout fish farm only. It has been projected in such a manner over the years that its other attractions and the places around it have remained lesser known.

 

Kokernag is surrounded by numerous hills and mountains covered with lush green coniferous forests. The mountains such as Sinthan top and Margan top, which are around 50 km from the main town of Kokernag and completely connected with motorable roads, are source of numerous steams which join together to form the famous Bringi River. Also, the mountains host numerous lakes such as Chuhar nag, Mawar nag, Shilsar nag, Calcium nag etc. All these features make Kokernag an excellent trekking destination and it has the potential to attract hikers globally if promoted and projected as such.

 

With the development of NH 244 last year, Kokernag has become easily accessible and all the mountains mentioned above are well connected with macadamized roads. Even some of the lesser known destinations at Kokernag have road connectivity to a large extent. Take for example the second largest potato seed farm of J&K located at Kalnag, village Chree of Kokernag, occupying an area of 700 kanals approx. This farm has exquisite varieties of potato seeds and can be reached after trekking or by riding horses for around 3 kms from the village Chree. Another beautiful but lesser known destination is Famber valley. This valley can be reached after 5-6 hours trek from Sinthan top. This valley hosts lush green meadows, crystal clear waters and abundant fish. Hence it is both, a trekking and fishing destination.

 

This brings us to a very important question that if Kokernag has so many attractions in and around, why they have remained lesser known and explored. One of the many reasons is that Kokernag lacks quality infrastructure such as hotels, guest houses, huts etc which can accommodate tourists, especially hikers. Apart from few huts and one hotel managed by JK Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC), the private sector participation and expansion by JKTDC has remained stagnant over the years. It has been only in the last one year that few private guest houses and few huts have come up. Apart from these, the overall tourism infrastructure has not grown much.

 

The construction of infrastructure at Kokernag is governed by Master Plan 2011, implemented by Tourism Development Authority Kokernag (TDAK), which plays an important role in sustainable development of Kokernag. Within the ambit of this plan, the private sector needs to be roped in and taken into confidence to build infrastructure. It is important as government has its own limitations to pursue large scale tourism infrastructure development projects. One example of the importance of private sector participation is the Homestay program initiated by Tourism Department, J&K wherein the households in good and suitable condition can be provided for tourist accommodation and simultaneously generate income for the households. Although a great initiative and in its nascent stage, it has to be supplemented by construction of hotels, huts, cottages etc through private sector. Regular meetings of building operation control authority (BOCA) by TDAK, awareness generation and confidence building in private players can go a long way to fulfill the infrastructure gaps at Kokernag.

 

All this said and done, one thing needs to be kept into consideration is that whatever the mode of development is chosen for Kokernag, it has to be environmentally sustainable. Otherwise we have had recent instances of 2014 floods in J&K, land subsidence at Joshimath and flash floods at Himachal Pradesh due to lack of environment impact assessment of infrastructure development projects. The TDAK has a long way to go to bring Kokernag and its surroundings on tourist map and beyond the walls of botanical garden.

 

(Author is a JKAS officer of 2019 batch and is currently Tehsildar Larnoo (Kokernag). For suggestion he can be reached at [email protected])

Technological Advancements making prompt diagnosis and better treatment for brain tumor
Prostate Cancer: Understanding the Basics, Risk Factors, and Symptoms
 Elections in Jammu and Kashmir: Towards fostering a constructive political environment
The Enduring Legacy of Pashmina: A Tale of Artistry, Tradition, and Challenges
Toycathon 2023: Rediscovering Heritage, Cultivating Nationhood in District Kupwara

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Copy Link Print
Previous Article Buzzing Haven: The Thriving Beekeeping Traditions in Kashmir’s Apple Orchards
Next Article Range Police HQ dedicates Open Air Gym to Police Public School Bemina in honor of martyrs 
Leave a Comment Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

1MFollowersLike
262kFollowersFollow
InstagramFollow
234kSubscribersSubscribe
Google NewsFollow

Latest News

Tourism comes to grind halt in Sonamarg after Pahalgam terror attack
Kashmir
May 29, 2025
SKUAST-K to establish advanced reproductive biotechnology centre to enhance animal breeding
Kashmir
May 29, 2025
DC calls for intensified action against drug abuse at NCORD review in Gbl
Kashmir
May 29, 2025
Shikara operators continue to ignore mandatory safety protocols
City
May 29, 2025

Recent Posts

  • Tourism comes to grind halt in Sonamarg after Pahalgam terror attack
  • SKUAST-K to establish advanced reproductive biotechnology centre to enhance animal breeding
  • DC calls for intensified action against drug abuse at NCORD review in Gbl
  • Shikara operators continue to ignore mandatory safety protocols
  • IUST partners with government for building safer J&K

Recent Comments

  1. BASHIR AHMAD BHAT on Poor hotel accommodation, lack of medical facilities irk Kashmiri pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, video goes viral
  2. sree vishnu movies on Pahalgam attack shatters Kashmir’s film tourism revival
  3. SavePlus on AI and Behavioural Analytics in Gaming: Making the World of Gaming Better
  4. Parul on Govt acknowledges faulty streetlights on Narbal-Tangmarg road
  5. dr gora on Women Veterinarians and the Goal of Viksit Bharat

Contact Us

Flat No 7,Press Enclave, Srinagar, 190001
0194 2477887
9971795706
[email protected]
[email protected]

Quick Link

  • E-Paper
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Top Categories

Stay Connected

1.06MLike
262.5kFollow
InstagramFollow
234.3kSubscribe
WhatsAppFollow
Rising KashmirRising Kashmir
Follow US
© 2025. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?